Motor Racing / Vince Kowalick : Miller Tops U. S. Team for Speedway Final on New ‘Home’ Track

Motorcycles have taken Rick Miller a long way--from Birmingham High to Birmingham, England.

For nine months of the year, Miller, 26, a Birmingham graduate, lives in Coldfield, England, a Birmingham suburb. On July 10, Miller and four other American racers will represent the United States in the American Motorcyclist Assn. Overseas Speedway Final in Coventry, England.

The Overseas Final is the second in a series of four races culminating with the World Speedway Final in Vojens, Denmark, in September.

Miller, who spends his stateside months in Reseda, advanced to the Overseas Final by placing third in the North American Final on June 11 at Long Beach’s Veterans Stadium.

“It’s a big sport over here,” said Miller, who also dabbles in modeling and sports commentary on British television. “It’s almost like baseball in the States.”

Miller races professionally for the Coventry Bees, the defending British League champions. Midway through the season, the Bees are in first place in the 12-team league and Miller, in his sixth season overseas, is making a jolly good showing.

“Everything is looking good,” he said. “Long Beach went really good for me. The main thing was to qualify. Now it’s at my own track.”

The Intercontinental Final in August in Zetlanda, Sweden, follows the race in Coventry. The field of 16 at Coventry includes racers from Australia, England and New Zealand.

Joining Miller in representing the United States are Sam Ermolenko of Cypress, Robert Pfetzing of Santa Ana, Mike Faria of Colton, and Bobby Schwartz of Costa Mesa.

Rebel without a pause: Glen Steurer of Simi Valley began his racing career on the streets--without the permission of the local authorities. Now he has a chance to speed on the streets without having to worry about ditching a motorcycle cop.

Steurer is in Spokane, Wash., for Sunday’s Budweiser 300. The 100-mile, 165-lap Grand Prix course through downtown Spokane is race No. 4 in the Winston West Series for stock cars.

“It goes back to when you’re a kid in high school and you race on the streets,” Steurer said. “Back then you got into trouble. But it really feels comfortable. We feel we have a better chance on a road race.”

Steurer, currently fourth in the points standings and 27 points behind leader and defending Budweiser 300 champion Roy Smith of Victoria, B. C., considers this his last shot at the eight-race series championship.

“A win would help out my points,” he said. “But if we bomb out in Spokane, we’ll come home.”

The winner in the 28-car field will take home $13,750, including contingency purses, according to Owen Kearns, NASCAR Winston West publicity director. Kearns considers Steurer a favorite.

“He’s very, very consistent and he’s been running more and more successfully the past few months,” Kearns said.”

Steurer, Winston West’s 1985 Rookie of the Year, is coming off three consecutive fifth-place finishes: the Goodyear 500 in Melbourne, Australia, in February; the 7-Up 200 at Sears Point International Raceway near San Francisco in April; and the Kragen Auto Parts 200 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield in May.

Farewell with a bang: Fireworks, famous names and three days of racing will highlight “The Last Lap of Riverside,” the Sports Car Club of America’s weekend tribute to Riverside International Raceway. The track will be bulldozed next month after 30 years in operation.

More than 700 racers will hit the track in national points races today and regional points races on Sunday and Monday. Van Nuys racer Tom Marx and actress Sandra Bartley will both drive a Paulee Nissan 200-SX showroom stock C car in races today and Sunday.

The celebration culminates Monday with a nostalgia day. Marx and Bartley will join racing greats, including Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney and Bob Bondurant, in farewell parade laps. The celebration will conclude with a fireworks display.