Interview: Bill Milliken

Bill Milliken has had an interesting life. As an engineer in both the aviation industry and later consultant to the automotive industry, pilot, racecar driver, road course designer, etc., he’s done much in the world of technology. Born in Old Town, Maine, in 1911, Bill was at the forefront of aviation development before and during the Second World War. After the war, Bill branched off into automobiles and, in particular, racing cars. He initially competed at Pikes Peak, and at the first Watkins Glen. He is among the four or five men left of the original field of competitors who set off on the first laps of the first road race at Watkins Glen in 1948. It’s hard to pin this 97-year-old man down, as he’s always on the move, but John Wright settled down at Bill’s home to chronicle some events in the life of this extraordinary racer/engineer.

Bill, tell me about your very first motoring memory. I imagine it was of the first car you built. Tell our readers about it if you would.