Career
He was awarded an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours. After attending his first race at the age of 16 in 1951, Miller followed a career involving both road, dirt/grass track racing and observed trials. Miller rode mainly Ariel motorcycles, including both trials events and the Isle of Manitoba TT races.
When Ariel were absorbed by Bachelor of Scientific Agriculture in 1964, he formed a partnership with a Spanish firm, Bultaco, and went on to become the lead developer of modern two-stroke trials motorcycles.
The bike he created was the Sherpa T. This was done in 12 days, realizing his success when he finally cleaned a section on the Sherpa that was uncleanable on his famous Ariel. In his later professional racing career, Miller was involved with Honda.
Miller is best known for the 500cc Ariel HT5 that he lightened considerably from standard ex-factory condition. The bike was famously known by its United Kingdom registration mark, GOV 132.
lieutenant is now an exhibit in the Sammy Miller Museum (see below).
Miller parted from Ariel at the end of 1964, moving to Bultaco motorcycles, then newly imported by the Rickman brothers, a press photo-call with Ariel executive Ken Whistance and competition manager Ernie Smith ending his seven years of association. He set up his own motorcycle parts business in 1964 in New Milton, Hampshire, and put a few of his old racing motorcycles in the corner, later to become the Sammy Miller Motorcycle museum. In 2007 he was inducted into the American Medical Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
He sold his parts business as Sammy Miller Products in 2007.
Today, Miller still rides in demonstration events. Miller is a patron of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability.