When Sammy arrived in Hampshire nearly half a century ago he had already retired from a highly productive road-racing career. He was known as Britain’s most successful ever trials rider and was regarded as one of the industry’s most imaginative development engineers.
Always unhappy standing still he opened a motorcycle shop which swiftly evolved into producing aftermarket modifications for competition machines. While we blinked, momentarily, several interesting machines (with which he refused to part) helped form the initial Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. This new venture, alongside the existing business, continued to expand, prompting a search for larger premises.
In 1996 he took over the run down premises of an old farm and converted the barns into a modern, prestigious building which now houses one of the finest collections of fully restored motorcycles in the world, including factory racers and exotic prototypes. The collection now totals over 400 vehicles and Sammy has justifiably gained an excellent reputation for restoring rare or historic motorcycles, not just on behalf of the Museum but for fellow enthusiasts and collectors as well.
His CV is unique. Whether in the role of competitor, engineer, retailer, museum creator, restorer, each of these is a challenging activity. Wouldn’t most of us covet succeeding in but one of these occupations?
The evening’s compere, motorcycling historian Mike Jackson, will handcuff Sammy to his seat, before endeavouring to discover how he’s managed to accomplish so much. And there’s more….. Sammy will be running his 500cc Moto Guzzi V-8 racer during the interval!
The evening, starting at 7.30pm, will be held in the Lecture Theatre of the National Motor Museum Collections Centre. A pay bar is available for the purchase of beers, wines, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Before, the Museum will open from 6.00pm for a private view.
