009

RISK





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ISSUE 009

36

64 94

FEATURES 82 REGULAR STOPS

36 ONE LAP AT SPEED 28
Veteran drivers share the
HISTORY IN MOTION specifics of what it takes to WORLD OF CARS
Millers at Milwaukee brings succeed on some of the world’s Plan now for your car-happy run to
the golden age of American toughest tracks the sun in early 2023
racing to life
Bruce Canepa, Daniel Ricciardo, Chester Allen
Tom Glatch Felix Rosenqvist, Bill Warner,
Michael Leven 176
64
94 GIFTS AND GADGETS
THE KNOWLEDGE: Funny racers and serious cooling
RISK AND REWARD FEAR, RISK AND VICTORY AT SPA
Inside the mindset of five Brian Redman, one of the Jim Pickering
current and former NASCAR greatest endurance racers
legends ever, had many great victories 184 
at Spa-Francorchamps, but it
Elana Scherr was always a frightening place TAILLIGHTS
for him Risk is part of every worthwhile
journey
Brian Redman
Chester Allen

ON THE COVER: The Gray Ghost tears into WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s infamous Corkscrew in August. Photo by JORDAN “JOKER” SMITH

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CONTENTS 152

174

48 VALUES

102 120

OPINIONS EXPERIENCES 104 MARKET FOCUS
Sorting out this summer’s results
16  30 THE KOP HILL
A village fete on wheels Jim Pickering
FROM THE PUBLISHER CATCHING THE GRAY GHOST
Risk takes many forms, but it is A look behind the scenes of our Russell Hayes 122
always part of a full life cover shot
110 THIS SEASON’S CHURN
Donald Osborne Jordan “Joker” Smith What’s coming up for auction —
CONCOURS QUALITY and when
48  72 Three perspectives from
this year’s Audrain Newport AUCTION SNAPSHOTS
NOTE FROM EUROPE DRIVE OR DISPLAY Concours
The matching colors argument Balancing usability versus scarcity 124 
and value on the Pebble Beach Jim Pickering
Simon Kidston Tour d’Elegance RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022
172 B. Mitchell Carlson
50  Jeff Zurschmeide
YOUNGTIMERS 140 
FUNNY THAT YOU ASKED 74 A ’57 Volkswagen built with
If doing something risky is worth vintage Ford parts and a Gooding & Company Pebble Beach
the risk, is this still taking a risk? STARTING OUT WITH CLUB RACING Chevrolet V8 is a purist’s Carl Bomstead
Club racing offers new drivers nightmare
Jay Leno a safe way into the sport, while 156 
offering challenging competition to Sara Ryan
52 veterans Bonhams’ The Audrain Concours
174 Auction
AMERICAN MUSCLE Chuck Gilchrest Jim Pickering
Danger isn’t always where you BEHIND THE WHEEL
think it is 98 A passion for life — and taking MARKET MOVERS
risks — drives Magnus Walker
Jim Pickering 2022 PEBBLE BEACH 136
CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE Stephen Serio
54 With COVID-19 mostly in the 1979 Ford Bronco Free Wheeling
rear-view mirror, the world’s Edition — $70,400
TALKING FAST most-important concours brings Jim Pickering
Racing is much safer these days, a spectacular group of cars to an
but drivers — and even spectators enthusiastic crowd 152
— accept risks for great rewards
Carl Bomstead 1957 BMW 507 Series II Roadster
Zak Brown — $2,315,000
102 Chad Taylor
56
AUDRAIN’S 1964 PORSCHE 904 168 
BUILDING A STORY CARRERA GTS AT PEBBLE BEACH
Bringing a battered Devin SS back Winning the Postwar Preservation ONLINE MADNESS
to life took years Class at the 2022 Pebble Beach How do you define risk?
Concours d’Elegance
Rich Taylor Nick Jaynes
Chester Allen
178 

AUTOMOBILIA
Hood ornaments — also known
as mascots — are interesting and
plentiful

