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The Don Miller H-Mod Sports Race Cars

Our car was one of about 40 H-Modified class racecars designed and built by Don Miller (no relation to the Indy Miller cars) in California during the late 50s and early to mid-1960s. All were different, built to various specs and often owner finished. Our car was probably one of the last cars he built (more on this subject later).

Mr. Miller's earlier cars were front-engined racecars, classified and raced as H-Modified in SCCA. The later cars were mid-engine, as is this car, and were classified as a D Sports Racer. Don worked as an aerospace engineer in those years (Douglas Aircraft). So, many chassis parts/tubes/fasteners, etc. probably came from their bins. The cars were all powered by the then-popular, highly tuned, 850cc Crosley (as in Crosley Hot Shot) motors and Fiat transmissions. Many of the brake components were also Fiat parts.  For a nicely done history of the H-Mod era, please visit http://sports.racer.net/vintage.htm

The Team Terrific Miller Sports Racer

The car's drive train has been modified from the original H-Mod powerplant, probably a Crosley 850cc engine.  Who/when it was converted to its current engine/transaxle configuration is unknown.  This was done by whoever owned and raced it in California.  The conversion was done prior to 1999 (when we purchased the car), but after 1990 (as proven by the 1990 SCCA Logbook picture at right which shows the car in its original power train configuration).  So, after 1990 it was converted it to its current four cylinder 1600cc Ford pushrod motor and the Hewland transaxle.  

This is the same basic engine as used in Formula Ford spec series.  However the current engine is fitted with dual 40 DCOE Weber carburetors and a mild cam shaft, thus creating about 10 more horsepower than the spec FF engine. The transmission is the Hewland MK-8 four-speed transaxle. The car is capable of about 125+ mph top speed.

The car is raced regularly by Diane Alder at Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing events as well as with other vintage club events around the country. In February of 2004 the car participated in the fantastic annual four-event Southern Festival of Speed races in New Zealand.  Follow this link for a ton of, if not exhaustive, information on that one-in-a-lifetime adventure.

The 1999 Purchase Of The Car

In the the spring of 1999 the car was donated by it's prior owner, Terry Hefty, to a fund raiser for one of RMVR's members who was battling cancer.  I was fortunate to be the winning bidder.  At the time Diane had not yet started racing.  But during the evening the cute Miller, aided by a few glasses of wine and urging from other lady drivers, caused her to say, "I think I'd like to start racing now."  The RMVR Spring Driver's School was in two weeks.  She was there and the rest is history. Below are the happy new owners of the car that fateful evening when we purchased the car.

Bob & Diane, it's first day on track at a Pueblo Test & Tune day.. This was before a new seat and a windscreen were fitted 

An Historical Sidebar:  At left are pictures of another Miller.  Look familiar?  This car, owned by Franklin "Rudy" Rudolph when these pictures were take, is documented as "The Last Miller" built by Don Miller in 1967. (Note:  Subsequent research in 2015 by the new owner of this car, Jeff Awender,  indicate it was probably built earlier than the1967 date indicated in Joe Puckett's book.  In fact, he's pretty sure it was 1962.)  

Sadly, Diane's beloved Miller had a freak "incident" at our Race Against Kids' Cancer in August of 2018.  You ain't gonna' believe this;  it got rolled being towed back to the pits.  Long sad story.  Knackered it pretty good, all body work and frame were damaged. Diane was unhurt because she remained fully belted up in the car!  Watch the video carefully in the upper right hand corner.  Video was  taken by the track's video system. 

To see the detailed 2018-2019 restoration, visit the gallery on our SmugMug site with extensive pictures of the restoration process.. As seen below, the result is that it is back to its original glory.  Actually even better given the new frame from the roll bar back.