Drag Racing Online

Because of these death-defying accomplishments, Miller has earned space in the Guiness Book of Records, received a United States Congress salute and Certificate of Merit, and appeared on U.S. television shows like "That's Incredible," "P.M. Magazine," and "To Tell the Truth." At the NHRA Division 1 Awards Banquet, Miller was elected to their Hall of Fame. In all of the above countries, he was the subject of numerous interviews, for both the print and electronic media.

Naturally with runs this potent, Miller can claim a number of firsts in his racing resume. The only human being that can claim 1-, 2-, or 3-second time slips in either a dragster or funny car and by his own estimate has made almost 200 3-second runs in his career. He is the first man in the fives, fours and threes in a Funny Car in this country and in Europe. He holds every standing start eighth-mile record in Europe and most of its quarter-mile marks.

Think about Miller's t-shirt sales potential. How many racers can put a "1" to the left of the decimal point in e.t? How many can say regardless of who they're talking to, that I've been quicker and faster than you and by a whole bunch? The answer in advance: Nobody.

Mechanically, Miller's achievements almost matched those of his driving efforts. He designed and built the world's first and only radial injected rocket engine which allowed the fuel to be burned more efficiently; patented the secondary oil recovery system to create steam drive; and designed and built the world's first rocket bike for Henk Vink, a bike that featured the first split combustion chamber and throttle valve system.

Despite the world-record rides and the inventions, the world slowed down for "Slammin' Sammy" Miller in the mid-1990s.

By the late eighties and early 1990s, Miller could still muster up dates for his rocket Funny Cars and a little later (1994-95) his "X-1" jet dragster, but times got tougher and dates got fewer.

"The fuel became difficult to manage," said Miller. "It was harder to get ahold of. My old supplier had left a few years back and I had to deal with a French company whose fuel just wasn't up to standard. The whole thing started to get costly and be a hassle, and I made my last rocket ride in 1995."

During all his days as a Funny Car, Top Fuel, and rocket driver, Miller also worked with heavy equipment, in his case, a bulldozer. That's got to be a Clark Kent cover if there ever was one. When asked if his friends on the job knew who he was, Miller responded, "I was in construction all the time I was drag racing and a lot of them knew I raced. I don't know if they all knew how fast, but some did and I find that pretty amazing.

"I won't say I'm low key; I actually had a 200-mph streetable Camaro with a rocket, but I'm not into showy street cars. I absolutely hate traffic so I have no interest in exotic cars at all. I guess that's where you'd find me a little conservative."

Asked if he'd like to do it all again some time, Miller did not hesitate in an affirmative response.

"Oh sure, I'd do it in a heartbeat and I think I'm up to the task. I have been injured. I got burned in my Mustang Funny Car at Indy, broke both ankles in my Barracuda, and lost a knee cap and fractured my neck in a jet wreck. However, today at age 55, I'm 5'9", 170 pounds, easily reached in Wayne, N.J., in good shape, and would love to do it again.

"In fact, right now, I have a brand new set up in a rocket Funny Car that I am storing in England. G-Max Fuels is keeping that car for me and this baby will have 14,000 pounds of thrust to get me down track. My reflexes are good and so is my attitude, and with a little sponsorship help, fans may still get another look at the 'Rocketman,' only this time maybe at 400-mph."