John C. "Cliff" Miller 99 of Montpelier died Sunday morning at Evergreen Manor Nursing Home in Montpelier after a brief illness.  John was born on July 23rd 1912 in Detroit, Michigan to Emil and Margaret (Green) Miller.  On April 13th 1940 he married Grace A. Zeiter and she preceded him in death. At the early age of 16 Cliff began racing motorcycles and one of his first jobs was delivering auto parts on his motorcycle.  In his early 20's Cliff began racing Sprint Cars and Midgets on dirt tracks in the Midwest United States for over 13 years.  During this time he developed a relationship with Bill France, Sr. who founded NASCAR.  After his racing career he became a test driver for Hudson Motor Company and set several land speed records on the Salt Flats.  In the late 1930's he went to work for Henry Ford in the special projects division in Detroit, MI.  During WWII, Cliff worked for the Chrysler Tank Division building the engines for the Sherman Tanks.  While the war was going on he was commissioned by the US Military as a Warrant Officer to educate and teach military personnel in India to rebuild and fix tank engines.  After the war Cliff began working for AP parts in Toledo and would eventually retire from General Foods in Lafayette, IN. John is survived by one son Bruce and Alice Miller of Montpelier, four grandchildren Laura Miller of Columbus, Ohio, Brent (Molly) Miller of Archbold, Brad (Bobbi) Miller of Montpelier, Megan Miller of Columbus, Ohio, three great grandchildren Brinn, Ella, and Emme Miller, one sister Marguerite Cash of Dearborn Heights, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Grace in 1978, three brothers and one sister. Cliff's family will receive friends on Friday, March 9th from 4-6pm at the Thompson Funeral Home in Montpelier.  A private interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier with Father Fred Duschl to officiate.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Montpelier Public Library.