Al Miller

28/4/1907 - 18/8/1967

Record updated 28-Apr-20

Miller raced in the 1930s and 1940s. Miller is one of three drivers to have participated in the Indianapolis 500 with a prosthetic leg. The others being Bill Schindler and Cal Niday.

Al Miller

Born Allen Miller in Standish, Michigan, he raced in the 1930s and 1940s. He is not related to Indy driver Al Miller, who raced at Indy in the mid-1960s. 

Miller is one of three drivers to have participated in the Indianapolis 500 with a prosthetic leg. 

Part of the Miller racing dynasty, which included his older brother Bruce, who was killed in a crash at the Milwaukee Mile in 1928 when was thrown from his car trying to avoid a car that had spun and was thrown out into the path of another car. 

Al Miller lost a leg in a motorcycle accident and switched from two to four wheels. He made thirteen appearances at the Brickyard, starting in 1932. His best result coming two years later when he crossed the line in 6th driving one of Phil Shafer's Rigling-Buicks.

He was not shy of driving bizare machines at Indy and in 1947 he drove the 4 wheel drive rear engined Tucker '48 Special Racer. He qualified quite well at 124 mph, just 2 mph slower than the fastest qualifier. Unfortunately in the race the car retired on the 34th lap with magneto trouble. He made his last appearance there in 1947. In his 13 Indy 500s he actually only completed the distance once, the year he finished 6th, though he came close on a number of occasions.

He was a popular driver and a practical joker, once in a race having crashed and got his prosthetic leg caught, he undid it and climbed out of the car holding his leg much to the horror of those in the crowd who did not know of his condition!

Miller later ran his own petrol station in Standish. 

The Tucker deserves a post all of its own so I wont go further now but... watch this space

  



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