Rod Millen is a legend of New Zealand motorsport having been the first driver to win a hattrick of New Zealand Rally Championships before taking this skill to the United States where he forged an enviable record.
Growing on a farm, Millen tore around on a go kart built by his father for he and brother Steve, who is a tuning legend in his own right. When the family farm was sold in favour of a property in the city where Millen took up sailing and surfing.
Racing to these surfing spots on the legendary winding gravel roads of rural New Zealand enhanced his skills, which proved a successful apprenticeship as the surfboards, roof racks and the like were replaced by improved suspension combined with wider tyres.
Starting off with the Mazda product, Millen scored a treble of New Zealand Rally Championships from 1975-1977 before moving to the United States in 1978 where he moved to competing in the RX-7.
Success continued as in 1979 and 1980 he won the North American Race and Rally Championships before moving into the Sport Car Club of American (SCCA) Pro Rally Series the next season he went onto win this title in 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989, a year he also won the second FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
A true rallying legend, Millen proved to be a versatile racer when he competed in the popular Mickey Thompson Stadium Off-Road Championship in the late-1980s, starting a long and sustained relationship with Toyota after winning the title hattrick between 1992-1994.
Pikes Peak was where Millen etched himself in the record books as he holds the record of 10m 04.06s in his specially modified four-wheel-drive Toyota Celica. Earning a further three records in addition to overall victories in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, Millen has been classed the ‘King of the Hill’.
Outside of his off-road success, Millen has achieved a GTU Class victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona, he dabbled in the short lived North American Touring Car Championship in a Toyota Carina and Camry, but rallying will always be his favourite discipline.
“I love the adventure of rallies,” Millen explained.
“It would take you to places that you wouldn’t normally go, those events would last for days and I quickly learned you didn’t have to win every stage to win the rally. Some of those disciplines helped me in my whole career – the journey is long, you’ve just got to be patient.”
Millen now hosts the Leadfoot Festival on his ranch in New Zealand where it has become akin to the Goodwood Festival of Speed where he runs some of his Pikes Peak weapons up the driveway.