Carl Bomstead

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FROM THE PUBLISHER
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Moving Beyond Fear gone red again. Alternatively, when the “walk” sign
is illuminated, you can have the faith that the cars
Risk is almost always acceptable when you’re truly prepared to face a will stop as commanded and step off the curb and
new challenge cross the street. Risky, no doubt, but a sure way to get
across.
by DONALD OSBORNE
At Goodwood, I was about to go for some laps in a
Osborne risking RISK!  AS SOMEONE who has enjoyed the pleasure steady rain — on a very wet track. Wet weather track
the rain and and challenge of four — perhaps five — completely driving or racing has never been a favorite of mine
conquering fears different careers so far in life, I must have obviously — and has brought out the worst of my anxieties
encountered — or more accurately, sought — the behind the wheel. However, my first instructor at
risky path. Goodwood that day told me something I wish I had
heard the first time I set out onto a track four decades
But risk is a widely encompassing word. What is ago. Before we left the pit lane, he said simply “All
completely unimaginable to one person might be you need to remember, Donald, is that you are always
a daily occurrence for someone else. I might balk doing something — either you are on the throttle or
slightly at voluntarily jumping through the open door the brake.”
of an airplane, but for a skydiving instructor it’s just
another day at work. Of course, you will read in this Suddenly, there was no time or space to be
issue several stories which involve motor racing, an anxious about the risk of the wet track. I could now
inherently “risky” pursuit. confidently manage that risk through controlling
the car actively and dynamically. It was the same as
Interestingly however, the idea of “managed risk” “stepping off that curb” while singing. Risk is only
or “acceptable risk” then comes to mind — there are something to be avoided when you feel that your
ways to get the thrill of speed, on a circuit, which are preparation might not be equal to the task of the
relatively risk-free, such as time trials and autocross. conquering the unknown.
For some, this still might represent a bridge too far
but that is what makes us all find our threshold for Taking chances — and living
excitement — risk.
And isn’t facing the unknown, embracing change
The rewards of risk and managing risk the way to a more interesting and
ultimately a more productive life?
Back to my own experience. There is no doubt
that stepping onto the stage of a darkened 3,800-seat I can find many examples of challenges in my daily
theater, with a world-renowned conductor standing life that some might consider risks. Committing to
in front of an orchestra of 100 players in a pit more the writing of this column and delivering something
than 50 feet away — and singing the right pitch at interesting and reasonably well-written on a regular
the exact time his baton came down while coming basis; traveling across the world to inspect and rate
through a second floor doorway was not without its rare cars and give purchase recommendations to
own risk. But nevertheless, I took that chance — and clients, which might involve considerable sums
prevailed. of money; planning, researching, supervising and
executing detailed restoration work; appearing as
In fact a lesson taught me many years ago by a a speaker at events or shooting videos in which any
conductor and vocal coach I much admired was as statements I make will be examined and criticized;
applicable to my singing as another gifted me by a deciding if it might be prudent to take a certain car
driving instructor in 2022 at the Goodwood Motor out for a drive if I can’t be sure where I might park
Circuit.  The first was quite simple; it was a lesson in it or what weather conditions I might encounter;
defining “faith.” He felt I was being too cautious in working to start a new, high-quality print automotive
my singing, analyzing each note immediately as it magazine when some had predicted “print was dead.”
came out and for a moment after it was gone. It was All are situations in which risk of some level must be
the very opposite of living and acting in the moment, assessed and faced.
secure that what I wanted to achieve would happen.
Not to mention the chances that any of us who love
He related this story: You are standing at a old cars take every time we start out on a journey of
crosswalk waiting for the light to cross. The light any length which might involve traveling outside of
turns red for the traffic. You have a choice — wait reliable cellular phone coverage.
for every car in the road to come to a complete stop
before you cross, which means your signal may have But that is what makes our lives a bit more
interesting and colorful than that of some others. I
go to sleep soundly every night because I know that
tomorrow will certainly bring something I’ve not
expected — but I know I will risk what it takes to find
the best outcome I can.  Thanks for joining me in the
excitement.

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009

Chairman

NICHOLAS SCHORSCH

Managing Director

MICHAEL WEIL

Publisher/CEO

DONALD OSBORNE

Executive Editor

CHESTER ALLEN
[email protected] / [email protected]

Managing Editor

JIM PICKERING
[email protected]

Art Director

NORA JAMES

Associate Editor

CHAD TAYLOR
[email protected]

Editor at Large

JAY LENO

Columnists

SIMON KIDSTON, JIM PICKERING, JAY LENO, CARL BOMSTEAD, RICH TAYLOR, ZAK BROWN, JACQUES VAUCHER, DAVID DONOHUE, MICHAEL STRAHAN

Contributors

GARY AXON, CARL BOMSTEAD, BRAD BOWLING, MARTIN BUTTON, SANDRA BUTTON, B.MITCHELL CARLSON, BEN CHESTER, MILES COLLIER,
MASSIMO DELBÒ, WES EISENSCHENK, ALEX FINIGAN, CHUCK GILCHREST, MAX GIRARDO, JAY HARDEN, PAUL HARDIMAN, RUSSELL HAYES,
PIERRE HEDARY, NICK JAYNES, PRESCOTT KELLY, DAVE KINNEY, MICHAEL LEVEN, SUE MEAD, DOMINIQUE PROVOST, SARA RYAN, ROB SASS,
BILL SCHEFFLER, ELANA SCHERR, NICHOLAS SCHORSCH, STEPHEN SERIO, SAM STOCKHAM, JUDY STROPUS, THOR THORSON, CHAD TYSON,
BASEM WASEF, MARK WIGGINTON, JEFF ZURSCHMEIDE

Staff Photographer

JORDAN “JOKER” SMITH

Cartoonist

SCOTT HASELWOOD

BUSINESS ADVERTISING LINKAGE 009 STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP
Publication Title: LINKAGE. 2. Publication Number: 25210. 3. Filing Date: 9/9/2022. Issue
Chief Operating Officer Sr. Vice President, Sponsorships Frequency: 4 issues per year. 5. No. Of Issues Published Annually: 4. 6. Annual Subscription
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[email protected] 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 256
Director of Marketing and Public Relations 1-203-945-7855 Maple Ave, Newport, R.I. 02840. 9. Publisher: Audrain Motorsport, Inc., 256 Maple Ave,
Newport, R.I. 02840. Executive Editor: Chester Allen, 256 Maple Ave, Newport, R.I. 02840.
KATELYN MCSHERRY Advertising Executive Managing Editor: Jim Pickering, 256 Maple Ave, Newport, R.I. 02840. 10. Owner: Audrain
[email protected] Motorsport, Inc., 256 Maple Ave, Newport, R.I. 02840. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees,
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WORLD OF CARS

