Slinger, Wis., July 9---Two-time Badger Midget Auto Racing Association Champion Miles “The Mouse” Melius died July 9 at the age of 95-years old, Tuesday Night. Melius is considered one of the greatest drivers in Wisconsin Short Track Racing History. His storied career and first championships came with the Badger Midget Series.
Melius finished the final two 1948 Badger Midget season events with a Sept. 19 victory at Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, Wis.), followed by a third-place finish.
Melius's first Badger title in 1949 was aided by a huge fourteen feature victory season. Melius captured five wins at Angell Park, including three in a row! He also captured multiple Badger feature victories at Slinger Speedway (4), Cedarburg Raceway (3), and DePere Speedway (2).
Melius started the defense of his Badger title by winning the 1950 season opener at Angell Park. Melius won four more times at the APS and scored an incredible six second-place feature finishes at the track, including five times trailing Billy Johnson at the checkered flag. Melius also won twice at the newly designed Sheboygan County Fairgrounds, now known as the Plymouth Dirt Track. He also scored a popular hometown victory on July 4 at Slinger.
Nine more feature wins came in 1951, running a partial schedule. In 1952, his final season in Badger Melius won four features at Angell Park, bringing his Badger feature career win total to 37, including twenty-one at Angell Park Speedway. He also won midget track championships at Slinger (1949), and Angell Park (1950).
A heavy machine operator by trade Melius had the chance to race the Southeastern Wisconsin Modified circuit which ran six nights a week. “The midgets were great, but besides Badger twice a week I needed to travel to Chicago, other Illinois tracks along with Detroit, or St. Louis to race and make more money. The modified gave me the chance to race almost every night, every week during the season and be back home in my own bed. It presented a better option for my racing and raising my family” commented Melius during a March 2008 interview at the Wisconsin Motorsports Show.
His modified car included eight area overall championships, numerous track titles including five at Slinger Speedway. In a racing era where record-keeping was “sketchy” at best with several tracks, it’s estimated Melius won over 200 feature victories before retiring in 1967.
He is survived by his seven children; Sharon Wagner, Jean Woerner, Michael Melius, Richard (Joan) Melius, Rex (Joan) Melius, Linda (Tony) Wenninger, and Kenneth (Barb) Melius. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. Miles was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, loving wife June Melius (nee Schneider), son-in-law Bill Wagner, son-in-law Harry Woerner, and grandson Andrew Melius. Honoring his request there will not be a funeral, only a private burial.
A celebration of his life and tribute to his legendary racing career will be held at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum & Short Track Hall of Fame in Hartford on Saturday, September 21st from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Memorials in honor of Miles “The Mouse” Melius may be made to the “Hall of Fame” and can be forwarded to Dick Melius- 5538 Arthur Road, Slinger WI, 53086.
- administrator on Jul 11, 2019
- Article Date: 7/10/2019 by Bryan Gapinski