The Finest Road Race of them All

5168 Views 53 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Dennis David, Sep 16, 2004

Dennis David

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2004 (Edited by Moderator)

Stirling Moss called it the finest road race of them all. This unyielding 1,000-mile challenge through the Italian Countryside, sometimes literally, ran from 1927 through 1957. Playing host to greats such as Caracciola, Nuvolari, Varzi and Moss. Who did battle driving the cars from Mercedes, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and of course Ferrari. Where a Grand Prix cars with mudguards raced on the same roads, as would be aces in their Fiat Topolinos. A uniquely Italian affair that lives in legend and reenactment.

Come and join SlotForum in association with Grand Prix History to relive those days which Piero Taruffi called "the proudest moment in my life."

The Mille Miglia

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21 - 40 of 54 Posts

pault86

· #21 · Jul 19, 2004

Just for fun, here's a link that shows the print of Moss and Jenkinson passing the Maserati Mille Miglia '55 pic.

The original is by a French artist named Freudenthal who offers magnificent historic motorsports, aviation, and watercraft art. His site is flyanddrive.com and his prices are very reasonable. Check him out here Fly and Drive.

Paul

Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #22 · Jul 19, 2004

Paul,

You're partially right. Up until 1940 they raced counter clockwise. In 1947 the race came to be run in a clockwise direction. Also in 1940 they did run laps, 9 in all on a triangular circuit. The infamous 13th Mille Miglia won by the BMW of von Hanstein.

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Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #23 · Jul 19, 2004

Thanks for the kind words there is actually a book out there on the Mille Miglia but with a different slant. It's a guide to all of the best restaurants along the route! I've been to Brescia and ran a very small portion of the route and the thought of being passed in the rain at 170 mph, the driver fighting to keep the car on the road even on a straight patch with nary a gravel trap to be seen … well it's why we're here talking about these toys isn't it?

BTW

Moss's car was allowed special dispensation to start from the road rather than the ramp due to the car's low ground clearance. That's why he's looking up to the starter who's on the ramp above him.

pault86

· #24 · Jul 20, 2004

Dennis,

Put north at the top of the map and you'll see we agree on a clockwise direction:

From Autocar, June 27, 1947 "From the start at Brescia the 1,125 mile course made for the mountains near Lake Garda, then run (sic) south along the Adriatic to Pesaro and across the Appenines to Rome. From Rome the competitors headed north-west to Turin; 145 miles of very fast autostrada brought the weary competitors back to Brescia via Milan." Reprinted in Curami's Mille Miglia Race: The Postwar Years.

There was only a single lap from 47-57, including 55, the year TSRF asked about.

There are at least a dozen good books on the MM, some covering the race's entire history, some focusing on the years when particular marques were dominant. Put "Mille Miglia" in the search box at amazon and some great title come up.

But young slot racers would not know to perform the search if they had never even heard of the Mille Miglia, which is why your project to put something on the web is just great, and a real contribution. Please press on!

Paul

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Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #25 · Jul 20, 2004 (Edited by Moderator)

THat's why my website should be required reading.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so check these two out, one from 1927 and the next from 1947 and look at the arrows.

I rest my case.

But please any comments, corrections or additions is greatly appreciated. That's why I posted on this site first because I knew I would get some good feedback here. If you want to contact me directly please email me.

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4

TSRF

· #26 · Jul 20, 2004 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE Well, at the risk of extreme embarrassment, with those louvers it MIGHT be a C Jag. Didn't he drive one of those before hitting fame and fortune with Jenks in '55? No idea how he finished.

Speedyweenie, you win the prize, this is indeed a C-Type Jag.

Same exact car in fact.

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Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #27 · Jul 20, 2004

Pea,

I hope they do the Mille Miglia model rather then the one in the picture and add Norman Dewis.

speedyweenie

· #28 · Jul 20, 2004

Now I'm confused. This is all from memory, but I think the Jag in your picture is the '53 Le Mans winner which was driven by Rolt & Hamilton. Moss and Whitehead shared the #17. Or did Moss later drive the Rolt/Hamilton car in the MM?

mp

Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #29 · Jul 20, 2004

THe "End of the Beginning" is now up...

The Beginning - Part 1
The Beginning - Part 2

Fergy

· #30 · Jul 20, 2004

Great stuff, Dennis!

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TSRF

· #31 · Jul 20, 2004

QUOTE Now I'm confused.

No need. It was just to show what the car looks like, not the exact livery of the Mille Miglia Moss car. I am not sure if it is really necessary for MMK to make the exact MM car since it is easy to change the livery for anyone with a decal sheet.
Regards,

Dr. Pea

G

· #32 · Jul 20, 2004

I am really enjoying this Dennis, hurry up and do some more.

Best wishes,

Jeff.

Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #33 · Jul 22, 2004

For some extra fun answer my first quiz question here: Mille Miglia Quiz

dretceterini

· #34 · Jul 22, 2004

What does the picture of the Marcos have to do with the MM???

Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #35 · Jul 22, 2004

Nothing, heard of scroll bars?

GO TO THE TOP OF THE THREAD.

There ought to be some regulation on the overall size of your signature.

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2

dretceterini

· #36 · Jul 22, 2004 (Edited by Moderator)

The answer is 1952 is the first time START ramps were used.

Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #37 · Jul 24, 2004

Hey, hey there's a new quiz! Mille Miglia Quiz II

Dennis David

Discussion Starter · #38 · Jul 27, 2004 (Edited by Moderator)

Part II is now available here

G

· #39 · Jul 29, 2004

Great story, beautifully written.

RR

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mtucker666

· #40 · Aug 4, 2004

What a great article - really inspires the imagination. Can't wait for the next installment.

Matt

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