It’s Sunny and Warm
in Florida and Arizona

THIS ISSUE OF Linkage arrives on the eve January 14-15 at the JW Marriott Turnberry The Concours d’Elegance, on January 15,
of the holiday season, which is also when Resort & Spa in warm Miami, Florida. is really a huge garden party, with guests
many car people wonder what they’re going dressed to the nines indulging in food,
to do in ice-bound January. Some of the 16 classes include: drink, lifestyle displays — and the field of
» DOORS: Gullwing, Pocket, Suicide, outstanding cars. It’s one of the great days
The easy answer is to flee south for fun of the collector-car year, and it arrives when
January car events. Here are two big car Scissors, Canopy many of us need it the most.
events that allow you to steal a week or so of
summer from the heart of winter: » TAILS: Fin, Spoiler, Kamm “The Motorcar Cavalcade is an event
where collectors and enthusiasts gather
Warmth, Miami » GLASS: Curved, Split, Monocle, Flat to share their love and passion for the
and Great Cars automobile with friends, family and
» SOUND: From Antique to Muscle to admirers,” said Jason Wenig, Motorcar
Motorcar Cavalcade — an innovative Hypercar Cavalcade co-Executive Director. “We
concours that pits classics and modern are proud to once again partner with
supercars against each other in eclectic » PAINT: Color and Combinations the Warren Henry Auto Group for this
classes — will start the collector car year on extraordinary event, and it is our honor to
Different kinds of cars from different eras provide an incredible gathering that helps
compete against each other in each class, support the American Cancer Society.
which is unique to Motorcar Cavalcade.
The judges come from many different
backgrounds, including engineering,
fashion and sports.

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RM Sotheby’s
returns to the
Arizona Biltmore

Motorcar Cavalcade kicks Arizona is a compelling mix of tempting cars
off the collector car year in Auction Week — and car festival. The massive Westworld
warm Miami, Florida and The Arizona of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road,
Concours d’Elegance Scottsdale, 85260, is where it all happens.
The JW Marriott provides an unmatched
setting during the warm, tropical winter For years, Arizona Auction Week has For more information, visit www.barrett-
that has made South Florida such a been a wonderful way to steal a few days jackson.com.
famous destination. Simply put, this is an of summer during the middle of winter.
event not to be missed.” The weather is usually cool and sunny in Worldwide Auctioneers
the mornings, warm in the afternoon and
On January 14, concours participants sweater weather in the evenings. Worldwide’s Scottsdale Auction is
can air their cars out on the Speed & Style scheduled for January 25 at the green oasis
Rally — the route goes through Miami, Phoenix and Scottsdale are fun places to of Singh Meadows, 1490 E. Weber Drive,
with special stops on the route. The visit, with lots to do in between auctions. Tempe, 85281. Preview days are January
tour ends with an exclusive party at the 23-25.
Bentley Residences. This year, the Arizona Concours
d’Elegance will make a very welcome For more information, visit www.
Now is the time to submit your car return to Auction Week on January 22 at the worldwideauctioneers.com.
for entry — or reserve your tickets. Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 Drinkwater
For more information, visit www. Blvd., Scottsdale, 85251. RM Sotheby’s Arizona Auction
motorcarcavalcade.com.
The reborn concours’ theme for 2023 is RM Sotheby’s always offers a gorgeous
“The Art of Aerodynamics,” and most of the lineup of cars, and it all happens on January
classes are focusing on sleek cars. “Iconic 26 at the plush Arizona Biltmore Resort &
1950s Aerodynamic Customs,” “1930s Spa at 2400 East Missouri Ave., Phoenix
Aerodynamic French Coachwork” and 85016.
“Aerodynamic Pre-War Sports and Race
Cars” are a few of the classes. Even if you don’t plan to buy or sell a car
in Arizona, it’s worth going to RM Sotheby’s
There will be about 100 cars on display. Preview Day on January 25. RM Sotheby’s
General admission tickets are $75, and display of amazing cars feels like a visit to a
there are premium ticket packages on offer. high-end car museum.
For more information on tickets or entering
your car, visit www.arizonaconcours.org. For more information, visit www.
rmsothebys.com.
Barrett-Jackson’s huge sale
Bonhams Scottsdale
A staggering number of cars will cross
auction blocks in Scottsdale and Phoenix Bonhams’ The Scottsdale Auction on
between January 21 and January 29. January 26 also features amazing cars on
attractive display. It’s always interesting to
The biggest auction is, as usual, Barrett- visit this auction on a preview day, as car
Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction, which will people wander around looking and talking.
run from January 21 through January Car specialists frequently start the cars on
29. Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction offer, and many serious bidders take out
cars for test drives.

Bonhams is located at the Westin
Kierland Resort & Spa, 6902 E. Greenway
Parkway, Scottsdale, 85254.

For more information, visit www.
bonhams.com.

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ON THE COVER

Catching the
Gray Ghost         

Behind the scenes of this issue’s cover image

by JORDAN “JOKER” SMITH

ON A GRAY mid-August morning, I left my Navy Postgraduate I decided that my one shot — the one I really wanted — was of the
School hotel room and headed to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Ghost in action. And I was determined to get it.
Seca in Salinas, California. Chester Allen, the Executive Editor
of Linkage, had invited me to contribute some photography to Tracking the Ghost
the magazine after we met at the 2021 Audrain Motor Week in
Newport, Rhode Island. I was in Monterey for my first Car Week, and Allan recommended I use the panning technique to capture the
naturally, I felt pressure to deliver at least one good shot. essence of speed. Difficult to master, the photographer must track
the car while shooting.
Once inside the track, I met Ellen Bireley at the Le Mans
Centennial Heritage Display. She had used her decades of To capture the experience of actually racing The Gray Ghost, I
experience to bring together the largest-ever gathering of Le Mans– chatted with owner and driver John Hildebrand, who agreed to
winning race cars — 50 in all. Only a handful of cars have won Le let me mount a 360-degree camera inside the car (see the video
Mans twice, and two of them were at Laguna Seca: A Bentley Speed at linkagemag.com). Then I made the long hike up the hill to the
Six (1929 and 1930) and a Ford GT40 Mk I (1968 and 1969). famous Corkscrew and waited.

