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The 2024 Mille Miglia — Finished in Brescia!
Day Five: Finish in Brescia
The days have gone by so fast—it is already the last day of the 2024 edition of the Mille Miglia. There is no doubt that the Italians keep their rich automotive heritage alive. Today, again, more passionate Italians are to be seen all along the route, which is what in my opinion makes it the "The most beautiful race in the world." That is,, of course, if we don't count the parts of the route which wind through the hills and mountains with the wonderful views and the historic towns, joyfully decorated with flags for the festivities.
Along the shores of Lake Garda, the terraces are jam packed, and waiting for a table is something I would not recommend. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves very much, and with music drifting through the air, it's a great party! The car clubs have also turned out in force.
The fact that I still give hand signals when making a turn and don't drive round the roundabouts at 100 m.p.h. indicates that I still have a lot to learn. For us it is not so much about the competition (we have finished 229th) but much more about the whole experience, and even just completing the route...
...Which we have done! We've made it back to Brescia. After lining up all cars in order of their starting numbers, we now drive in convoy to the Viale Venezia where we are awarded a bottle of Villa Trasqua wine and on stage the medals are hung around our necks.
We have proven it is possible to complete the Mille Miglia in a 1926 Sunbeam (number 27) without a service team! As some of you have mentioned in the comments, always carry the most essential tools and some parts. I have no doubt we all prefer driving between the classic cars instead of driving miles behind a support and/or assistanza van. Even worse are those with trailers, as I have not seen one of them behaving in a way that is conducive to smooth driving. I realise not all cars are spacious enough for every tool or spare, and not all drivers and navigators are expert mechanicians, so the "pit stops" along the route are a great idea.
It is just so unnecessary, though, to have a modern car with seven jerry cans of petrol,. Just stop at the petrol stations and fill your car up yourself. That surely makes it so much more enjoyable. Anyway, enough said about that.
It has been an absolutely excellent experience—one to tick from my must-do list. I would like to thank Michel for being a great co-pilot. We had such a fun and enjoyable time, and by alternating driving and navigating I acquired the knowhow for all aspects of the Mille Miglia. Thanks are also due to our supportive family, the organisers, the Villa Trasqua team, Niko Bloemendaal for the beautiful pictures he took, the polizia for making sure everything ran as smoothly as possible, not to mention the people who hang up, across the whole route, the famous red arrow sign, making navigation nice and easy.
Most of all, though, we want to thank the people along the route, young and old, for passionately participating in the spirit of the event. Let’s keep the history alive!
Meanwhile, in Brescia, we hear reports that the party is still going on…
Mille saluti,
Morris
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Day Four: Packed squares and streets, what a great atmosphere
We've got another early start today, to leave Rome for a 340-mile drive to San Lazzaro di Savena, but it's all worth it. What a great route we're coverering again and what a beautiful country Italy is from an open vintage car. Once again, we're enjoying ourselves, as we take in the many hills, olive trees along the road, romantic towns and beautiful views
We are not the only ones enjoying ourselves. It seems like everyone has come out of their homes or hotels today to watch the Mille Miglia—the crowds are overwhelming. All along the side of the road there are people, some real fanatics among them, crossing us off on their lists. Number 27, check. There are people sitting under a tree on a picnic blanket, some in the back of a van and others simply setting up seats at the side. It's a great atmosphere!
The competition and time trials are mainly over dry dirt tracks, which produce the necessary dust clouds—huge dust clouds, which must look very photogenic.
Now comes Siena, the place where in previous years great photographs have been taken during the lunch stop. I have been there a few times to look around as a tourist and it is beautiful. However, driving through it is an altogether different experience, enjoyable and exciting at the same time. There are so many people, it's almost impossible to get through. People are tripping over each other in the small streets around the historic square. And although it's not a lunch stop this year, we've been allowed a small pit stop and the historic city centre is once again decked out with the tricolore carpet. Bellissimo!
However, there is not much time to enjoy this magical moment, because after five minutes we already have to drive again, to Prato. The few people who have not taken today off work are now coming out to watch the most beautiful race in the world. We are warmly welcomed in this beautiful village.
The sun is setting and we still have 30 miles to go. It's getting darker and darker but we reach the finish line. One last lap through a crowded town and it's time for a drink. How we enjoyed ourselves! Thanks to everyone who came to watch and provided this great atmosphere. Tomorrow is the last day, with the finish in Brescia. Hope to see you then!
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Day Three: We are in Rome!
After a well-deserved beer, if you ask me, here we are with another update on the third day of the 2024 Mille Miglia. We are in Rome or, In other words, halfway along the route! Our car, a 1926 Sunbeam Super Sports, has been performing superbly so far. Apart from requesting a couple of new spark plugs, it's been firing away beautifully.
This morning, our start is at 6.08, as we are number 27. Although early, there are already many people all along the roadside. It's great to see—people of all ages, and different types of people from different countries, all gathered side-by-side to cheer the cars and participants, help us speed along with each wave of their pretty tricolori, and capture thousands of photographs to treasure as mementoes.
Rolling hills instead of mountains make today's route easier to drive than yesterday's. It remains a breathtaking course, although in the cities it can be very busy—pure chaos, in fact. I've been told that they're always that way, so I am prepared for them. I have also been told about the police escorts, but I never expected them to go at sich high speeds. Keeping close to the polizia is (almost) impossible to do safely, with all the normal traffic. And then if there is a gap, you can rely on another participant to fly into it. Such experiences, shall we say, give us an adrenaline boost after 14 hours of driving.
