Classic Competition� 1968 SSDT

Even some fifty years on in 2018, if you mention the name Samuel Hamilton Miller in motorcycle circles a story will always come from the reply. Across all motorcycle disciplines, he has had some connection, but it was first in road racing where his sheer gritty determination to be the best was always evident in the Irishman's attitude to winning. The precision and attention to the preparation were applied to his machinery moved across from the four-stroke Ariel in late 1964 to the new two-stroke Bultaco Sherpa in 1965. Success was achieved immediately, and in many ways not much changed as he won the 'Scottish' and the British Trials championship. The once mighty manufacturing industry was in decline, and Miller knew it, hence the move to the Spanish Bultaco. As is well documented, his vision of the future of the trials motorcycle development fell on deaf ears in Great Britain, whereas in Spain it was received with a warm embracing welcome. The Lampkin brothers, Arthur and Alan, had put up a brave fight for the once proud BSA name as Arthur won the 1965 Scott and Alan the 1966 'Scottish' and Scott. By 1967 Miller was like a machine and took all the major honours in a truly magnificent season for himself and Bultaco. At the 1968 'Scottish' it was a case of 'Pure Miller Magic' as not only did he win the event but he set a new benchmark of five wins in the tough Highland event, overtaking both Hugh Viney and Gordon Jackson with four victories each. The first ever manufacturers' win for a foreign brand, with the Bultaco team consisting of Miller, Arthur Dovey and Jim Sandiford, was the icing on the cake. The Spanish had arrived.