Ellen told me that 22 cars would drive onto the track for a photo A distant roar indicated the race had started. The Gray Ghost
shoot and offered me a ride. appeared at the top of the hill with Mustangs in close pursuit.

It seemed like I was in the right place at the right time. I didn’t yet Focus. Breathe. Track. Shoot.
know that it’s impossible to be in the wrong place during Monterey The photo was blurred. Second lap, same result.
Car Week. Then I noticed that the racers were coming directly at me over the
hill and then turning sharply right in front of me. The Corkscrew is
Right Place, Right Time notoriously tough for drivers to master — and as I learned, it’s tough
for shooters, too. I needed to accelerate my own motion to match.
On the track, I met Allan Rosenberg, a professional photographer On the last lap, I finally hit it. The Ghost was frozen in time,
with over 50 years of experience. We laughed at the chaotic process perfectly sharp and clear in its anger, leading a Mustang down the
of aligning priceless vehicles driven by half-deaf owners. When a Corkscrew. It’s the cover of this issue.
boom truck arrived to lift the photographers high above the track, Chalk one up for being in the right place at the right time, for the
Allan told me to be ready and to get in line early. His advice paid underdog, and for a little good advice when I needed it.
off — I was the last one up, packed in tight with another shooter at
just under the bucket’s weight limit.

That’s when I learned of The Gray Ghost. It’s a 1964 Pontiac
Tempest daily driver turned track terror. Back in 1970, Herb Adams,
Pontiac’s Special Projects lead engineer, assembled an engineering
team to transform his wife’s grocery getter into a race winner using
more ingenuity than cash.

On its debut in ’71, The Gray Ghost missed qualification due to a
mechanical issue. It forced driver Bob Tullius to start at the back of
the pack. Then, on a rain-soaked track, Tullius’ Pontiac caught up to
the first-place Javelin driven by Mark Donohue. The race announcer
said, “it came out of the mist like a Gray Ghost.”

As a ’65 GTO owner, this car spoke to me. It’s a great story of both
risk and reward, and of an underdog effort using an 80,000-mile
street car as a basis for success.

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a LIVING LEGACY

For one weekend in July,
vintage racing machines break their silence,
barking to life and echoing through time

by TOM GLATCH
Images by TOM & KELLY GLATCH

A CENTURY AGO, the emergent oval track racing scene was Miller-designed Meyer-Drake Offenhauser engine, are striking
drawing huge crowds to the Indianapolis 500 “brickyard” and the displays of form and color.
high-banked board ovals in places like Beverly Hills and Atlantic
City. Esteemed automotive author Griffith Borgeson called the Millers at Milwaukee is where that form and color comes to life,
1920s “The golden age of the American racing car,” and the driving in the thunder of exhaust and the scents of warm oil and hot metal.
forces behind these rapidly developing projectiles were Louis
Chevrolet, Fred and August Duesenberg and Harry Miller. The Harry A. Miller Club, founded by David Vogel Uihlein, Sr.
in 1989, started this annual event at the Milwaukee Mile back
Author Mark L. Dees in his groundbreaking book, “The Miller in 1995. Unlike other vintage events, Millers at Milwaukee is
Dynasty,” said Miller’s race cars “...reached the aesthetic level of different: No competition, no concours judging, no restricted
which critics usually reserve for Gothic stonemasons, Renaissance paddock access — just the opportunity for camaraderie,
goldsmiths and Czarist jewelers.” One look at Leon Duray’s 1927 education and a chance to feel the ground shake as these vintage
Miller 91 Front Drive or the Art Deco 1935 Miller Fords confirms racing machines cackle to life and scream around the oval. Any
that. Even the roadsters of the ’50s and ’60s, powered by the front-engine Indy Car is eligible, along with pre-World War II
Grand Prix racers.

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All participants line up on Friday
morning for the traditional group shot.
Vehicles range from a 1907 Renault
Vanderbilt Cup racer to a 1964 Watson/
Offenhauser Roadster. The event is
limited to 60 automobiles.

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MILLERS AT MILWAUKEE

Special interest THE CARS

Just getting these machines on the track, some a century old, is Millers at Milwaukee is the definition of living history. Each of
these unique racers tells a story.
a challenge. That’s where fellow club members come to the rescue.

Owners with some expertise will lend a hand when needed, and

some with extensive knowledge make a living from these challenges.

Phil Reilly, whose business is restoring and maintaining vintage General Motors, but after
losing control of the company,
oval track and pre-War Grand Prix racers, spent much of the July 8-9 he founded Durant Motors.
Durant sponsored superstar
weekend helping fellow club members while also running the 1960 Jimmy Murphy, and with this
car he won a 250-mile board
A.J. Foyt Bowes Seal Fast roadster he brought from his California track event at Tacoma, WA,
and the 1921 AAA National
shop. Championship.

