Review by Pete Vack
Strange to think that the now-famous Mille Miglia Storica has been in existence much longer than the life of the real race that took place between the years 1927 and 1957. Twenty four events took place in that thirty-year span. The Mille Miglia Storica was initiated in 1977, making the event 41 years old; in that period twenty nine Storicas were held.
Such is the power that the Mille Miglia event still holds over thousands of car enthusiasts and fans, most of whom were not even born until the Mille Miglia died. Books – even novels – about the event continue to be published and the fascination with the original event still holds true.
Novelists really have a hard time trumping the fascinating, iconic Greek tragedy that was the Mille Miglia. It’s just that truth is stranger than fiction. Nonetheless, the original play serves up some meaty material for a novel.
The 1000 Mile Dream
Jim Fontana’s “The 1000 Mile Dream”, is a novel based on some very familiar characters we’ve all come to know and love, or whatever. Jim has created characters that combine some of the nicest and nastiest personality traits of a number of drivers, team managers and journalists of the era. The author knows his Mille Miglia history as well as the geographic landscape, which he has covered on numerous occasions. An author of two published crime novels, Fontana was captivated by the Mille Miglia in 1950, (at the age of 12…does that sound familiar?) when he saw the cars run through Lucca, his parents’ hometown. They moved the boy out of Italy–to Canada, but not Italy out of the boy, and 62 years later he remembers more than ever before about the Mille Miglia.
Novels are pretend, and we all have fun pretending. Here an entrant in the 2010 Storica recreates the entry of the 500 Mondial of di Priola in the1955 Mille Miglia. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.
I will have to assume that given the richness and depth of the material which constitutes the real Mille Miglia, you will have to wonder, as did I, why write fiction about an event in which the truth trumps fiction? Rather than make crass assumptions, we decided to ask the author, who was dead set on writing a novel based on his favorite race. “The dilemma I was confronted with was trying to target the motorsport aficionado who, in many cases, would be aware of the ’57 tragedy, as well as a broader audience, who would be engaged by it even though they had no motorsport knowledge but were simply drawn into the story.” The publisher too, had to keep a broader audience in mind.
I have been given to think lately, that those who want to write novels about racing have a lot in common with those who want to create a homebuilt car based on a real car; both are keen, creative ideas but neither project rarely works out very well. Admittedly, this reviewer would like to attempt both. Oh lord, keep me busy elsewhere…
But I digress. Reading a novel about the Mille Miglia is both enticing and problematic…it is a good read, a page turner, it goes as fast as at least a Ferrari through the Futa pass…I enjoyed reading it. But I was darned if I couldn’t figure out in what year the fictional event was taking place; was it 1957, or 1956? For those of you who may read it, we’ll give you a nice tip…the fictional race year was 1959. The reason it is rather difficult to ascertain is that the book’s publisher did not want a “linear” story, “Apparently linear stories are sort of passe right now,” said Fontana.
A thoughtful author, James Fontana.
And that is fine. We have to make a few allowances for novel structure, even if it is novel. By the end of the book we figured it out and everything else more or less fell into place, although there are some incorrect date references. The characters are believable and come to life, even if some of their decisions seem a bit far-fetched at times, this is, after all, a work of fiction and is allotted due regard for Coleridge’s famous “suspension of disbelief” formula. After all, nothing is as far-fetched as the real life 1957 Mille Miglia.
The real question is, will the book make an average reader interested in learning more about the great race? Those of any age not afflicted with our particular brand of madness will find Fontana’s book a fast and enjoyable adventure through mid fifties Italy and not be affected by a few niggling historical inaccuracies. Find it for about $14.00 in paperback. Contact Jim Fontana, 2162 Old Prescott Road, Ottawa, ON, K4P 1L4 who can be reached at 613-693-0975 or jfont20118@aol.com
Peter,
Interesting review. I will get the book,
I would like to remind readers that John Bentley wrote fiction that took place at the Mille Miglia, as well as at Le Mans and other great European road races. He even used me as one of his characters in one book.
John was my racing mentor during the 1950’s. He and our mutual friend Jack Gordon
competed at Sebring and Le Mans, driving OSCA cars.
I still proudly wear the engraved gold Omega watch that they won at Sebring 1960. I received it from John Bentley’s estate.
Jerry Lehrer
During the ’50s there several movies centered on the Mille Miglia. If my memory serves me correctly, a few contained some actual footage and the first filmed expression (as the rearview mirror was pulled off), “What’s behind me doesn’t matter.”
There was a condensed book published in Reader’s Digest about a Brit winning the Mille Miglia. I’m uncertain about the original publication date. The hero is the world’s foremost wet-race rally driver (at the time) ; the rain increases after midnight, competitors skid off the road, and he wins the race with miles to spare. Any one has any idea about this book as it was very nicely written and worth re-reading
H K Prakash, Bangalore, India