Miglia Miglia 2000

In April of 2000 I was at Laguna Seca for the second regional race of the season.  Six laps into qualifying when approaching Turn 8, the Corkscrew, my engine suddenly quit.  Back in the paddock, the culprit was determined to be a broken crankshaft.  When informed of my predicament and the fact I was out for at least part of the season, my mother suggested I take a trip to Italy to visit relatives and among other things, attend the Mille Miglia.  So within two weeks, I managed to obtain a passport and airline ticket to attend my first Mille.

Verifiche Tecniche

Early Thursday morning, prior to the start, the cars converge on Brescia's Piazza della Vittoria for technical inspection.  Prior to entering the Piazza della Vittoria they are routed through various side streets and squares.

Here the cars turn right from Via Tosio and enter the Piazza Paolo VI

After leaving the Piazza Paolo VI, the cars are routed down the Via Giornate.

Leaving Via Giornate, the make a short right right turn to the Piazza della Vittoria.  The technical inspection takes place in the Piazza della Vittoria.  The inspection area in the square is the only part in which spectator access is restricted.  

The following are a series of photos made around the Piazza della Vittoria.  A lot of them are slightly "off frame" because, like events of this type, its difficult to get an un-obstructed shot.  The crowds would only part for a few seconds, at most, so there was little time to setup a shot.  I have quite a collection of photos showing people stepping in front of cars.

Detail of a Ferraria in the inspection line.	This particular TR-2 is a Mille regular.
A pre-war Alfa Romeo, 8C2900.	Fiat 500 Sport (1938), packed and ready to go.
The Giornale di Brescia program identifies this entry as an 1939 Siata 508.
Aston Martin DB 2 (1951).	Lotus 11 (1956)
Maserati's are a popular entry in the Mille.

Other entries return to their hotels and garages for final preparations.  The following are to of my favorite pictures from the Mille Miglia as they capture what makes this event so unique.  If you go to Goodwood or the Monterey Historics, you will most likely only view these cars from a distance as they drive around a closed course surrounded by safety barriers and with ample run off.  Many of these cars can be viewed up close at events like Pebble Beach.  But only the Mille Miglia allows one to view these cars in their "natural environment", the city streets and roads of Northern Italy.  What is more interesting that during the days leading up to the Mille Miglia, these cars share the streets of Brescia with more contemporary vehicles.

This view is form Via Dante looking east towards the Piazza della Vittoria.  The dome of the church in the Piazza Paolo VI is visible beyond the Piazza della Vittoria.  

Somewhere around the location of the preceding photograph, Via Dante becomes Via Cairoli.  The following pictures were made from a window of my Cousin Bruna's place employment "Fondazione Biblioteca Archivio Luigi Micheletti".   This was also a good location to enjoy to enjoy the sound of the motor reverberating off the walls.  

Upon returning to my hotel late that afternoon, I was pleasantly suprised to find some of the entries parked in front.  I don't know if this was for publicity, or because the driver/ owners were staying there.

Partenza

The start takes place Thursday evening on the Viale Venezia.  Prior to the start, the motocycle police escort arrives on their Moto Guzzi's.  It wasn't until the start was underway that I had a realization of the number entries in the Mille Miglia.  As in the orginal, the cars start one at a time.    Only now every 25 cars is separated by a motorcycle.

Just minutes before the start on a very nice evening.	The first car is off an OM 665 Superba (1927)