Mille Miglia, 2005


Story and Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

Scroll down for photo gallery.

May 19-22. The 23rd edition of the Historical MilleMiglia took place in Brescia (Italy), an event which recreates the most famous road race in the world. It has been a tremendous success, and each year the number of participants increases. This year, about 800 cars submitted entry forms, far too many for effective controls. Of the 800, only 375 entries were permitted, and now limited to cars which are truly eligible.

The Historical MilleMiglia does not mean only to drive wonderful cars across Italy with a huge number of people clapping; the entrant should observe very strict time tables. This is often not easy due to traffic and weather conditions, and also due to the age of the cars, despite the fact that they are all in perfect mechanical condition.

The subject of this year's edition was "The Myth in the Myth", celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the 1955 Mille Miglia, in which Sir Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson drove the 1600 kilometres in 10 hours and 7 minutes at the fantastic average speed of more than 157 kilometres an hour. Jenks has passed on, but Moss teamed with Jochen Mass to drive a Mercedes Benz 300SLR from the Mercedes museum in this edition of the race.

More than 30 Alfa Romeos, 30 Ferraris, 10 Maseratis, 15 Lancias, 15 Fiats, plus many Siatas, Morettis, Oscas, and Cisitalias made up the entry list, as well as the usual contigent of Bugattis, Aston Martins, BMWs, and Porsches.

The cars were running on the traditional roads from Brescia to Rome and then back to Brescia, with two stops in Ferrara and Rome. Twenty three years ago, journalists were amazed at the tremendous public response to the event; today, a new generation still crowds the streets and the tech inspections at Brescia. It seems that the Mille Miglia will never grow old in the hearts of Italians.

This year an Alfa Romeo won the event, the first victory for the make since 1977; An Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 of 1928 from the Alfa Romeo museum was first with a Bugatti T23 coming in second, followed by two Alfa Romeo 6C 1750s.

Alfa 6c2300B Mille Miglia, 1937. Three 2300 Berlinetta coupes were entered in the 1937 race, one was bodied by Touring (similar to the above Alfa) and owned by Benito Mussolini. It placed fourth overall.

The 2000 Alfa Sportiva was a prototype based on the 1900. A coupe version also exists today.

Alfa campaigned the 1900 sedan in a variety of events, including the Mexican Road Race in the early 1950s. TI versions put out about 115 hp. This, however, is the Police version of the ubiquitous 1900 Sedan.

In 1952-53, Vignale built a number of these unusual Ferrari barchettas on 166 and 250MM chassis, almost all were sold to private parties who entered them in the Mille Miglia.

Ferrari 340 Vignale coupe, which won the 1951 event in the hands of Villoresi and Cassani. Villoresi drove most of the race in fourth gear, ran out of road, yet still finished first.

A Vignale for the street, based on a 1952 Ferrari 212 Europa chassis.

Ferrari Tour de France gets readied for the Mille Miglia. TDFs can be found with covered headlights as above and open headlights.

Ferrari Mondial, entered by Cagiatti and Cagiatti.

This early Ferrari Europa GT set the pattern for what would become the most famous series of Ferraris built, the 250GT.

Lancia Lambda with a superb coupe configuration, probably by Touring. In 1931 and 1932 there was a special class for 'closed cars' in the Mille Miglia.

In the very first Mille Miglia in 1927, a Lancia Lambda, similar to this, placed fourth overall, behind three OMs.

Maserati A6GCSs were another popular choice for privateers entering the Mille Miglia.

Zagato bodied Maserati A6GCS next to the latest Maserati.

Jean Behra drove a Maserati similar to this 2.0 liter in the 1956 event.

DOHC art. Thankfully, the Orsis managed to carry on the tradition of engine art as practiced by the Maserati brothers.

More Maserati engine art. Puts current plastic-encased engines of today to shame.