Duray’s Miller Artwork
Ed Dooley highlights a significant car from an exceptional era of American racing car design.
When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway attempted to lower speeds in 1926 by reducing engine size from 122 to 91.5 cubic inches, Harry Miller responded by designing the Miller 91. This particular Miller Special was purchased by Leon Duray in 1927 for $15,000, and he duly entered his black beauty in a 250-mile race on the 1.25-mile Culver City board track in California. His win there established a new record average speed for 250 miles of 124.712mph, breaking Frank Lockhart’s previous mark from Atlantic City by eight mph.
