1930 Sampson Miller U16 Special

Specifications:
Two 100.5 cu. in. inline eight-cylinder engines, three-speed manual transmission, tubular front axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, four-wheel brakes. Wheelbase: 103"

The Ex-Alden Sampson/Louis Meyer

Indianapolis Speedway owner Eddie Rickenbacker set forth a new formula for the 1930 race, intending to lower the cost of racing and to encourage participation by the automakers. While a maximum engine size of 366 cubic inches and dual carburetors were permitted, supercharging was eliminated on four-cycle engines and the riding mechanic was allowed once more after a seven-year absence.

Master mechanic Riley Brett devised an ingenious and unconventional response. In mid-1929 Brett, Alden Sampson and driver Louis Meyer began work on a new car in the old Miller plant. Everett Stevenson drafted the design, and Myron Stevens built the frame and bodywork. The design of the car was quite straightforward, with Miller components used throughout the chassis, and the attractive Stevens-built body featuring a unique grille insert.

Brett proposed a radical U16 engine configuration, based on two Miller 91 cubic inch engines, placed side by side and backwards in the chassis. Spur gears replaced the flywheels on each engine, while a third spur gear mounted between them drove a hollow driveshaft to the clutch housing, containing a standard Miller 91 flywheel and clutch assembly. In turn, the power was transmitted through a standard Miller 91 transmission.

To allow the narrowest possible chassis and body, both engines were set very close together. Brett designed new cylinder blocks cast with downdraft intake ports between the camshafts. This arrangement allowed the intake manifold to be placed above the cylinder blocks. Two Winfield carburetors were utilized, and a slightly larger bore raised displacement to 100.5 cubic inches per engine. A special cross-drive gearbox, driven by the center spur gear, operated a twin-magneto ignition system.

Over its lengthy career, the Sampson Special qualified for the Indianapolis 500 seven times! It was the second fastest qualifier at the 1930 Indianapolis 500, with a speed of 111.290 miles per hour, and driver Louis Meyer and riding mechanic Sampson led the first two laps of the race. At the 100-mile mark, Meyer was forced to pit for throttle repairs, but managed to charge back to a fourth place finish. The next year, Winton Crow replaced Sampson as the riding mechanic. Meyer posted the fastest qualifying time at 113.953 miles per hour, but the car retired on lap 25. Meyer returned to drive in 1932, with Dale Drake as the riding mechanic. Starting from seventh place, a broken crankshaft followed a skid on lap 51, ending their day.

Chet Gardner replaced Meyer as driver for the 1933 Indianapolis 500, and he and new riding mechanic Hershell McKee, starting from 15th position, remained near the front for the entire race, finishing in fourth place. Gardner and McKee returned for 1934, qualifying at 114.786 miles per hour, starting from fifth position, however a connecting rod failure put them out on the 76th lap, marking the final appearance of the U16 engine at the Speedway.

The tenacious Sampson entered the car in the 1935 Indy 500, this time with a 220 cubic inch Miller engine. With Gardner driving and Verne Lake as riding mechanic, the team started from ninth place, finishing in seventh position. In its final appearance at the 'Brickyard' in 1936, driver Harry McQuinn and riding mechanic James Chappell started near the back of the field and rose to seventh position, until they ran out of fuel on lap 196.

The Sampson's return to glory begins in 1969, with Pete and Marlene Schneider of Thousand Oaks, California, who were advised of an old race car that might be for sale. The owner had purchased it from a Los Angeles wrecking yard during World War II with the intention of creating a hot rod, but instead left the car untouched in his garage. The Schneiders purchased the mysterious car and tried to confirm its identity. A visit from Louis Meyer confirmed the car as being the Sampson Special indeed, and the Schneiders retained ownership until 2001, when Joe MacPherson purchased it.

MacPherson retained Greg Schneider to investigate the feasibility of reconstructing the long-lost U16 engine. Schneider traced four special engine blocks sold by Riley Brett in the 1980s to Miller enthusiast Chuck Davis. In addition, Davis possessed the original magneto drive and clutch housing. The existence of two more cylinder blocks and the 1934 version of the intake manifold were also confirmed. Meanwhile, George Parker, using the original Miller patterns, had reproduced all necessary aluminum castings for the Miller 91 engine.

Encouraged, Joe MacPherson elected to proceed with the project. Schneider, assigned the task of project manager, studied period photographs to ensure authenticity, with the assistance of Dave Hilberry at the I.M.S. photo shop. The biggest challenge was the gear drive assembly. Schneider and Neal Letourneau recreated the drawings for the needed parts using Neal's skill as a CAD designer, and the required parts were faithfully reproduced. The cast aluminum front cover was particularly complex, housing the spur gears, magneto mounting platforms and the front motor mount trunnion. A steel mock-up of the gear drive assembly confirmed the design, and a period correct wooden pattern was created and sent for casting.

Next, all engine-related components were shipped to Phil Reilly & Co., where the castings were machined and other necessary parts were either located or reproduced. Sonny Bryant machined the crankshafts while David Wallace expertly assembled the entire U16 engine. Meanwhile, the correct Miller 91 transmission was duplicated in Minnesota, using original Miller drawings. According to Phil Reilly, the engines have not been started and will require further work, including the fabrication of water distribution tubes and exhaust headers.

Master craftsman Darwin 'Squeak' White disassembled the body and chassis, revealing how original and unaltered the chassis was. The grille shell, cowl and tail are also original, except for the upper tail section, which had been lowered at some point in time. The frame rails were straightened and White cleaned and inspected all of the parts. The car was then reassembled, including the preliminary installation of the U16 engine. Unfortunately, Mr. MacPherson's passing halted this great restoration effort.

Offered is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a uniquely powered and important Indianapolis two-man racecar with connections to three-time Indy winner Louis Meyer, the highly respected Riley Brett, long time car owner Alden Sampson and the genius of Harry A. Miller.