From: "Roy Ostenso" <dchs@dunnhistory.org> Subject: Miller: King of the Race Car Builders Exhibit Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:18:50 -0500 Message-ID: <002101c8daf6$e46826a0$ad3873e0$@org>
Harry Miller: Automotive Genius Exhibit
June 21 - October 26, 2008
Russell J. Rassbach Heritage Museum, Menomonie
New exhibit features the "Golden Submarine" - an innovative streamlined race
car built in 1917 for legendary race driver Barney Oldfield, on temporary
loan from collector Buck Boudeman.
Who was Harry Miller?
Harry A. Miller was a self-taught machinist from Menomonie, who learned his
trade as a teenager in the late 1800s in the shops that served the local
brick and lumber companies. After leaving home he went on to be-come, to
quote automotive historian Griffith Borgeson, "... quite simply the greatest
creative figure in the history of the American racing car." An eccentric
genius and engineering visionary, during his long career Harry Miller almost
single-handedly transformed the face of American racing. His early success
came with innovative spark plugs and carburetors. Later, his cars and
engines dominated competition in the United States on land and on water for
more than forty years. He was a constant innovator, pioneering the
development of light alloy metals, aerodynamics, supercharging, both front
and four-wheel drive and an amazing array of forward-looking ideas in
automotive technology. Miller's cars won the Indianapolis 500 twelve times
and machines powered by Miller or Miller-based Offenhauser engines won the
big race another 29, not to mention 43 national championships. Within racing
circles, he is widely known. Yet here in his hometown, he is largely
forgotten.
The Dunn County Historical Society is creating this exhibit to honor the
genius of Harry Miller. The center-piece of the exhibit is the "Golden
Submarine" - that first streamlined race car - on temporary loan. This
faithful reconstruction is built from an original Miller chassis and engine,
and is valued at more than $1.5 mil-lion. The Golden Submarine has been
exhibited in many prestigious venues including the British Museum in London.
Exploring Miller's many contributions to automotive design will be
educational panels, video presen-tations, and several artifacts describing
his illustrious career, all of which will remain part of the Heritage
Museum's permanent exhibits.
The Rassbach Heritage Museum is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. From I-94
exit #41 South on State Highway 25, turn left on Pine Avenue to Wakanda
Park. To learn more, call the Society at 715-232-8685, e-mail us at
dchs@dunnhistory.org, or visit our website at www.dunnhistory.org.
Roy S. Ostenso, President
Dunn County Historical Society
1820 Wakanda ST
Menomonie, WI 54751
715-232-8685
Mobile:715-505-1110