The local NAPA store doesn’t carry parts for these cars, but Ed Owner, Brent Castle,
Sykesville, MD: “The first
and Wesley Linn have many of Harry Miller’s original patterns and time I came here to Millers at
Milwaukee I was 14 years old
drawings, operating out of Miller’s final shop in Troy, MI, as does (in 1996). My grandpa acquired
the engine from a family friend
Bob McConnell for the Meyer- back in the ’60s. It sat in his
basement on a stand for years.
Drake Offenhauser engines at his He was involved at Indy in the
’40s, and he later restored cars.
Ohio business. My grandpa was involved with
the Miller club but never had
Track time is in two sessions: a car.

One for racers operated at a slower “When my grandpa turned
84, he decided he wanted to
speed, like the cars from the ’20s start building up a transmission
for the engine, so he cast the
and ’30s, then a faster session pattern for the gearbox, built
it, and then he basically just
for more modern machines, didn’t stop. The bodywork
was done by somebody else,
alternating throughout the day. but my grandpa basically did
everything else. It was finished
Just like today’s Indy Cars, these in 2010. My dad and I were
involved in finishing it, too.”
racers had external starters, the

earliest with hand-cranks, later 1921 Miller Durant Special #2

with external battery-powered Early Miller and Duesenberg
racers were 4-cylinder
starters. Many vintage machines, machines, but the Duesenberg
brothers introduced their
and all re-created “tribute” straight-eight engines for the
183-ci formula in 1920, winning
cars, have been updated with the French Grand Prix in ’21
and dominating American
onboard starters just for practical ovals. Harry Miller followed
suit, creating his first straight-
convenience. But Chuck Jones’s eight engine and updating
William Durant’s Miller four.
1962 Watson Offy roadster is still Durant was the founder of

started the traditional way: Engage

Harry Miller the hand-held starter into the

crankshaft nose, spin the powerful

electric motor, flip the magneto

switch, and the car’s original 255-ci

Offy stutters and then bellows to

life. The 4-cylinder engines are soon joined by the straight-8 Millers

of the ’20s and Bugattis of the ’30s, the stock-blocks from the “Junk

Formula,” even the incredible sound of Dana Mecum’s 1931 Miller

V-16 Special. It’s deafening.

For those fortunate to know one of the owners, the Millers at

Milwaukee experience is made even more real by a ride in one of

the two-seater racers. A few years ago, my wife, Kelly, encountered

The Milwaukee Mile from the riding mechanics’ seat of Joseph

Freeman’s 1915 Duesenberg “Bennett Special.” She described the

4-cylinder, 300-ci 16-valve “walking beam” engine pouring heat and

a fine mist of oil and water in her face, a scorching exhaust pipe just

inches from her elbow, and the unrelenting concrete wall of The

Mile at 80 mph, buzzing by, just feet away.

Her experience was typical — another first-time female “riding

mechanic,” 82-years-young, climbed out of the 1932 Chrysler

Riverside Special and breathlessly exclaimed, “That was incredible!”

Scott Larsen, owner of a Bugatti Type 57, told us, “I’ll have friends

and family, employees and their kids, all on the track with me. Those

young people get some exposure; that’s really cool, that’s what this is

all about.”

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Harry C. Stutz commissioned Harry Miller to build this car for driving ace Tommy Milton
for the new 122-ci formula. In the 1923 Indianapolis 500 Tommy Milton defeated Jimmy
Murphy in the Durant Special for the victory — the first for a Miller automobile.

The Durant Special was 1923 Miller HCS Special #1 race, with Milton taking the car was in an auction of ours,
restored by Brent Castle’s victory. This was the first Indy and I promised the consignor
grandfather and father Like Durant, Harry C. Stutz 500 win for a Miller automobile. we’d sell it. I had a buyer lined
over a 10-year span. Brent lost control of the company up, he sat in the front row, and
was a teenager at the time he founded. He then formed Owner, Dana Mecum, never bid. I then bought the car.
and participated in the HCS Motor Car Company. Walworth, WI: “I grew up I always collected muscle cars
restoration. Brent is the only Stutz commissioned Harry around racing, my dad raced and Corvettes, but that was the
third-generation member Miller to build this car for locally, and we went to the nucleus of the Indy cars. At one
of the Harry A. Miller club driving ace Tommy Milton for Indianapolis 500. We’d go to time, I gathered every Indy car I
and is on the club’s Board of the new 122-ci formula. In the the Meadowdale Race Course could gather, and I later sorted
Directors. 1923 Indianapolis 500, Jimmy and we lived right next to the some of those out. Anything
Murphy in the Durant Miller Rockford Speedway.” around American performance
and Tommy Milton in the HCS sort of fits with what I do.”
Miller battled for most of the “In 1998 I brought the Rex
Mays Gilmore car to this event.
I’ve been here ever since. The

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MILLERS AT MILWAUKEE In 1927 Leon Duray paid Harry Miller $15,000 for
the sixth Miller 91 Front Drive produced. Miller
was the first builder to perfect front-wheel
drive for superior traction with the tires of the
era — and to reduce the frontal area for better
aerodynamics and lower center of gravity.

