{"id":6901,"date":"2014-07-17T16:58:27","date_gmt":"2014-07-17T23:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=6901"},"modified":"2014-07-17T17:01:50","modified_gmt":"2014-07-18T00:01:50","slug":"gunners-classic-corner-the-2014-miller-meet-at-the-milwaukee-mile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/gunners-classic-corner-the-2014-miller-meet-at-the-milwaukee-mile\/","title":{"rendered":"[Gunner’s Classic Corner] The 2014 Miller Meet at the Milwaukee Mile"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ted Davis brought this 1913 Mercer from Oklahoma.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An amazing vintage racing event started in Milwaukee, Wis., on a July weekend 20 years ago. It celebrated the genius of the Wisconsin native Harry A. Miller and included pre-war Indianapolis racing cars. Collectors Bob Sutherland, David Uihlein and Chuck Davis teamed up to present the inaugural Millers at Milwaukee meet at the historic Milwaukee Mile. Despite a heat wave, a small but dedicated group of enthusiasts raced into car collecting history. From the start, they hoped it would become an annual event and 2014 marked two decades.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s program indicated that 52 historic racing cars came to the Millers at Milwaukee Vintage Indy Car Event July 11-12, but at least one more car showed up as we took five exhilarating laps around the track in Lou Natenshon\u2019s \u201933 \u201cJunk Formula\u201d Ford, with Rex Barrett driving. Natenshon said that the arrival of a part at the very last minute allowed him to participate again. For other club members such as Buck Boudeman, Joe Freeman and Mitch Rasansky, it was the 20th<\/sup> trip to an event known for its incredible machines.<\/p>\n

Rasansky brought his 1927 Miller in 1995 and Rasansky was there with an equally great old racing car. Freeman still comes from Boston, Mass., to enter cars from his collection. He had three 2014 entries, the 1952 Kurtis Kraft No. 25, 1960 Joe Hunt Magneto Special No. 76 and 1963 John Frey Special No 67.<\/p>\n

Classic car auction-guru Dana Mecum is the current president of the club. \u201cThis will be a milestone event for our group,\u201d he said as he invited everyone with a vintage racing car to make their way to Milwaukee. \u201cThere are only 60 entry spots,\u201d Mecum noted. \u201cSo it is important to get an application in early.\u201d He promised participant more track time than drivers get at any other event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our 2014 meet began on Thursday night with a brat, burger and beer party. Friday started with a 9:00 am group track photo, followed by a drivers\u2019 meeting. The first cars hit the track around 10 am and after a lunch from noon until 12:30 the exhibition racing continued until about until 4 pm. Two hours later the enthusiasts gathered at the Crowne Plaza hotel for a silent auction, cocktail hour and buffet dinner. On Saturday the track gates opened at 8 am and racing continued through the afternoon. There was a vendor area with parts, memorabilia and racing cars for sale and a classic car display area.<\/p>\n

Some of the famous racing cars at the meet included the \u201820 Milton-Durant Miller owned by Terry Castle of Indianapolis, a \u201813 Mercer owned by Ted Davis of Oklahoma City, the \u201830 Fred Frame Duesenberg owned by Miles Collier of Naples, Fla., Dennis Holloway\u2019s \u201826 Bugatti Type 37A, Dana Mecum\u2019s \u201832 Hupp Comet and the \u201833 Red Lion Miller owned by Bob McConnell of Urbana, Ohio.<\/p>\n