Rod Millen

Rodney K. "Rod" Millen (born 22 March 1951) is a racing competitor, vehicle designer, and business owner. He has competed in numerous genres of motorsports, including rally racing, off-road racing, hillclimbing, drifting, and super touring.

Personal life

Rod Millen was born in New Zealand. Millen is the father of Rhys Millen and Ryan Millen, and the brother of Steve Millen. All have raced in various types of motorsports. Rod's son Rhys has raced with him in the Baja 1000. Early in life Millen was trained as a surveyor, but he decided to race for a living.

Racing career

1970s

Millen began racing in the New Zealand Rally Championship. He was the season champion in 1975, 1976, and 1977 driving Mazda Rx3s. Millen decided to move to the United States in 1978 to do rally races in the United States, again with a Mazda Rotary powered vehicle, the Rx7. He won the North American Race and Rally Championship in 1979.

1980s

He repeated as the champion of the North American Race and Rally in 1980. In 1981 he won the SCCA PRO Rally, and he won his second series championship in 1985. He won back to back SCCA National Rally Championships in 1987 and 1988.