1927 Miller 91 Front Drive #4 The Front Drives are marvels of precision In 1929, Duray shipped this
and detail, and as much as 285-hp was and a sister 91 Front Drive to
George Stewart raced under generated by the 91 cubic inch (1.5 liter) Monza, where they shocked the
the name “Leon Duray” and was supercharged straight eight turning 8,000 Europeans with their speed.
one of the stars of Speedway RPM. Duray qualified on pole for the 1928 Ettore Bugatti traded three of
racing in America. In 1927, he Indianapolis 500 with a speed that took his automobiles to Duray for
paid Harry Miller $15,000 for nine years to better: 122.391 mph. This the two Miller 91s to copy the
the sixth Miller 91 Front Drive Miller is now in the Indianapolis Motor double overhead cam design
produced. Miller had created Speedway Museum collection. for his own engines, beginning
the prototype Front Drive at with the 1931 Type 50.
the end of the 122-ci formula,
becoming the first builder to In 1959, Griffith Borgeson
perfect front-wheel drive for brought both Duray Millers
superior traction with the tires back to the United States.
of the era, to lower the center of He sold the Duray #4 to the
gravity, and to reduce the frontal Indianapolis Motor Speedway
area for better aerodynamics. As Museum, with the #18 “Packard
much as 285-hp was generated Cable Special” now in the
by the 91 cubic inch (1.5 liter) Smithsonian.
supercharged straight-eight
turning 8,000 rpm. Jason Vansickle, Vice
President of Curation and
Duray qualified on pole for Education, Indianapolis
the 1928 Indianapolis 500 with a Motor Speedway Museum,
speed that took nine more years Indianapolis, IN: “We bring a
to better: 122.391 mph. He then car from our collection every
set the world’s closed course year, thanks to Ed Dalton of
record of 148.17 mph on the Classic Car Carriers. We chose
Packard Proving Ground oval — the famous Leon Duray Miller
a record that stood 24 years. 91 this year.”

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Alan Bro of Appleton, Wisconsin took a 6-cylinder Chrysler engine and transmission and whatever else he
could find, to create the Riverside Special for the Indianapolis “Junk Formula.” Riders are encouraged at
Millers at Milwaukee in the two-seater cars.

1932 Chrysler Riverside 1935 Miller Ford #23 independent suspension and cancelled the program, they
a low, rakish body, the Miller would have been successful.
Special #45 Career huckster Preston Fords were as beautiful and
Tucker, who later created the innovative as anything Miller “53 years ago, I went to the
Dreams of winning the Tucker automobile, teamed had ever done. Eight cars were Indy 500 for the first time with
Indianapolis 500 are rarely with Harry Miller to pitch built, but only five were ready my dad. Dad had me hooked. I
fulfilled. But the “Junk Formula” a program of stock-block for competition, completely have the book ‘The Golden Age
gave common people the rags- powered racers to Edsel Ford. untested. Future champion of the American Racing Car’
to-riches opportunity. Ford was promoting the Ted Horn qualified 26th and memorized! I’m a mechanical
performance of their flathead finished 16th, but the four cars engineer, I was in the machine
Alan Bro of Appleton, WI, V8 engine, and Tucker felt a that qualified all dropped out building business, and working
had such a dream. He took team of Ford V8 racers in the with steering gear that froze on these cars is no different
a 6-cylinder Chrysler engine 1935 Indianapolis 500 would be under the heat of the unvented than building a machine. I also
and transmission, Marmon the perfect marketing medium. engine compartments. Henry own the 1923 Jimmy Murphy
front axle and backing plates, Ford agreed, and the Miller Ford cancelled the program Miller Grand Prix car. I joined
Auburn rear axle, and whatever Ford was born. immediately. the club in 2008 and am now a
else he could find to create the board member.
Riverside Special. Dual Winfield Tucker promised Ford 10 Owner, Bill Hoff,
carburetors added some power, cars for the 1935 500 — an Pecatonica, IL: “Harry Miller “I need a cup of coffee in
and he fashioned an aluminum impossible task given the late was almost there with these the morning, otherwise I don’t
body. Alan Bro’s dream of date of the agreement. With cars. I really feel if Ford hadn’t have any addictions other than
competing in the Indianapolis front-wheel drive, four-wheel these.”
500 never materialized, but
he raced it on local dirt tracks, Front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension, with a low, rakish body, the Miller Fords were
and the Riverside Special made as beautiful and innovative as anything Miller had ever done. Future champion Ted Horn qualified
a nice hot rod, too — the car 26th and finished 16th. The cars were completed just before qualifying began and were untested.
was notorious for outrunning
the police on the streets of his
hometown.

Owner, Eric Andersen,
Barbourville, VA: “As a kid
I used to fool around with
high-performance Model As.
Later in adulthood I got back
into it. Then I saw a picture of a
car like this on a calendar. I said,
‘Oh my God, I got to have one
of these things.’ And then one
thing led to another. I bought
the remnants of this car about
25 years ago, and it took about
10 years to restore, and a couple
more years to shake it out
properly. I’ve been coming here
since 1997, at first without a car.

“This club was fantastic. Back
then there were still two guys
in the club that drove at Indy in
the ’30s!”

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MILLERS AT MILWAUKEE

Scott Larsen has driven his unusual Bugatti Type 57 at the Lime Rock
Vintage Festival, Watkins Glen Grand Prix, and Monterey Historic Races,
but enjoys giving friends and family rides at Millers at Milwaukee,
something other vintage events do not allow.

