Sammy Miller

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Age 23, Sammy Miller from Belfast has rapidly shot into fame by virtue of his exploits with the streamlined 'Sportsmax' NSU. In the 1955 Ulster Grand Prix he held out a good second place behind John Surtees on a similar model, and he then went on to cause a sensation in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza by leading the race in the early stages; for the remaining laps he enjoyed a terrific battle with Baltisberger and Ubbiali before finishing in third place.

In the 1956 Lightweight TT Sammy was making Ubbiali work very hard and the lead was constantly changing between the two. But on the sixth lap, engine trouble halted in the Ulsterman leaving the race in the bag for Ubbiali. On home ground for the North West 200 and Leinster 200 meetings, he scored two 250 cc. class wins at 87.67 and 79.60 mph respectively.

Other placings during the season included a sixth in the 250 cc event of the Grand Prix des Nations at Monza and a second behind Taveri in the Ulster GP. In the TT last year he was fifth in the Lightweight and fourth in the 125 on his Mondials, collecting a couple of Silver Replicas. Ten days later he won the General Handicap and the 250 cc class of the Leinster 200 on an NSU and similarly mounted won the 250 cc class of Killinchy 150 a week later.

Going over to the Continent he was well-placed (on Mondials) in three Championship races, as follows: Dutch TT 250, 3rd; 125, 6th; Belgian Grand Prix 250, 2nd; Grand Prix of Nations 125, 2nd; 250, 5th. Last month he was second in the 250 cc class of the Austrian Grand Prix, and won the 250 cc class of the North West 200, finishing about a length ahead of Mike Hailwood. Both were on NSUs.

(TT Special, Friday, June 06, 1958 p20)

Nationality: Irish

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