Subject: RE: Miller: King of the Race Car Builders Exhibit Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 12:34:42 -0500 Message-ID: <B46BC0C8F6373F43B0A84089442FE921014D98C1@MEWMAD1P0129.enterprise.wistate.us> From: "Seymour, Janet I - WHS" <Janet.Seymour@wisconsinhistory.org>
For those of you who might be interested, the Eau Claire Leader Telegram
ran a very nice piece on this exhibit in Sunday's paper.
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-features.asp?id=BH0FRUV9DT7
Janet Seymour
Field Services Representative - Northern Region
Wisconsin Historical Society
To unsubscribe to the local history list serve, send an email to:
localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu and type unsubscribe in the body
of the email. (No other text should be included in the body of the
email.)
Review past messages at: http://listserve.uwec.edu/localhistory
<http://listserve.uwec.edu/localhistory> .
________________________________
From: localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu on behalf of Roy Ostenso
Sent: Mon 6/30/2008 4:18 PM
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: Miller: King of the Race Car Builders Exhibit
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
become, 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 centerpiece 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 million. 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 presentations, 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