1936 Bugatti Type 57 #8 here to check out the Millers. 1937 Iddings Special DO HAL decided to convert the racer
After he passed away and I got to Indy 500 specs, stretching
Author Mark L. Dees said the car, I found out the Bugatti #91 the wheelbase, adding front
that Ettore Bugatti “Copied the would be eligible for this event. brakes, and replacing the
top ends of his Millers so well I like to share the heritage with The Iddings Special was original Ford Model-B HAL
that the spark plug cups and people — most don’t know the built for John Iddings in 1937 DOHC conversion with an
valve gear of the Type 51 and 55 Miller connection with Bugatti by Henry Meyer of Dayton, Offenhauser. Lee Wallard,
Bugattis will interchange with — plus I get to give family OH. At the hands of various winner of the 1951 Indy 500,
that of a late 91.” Though Scott and friends rides around the drivers, including a young Tony qualified 5th and finished 7th
Larsen has driven his unusual track. You can’t do that at other Bettenhausen, it was a terror at in the 1947 race in this car. It
Bugatti Type 57 at the Lime vintage events.” sprint car races throughout the was destroyed in a crash in
Rock Vintage Festival, Watkins Midwest. After WWII, Iddings 1951.
Glen Grand Prix, and Monterey
Historic Races, he enjoys The Robert Pavlovich, Franklin,
Milwaukee Mile oval, too. His WI: “I got started at 6 years old
Bugatti was badly modified sitting in the North Turn over
years ago by a previous owner here with my mom and dad. We
and is now restored after the always came to the races at The
design of the Type 59/50B Milwaukee Mile. When I got old
Grand Prix racer in the Musée and senile, I decided I wanted
National de l’Automobile in an Indy car. I found this car
Mulhouse, France. nearby; it didn’t look anything
like this but using a picture
Owner, Scott Larsen, of this car at Indy I was able
Mequon, WI: “This is my fifth to rebuild this car from that
year coming here. The reason I picture. All the components are
come is this was my father’s car, period correct. It was a labor
and he loved Miller cars, a big of love.
enthusiast, and he would come
“When this car ran at Indy
The Iddings Special was built for John Iddings in 1937 by Henry Meyer of Dayton, Ohio. This it had an oil cooler from a
Sprint Car was a terror at Midwest dirt tracks but was converted for Indianapolis after WWII. P-38 Lightning fighter plane.
Lee Wallard, winner of the 1951 Indy 500, finished seventh in the 1947 race in this car. A few years ago, at this show
someone wanted to trade for
some parts I had. Here he had
a brand-new oil cooler from a
P-38 Lightning in the box! He
gave me $150 to boot. I still
can’t believe that happened!”

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Steve Noffke’s racer is a reproduction of the Floyd
Trevis-built A.J. Watson-style roadster driven by Ronnie
Duman at Indianapolis in 1964. Duman finished 31st in
the aging “Clean Wear Services Co.” roadster.

1964 Trevis Clean Wear to buy just the nose, and he Duman’s car, and I just fell in MORE INFORMATION
said, ‘I can build you a car for a love with it. So, when it came
Services Co. Tribute #64 reasonable price. If I build you time to choose what car to Harry A. Miller Club
a vintage Indy car, you’ll meet replicate, I chose the Duman P.O. Box 740762
Griffith Borgeson, in “The a whole new group of people car. I called Ronnie’s son, Rick, Boynton Beach, FL 33474
Golden Age of the American you’ve never met before.’ and told him we were building harrymillerclub.com
Racing Car,” said that “Racing this tribute, and he gave me his The 28th Annual Millers at
obviously is madness.” Steve “I’ve always loved pink and dad’s scrapbook. This really is Milwaukee will be July 7-8, 2023
Noffke is reminded of that black cars, and in the 1964 the best group of people you’ll
every time he drives through edition of ‘Racing Pictorial’ ever meet.”
The Milwaukee Mile’s first turn. there is a photo of Ronnie
His machine is a reproduction
of the Floyd Trevis-built A.J.
Watson-style roadster driven by
Ronnie Duman at Indy in 1964.

Owner, Steve Noffke,
Mt. Healthy, OH: “As a kid I
drew Watson roadsters in my
notebooks in school. I raced
Formula Fords in the ’70s and
’80s. I wanted to get back into
it, and in 2012 I saw an ad for
a guy that made fiberglass
Watson nosepieces. I was going

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AD

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NOTE FROM EUROPE

Matching Colors — that’s originality. “Patina” is a polite relation, often preceded by
Should We Care? “charming.”

If you don’t like the original color, consider buying a You’re told you’re supposed to appreciate it, but really what you
different car want is “mint,” “concours” or best of all, “Platinum” — if you own
horses that never get ridden.
by SIMON KIDSTON
But “original” should mean “as created,” which is the golden
WHAT’S THE FIRST thing you notice when you see a car? I’m going standard for collectors of just about anything. And yet people who
to bet that, whether you realize or not, it’s the color. That seems to be obsess about originality are often the first ones to quietly change the
what most people remember when the police ask them to identify a color of their car and, if challenged, justify it as “a period option.”
fleeing vehicle —not the make or model. Sure, it may have been available, but a sportier, better-looking body
might have been too: Can you change that just because the first
Humor me whilst we tackle a divisive classic car argument. owner might have ordered it?
“Original” is probably the most-abused word in the car collecting
community. Count how many times it’s used on average in an Matching numbers and money
auction sale description.
“Perfect” is a no-no you’re taught on day one of catalog writing, as “Matching numbers” have long been essential if you want your
it invites litigation when the first bit falls off as you drive away, but pride and joy to command the highest price when the time comes to
“original” covers a multitude of sins. say goodbye.
Engine fumigating your neighborhood? Leather sagging like a
reality TV star? Floors rusted through to the road? Don’t complain, But ask a previous owner — especially if it’s a race car — if they
remember their car’s engine number. I’ll bet you most can’t. They’d
probably look at you sideways and ask why you care.

