Motor racing driver. Born Samuel Carnes Collier, the son of Barron Gift Collier who made a substantial fortune in streetcar and subway advertising. In 1930 on their vast family estate at Overlook, Westchester County, New York, the three sons, Baron Jr, Miles and Sam, and their friend Tom Dewart, built a racing track using the estate's service roads. At first they only raced simple go-karts but later Baron's girlfriend bought him an engagement present of an MG-J2 sportscar. In 1933 the Colliers founded the Automobile Racing Club of America. In 1934 Sam and Miles travelled to Europe to search for sportscars to race and became the first official MG importers into the USA. The brothers began to race MGs before the end of the year. WW2 arrived putting a temporary end to the brothers racing, and Sam became a navy pilot. In 1939 their father died and the brothers inherited his fortune. All of the New York businesses were sold and they all moved to Palm Beach FL. At the end of 1948 Sam and Miles entered a series of races at Watkins Glen and they finished 4th and 5th in the main race. By 1950 Sam had borrowed a Ferrari 166SC from Briggs Cunningham, but during the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, whilst leading the main race, his car hit some loose gravel and the Ferrari left the road, cartwheeled into a meadow killing Sam Collier. His brother Miles never raced again. A memorial stone was later erected at the site of Sam's crash at Watkins Glen. The plaque on the stone states "Samuel Carnes Collier 1912-1950 crashed here while leading the Grand Prix. Miles Collier 1914-1954 winner Grand Prix - 1949".
Motor racing driver. Born Samuel Carnes Collier, the son of Barron Gift Collier who made a substantial fortune in streetcar and subway advertising. In 1930 on their vast family estate at Overlook, Westchester County, New York, the three sons, Baron Jr, Miles and Sam, and their friend Tom Dewart, built a racing track using the estate's service roads. At first they only raced simple go-karts but later Baron's girlfriend bought him an engagement present of an MG-J2 sportscar. In 1933 the Colliers founded the Automobile Racing Club of America. In 1934 Sam and Miles travelled to Europe to search for sportscars to race and became the first official MG importers into the USA. The brothers began to race MGs before the end of the year. WW2 arrived putting a temporary end to the brothers racing, and Sam became a navy pilot. In 1939 their father died and the brothers inherited his fortune. All of the New York businesses were sold and they all moved to Palm Beach FL. At the end of 1948 Sam and Miles entered a series of races at Watkins Glen and they finished 4th and 5th in the main race. By 1950 Sam had borrowed a Ferrari 166SC from Briggs Cunningham, but during the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, whilst leading the main race, his car hit some loose gravel and the Ferrari left the road, cartwheeled into a meadow killing Sam Collier. His brother Miles never raced again. A memorial stone was later erected at the site of Sam's crash at Watkins Glen. The plaque on the stone states "Samuel Carnes Collier 1912-1950 crashed here while leading the Grand Prix. Miles Collier 1914-1954 winner Grand Prix - 1949".
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