After all, for years engines were swapped if you could find a faster
or more-reliable one. Just think about old Italian racers which
soldiered on in South America with scrapyard-sourced V8s and
exotic four-cam Porsches that received a pushrod replacement the
first time an owner missed a gear change — or their long-suffering
mechanic decided enough was enough.

Lawyers have been kept busy for years by buyers suing sellers over
re-stamped engines, often done decades before anyone except race
scrutineers bothered to check. Nowadays, it’s not about going fast or
not breaking down: It’s about the perfect score in a show or auction,
and the financial difference that makes, which in extreme cases can
mean millions.

Color changes

So why should original colors, which are far more obvious, be any
different?

Every era has its color fads: Rosso with Crema was the default
option for Ferraris in the Wall Street ‘80s (perhaps accounting for

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the rarity of the light green Testarossa I was offered yesterday for 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff Cabriolet wearing
$825,000), and it seems that every PTS (not a medical expression but its non-original black coat. It is now repainted to
Paint To Sample) Porsche leaves the factory in some shade of green the original Rouge Andrinople
in the 2020s.
mile was to repaint it in the original Rouge Andrinople.
We’ve come a long way since Henry Ford would sell you a Model Putting the interior back to the correct grey is next on the list.
T in any color you wanted “as long as it’s black.” In the Roaring I could go on: A young client from Hong Kong wanted a great
Twenties and even the Depression-era 1930s, two-tone liveries
were the height of fashion — a trend America continued into the Ferrari 275 GTB/4. We tracked down a gunmetal/red car restored by
Rock’n’Roll 1950s. a high-profile UK specialist. It didn’t take long to research that it was
originally one of two made in Verde Scuro (dark green) with orange
Europeans tended to be more subdued (poorer), so even into the leather.
Swinging 1960s, the most common Ferrari colours after red were
grey and blue. Lamborghini shook things up with DayGlo orange After a few months in Modena, it was the talk of Villa d’Este when
and pistachio before the Gritty 1970s dawned, and everything it debuted back in its original livery. What I want to know is: Who
became brown or perhaps gold, including antiques restored for either didn’t bother to check how it was built when they restored
Pebble Beach, where the gold was replaced by chrome. it the first time, or who thought their choice should prevail over
history? Either way they should stick to ‘speccing’ modern cars.
The first classic car boom proved a field day for restorers (mostly
body shops who just raised their prices), when suddenly everything I did say it was a divisive argument, didn’t I?
was faster and worth more if it were repainted red. And now most A Dutch car and art collector I look up to — and who has far
enlightened collectors are putting them back to how they were more experience than I — once said to me: “If I bought Van Gogh’s
originally, except a few of the old guard — who think all Ferraris “Sunflowers” but decided I preferred blue to yellow, should I just
should be red and pre-war cars should be black. change it?”
If you don’t like the original colour, buy a different car and let
Errors happen someone who does have it instead.

I’ve made the same mistakes. The first family car I bought back
was my dad’s 1935 Bentley 3½ Litre Drophead — a barn find
stripped of paint that had languished in an abandoned dairy near
London for generations.

I had it restored down to a budget, as it wasn’t worth much, in
black. I wish I’d waited and done the job once and properly, rather
than having to redo it later in the original Regal Red after loaning it
as the hero car in the recent remake of Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” and
getting it back somewhat worse for wear.

Another family car, a unique 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff
Cabriolet, was also originally red, but a highly respected U.S.
collector decided it would look better in black. When I acquired it
after years of lobbying, the first thing I did before driving a single

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FUNNY THAT YOU ASKED

The Risk of
Not Taking Risks

The more knowledgeable you are about your
subject, the lower the risk factor.

by JAY LENO

I WAS TOLD the theme for this issue was Phil said within minutes he was screaming Steaming in L.A.
risk, but what is risk exactly? The dictionary like a schoolgirl and demanded to be let out
defines it as: Exposure to the chance of of of the car. So, which is the bigger risk, 200 I enjoy driving 100-year-old steam cars
injury or loss; A hazard or dangerous mph at the Nürburgring — or the Interstate in L.A. traffic. People say to me, “Aren’t you
chance: It’s not worth the risk. 5 freeway in L.A. in a 90-year-old car with a afraid it might blow up? Isn’t that risky?”
guy who has no idea what he’s doing?
But what if it is worth the risk? Is it still a Well, no, because steam cars don’t blow
risk? I contend that the more knowledgeable up. The worst than can happen is you might
you are about your subject, the lower the risk scorch the boiler or blow a pressure relief
I remember having this discussion with factor. valve and release a ton of steam into the
the United States’ first F1 champion, Phil
Hill. During a time when many racers were
racing in short-sleeve shirts — and maybe
a seatbelt — although many argued it was
still better to be thrown clear of the car, Phil
remained unscathed.

In his entire career I don’t believe Phil
ever broke a car or was seriously injured.

Being both a Jaguar and Packard
mechanic, Phil had the greatest mechanical
sympathy I have ever seen. Like a great
jockey who is also a horse whisperer, Phil
knew how to get the most out of his steed
without flogging it.

I once asked him, “What’s your biggest
risk in race car driving?”

He quickly answered, “Non race car
drivers.”

Phil said he was never more scared and
concerned for his well-being than when a
more-money-than-brains customer would
try to impress him with his driving skill. Phil
once regaled me with a hilarious story about
a guy who had just purchased a 1920s W.O.
Le Mans Bentley and was determined to
impress him.

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