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At last we arrive in Rome; with intersections closed, we race past the crowd into the city and across the stage, with, as an encore, a lap around the city behind the polizia, whizzing past the Colosseum. What a way to end a beautiful but long day. Cheers!
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Day Two: Through the clouds to the sea
What an amazing route today, first through beautiful Tuscany and then through the magical mountains. The morning, however, could certainly be described as challenging, with the combination of rain and malfunctioning windscreen wipers causing us to drive mostly hanging out the side of the car. Although visibility is very poor, the clouds are making the route look almost otherworldy. It's magnificent.
The method of descent on the mountain passes is to put the Sunbeam in low gear, to avoid overheating the brakes, and just roll along with the thunder burbling from the exhaust, enjoying the romantic Italian landscape.
The word of the day is 'hairpin.' Whether it is our favourite word, I won't say, but you will understand how I feel about it, driving a tourer with a long wheelbase and the turning circle of a barge. Yes, it's a tough workout and my arms are beginning to ache, but this is driving at its purest and most engaging, and I'm enjoying every second of it. Video footage will follow soon.
Arriving at the top of the mountains, we're treated to some great views, and we can even see our next stop, Genova, where we can look forward to being served platters of Italian delicacies.
The weather remains unpredictable and very variable. We put on some suncream, only for it to be washed off by some sudden rain. We put it on again, and it gets washed off again, and so the process is repeated over and over. From our appearances, it's pretty clear who's been driving an open car and who's had the luxury of a roof. The two white stripes on my legs, where the steering wheel blocked the sun, are a bit of a giveaway...
Today's final stage is to Viareggio, the elongated seaside resort. The finish is in the southernmost part of the Viale Europa and it we know when we've arrived because of the heavy traffic. We've suffered a lot of delays but the finish makes up for everything. Many enthusiasts, including my family, have been waiting to greet us—truly a wonderful end to a great day.
Mille saluti,
Morris
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Day One: A wet start
After having been to Italy to watch the Mille Miglia for the last few years with the family it was now my turn to have a go and expeience it for myself, a great opportuniy for which I am very grateful.
The rain is pouring on the way from the Mille Miglia Museum to the starting grid, but the moment we drive across the podium, the adventure really begins and the sun is starting to shine. At last, all the months of preparation and paperwork are behind us and lots of fun lays ahead.
You can really tell I'm a beginner, and I definitely need to 'be a man' about all this—but how am I supposed to do that when I'm a woman? It seems that the more times you have participated, the more you are entitled to ‘own’ the road, or at least that's what some people seem to think. There are some who are very arrogant, and really couldn't give a thought for others. Sometimes you can pass ‘normal’ traffic with a police escort, but there are some who pass traffic jams just hoping for the best.
It's raining once more, and by the time we've more or less been dried out by the sun and wind, it's started raining again... but that's all part of the fun and the spirit of adventure, right? Although, being Italy, one might have hoped for more Mediterranean weather. The route is only so-so, but the people along the side of the road, mostly in towns, are waving so enthusiastically, some of them with flags, and thousands of photos are being taken.
The only thing I really don't understand is the 'support' cars. What is the definition of a ‘support car’, does it also give mental support?! By driving in front of the classics, with hazard lights clearing the road, and some rather questionable manoeuvres, when there are three cars between them, exactly what kind of support are they providing? And they seem to like to push their weight around. I understand they might have tools and spares with them, but come on guys... do you really need a support team just to put the hardtop on your car?!
Mille saluti,
Morris
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The sun is shining, glasses full of ice-cold refreshment are being jovially clinked, and freshly-cut slices of sizzling pizza fill the Piazza della Vittoria with a warm and welcoming aroma. All around the square, Alfa Romeos of all different sorts are lined up seemingly at random, their graceful beauty contrasting with the stark severity of the Fascist-era architecture. The sound of laughter from visitors and drivers rings through the air. Flags adorned with the famous red arrow flutter in the breeze. It can only mean one thing: the Mille Miglia has returned and all of Brescia is under its spell. Yesterday afternoon, at 6.00 p.m., the cars and participants were blessed by the Pope and today, June 11, is the official start of the race from Viale Venezia. As always, it promises to be a great sight.
The PreWarCar.com and PostWarClassic.com team will be present again, and this year the elegant Morris—Mrs. PreWarCar—is taking the wheel for the historic thousand-mile trek.
During the week, we will try to provide photographic updates whenever possible, so be sure to keep an eye on these pages.
The programme
Today, after the start at 12.30, the route will wind from Brescia, viâ Bergamo, Novara and Vercelli, to Turin. Wednesday will see the cars start again at 7.00 to head south, through the Langhe region and viâ Acqui Terme to lunch in Genoa. Taking the coastline, they will finally stop for the night in Viareggio, just before Pisa.
Thursday will see the drivers reach the southernmost point of the course, taking in Lucca and a lunch break in Castiglione della Pescaia. Afterwards Rome will be reached and, after parading past the ancient walls of the might Colosseum, the rolling museum will arrive at one of the most elegant streets in the city, the Via Vittorio Veneto.
On Friday, early in the morning, the return journey will get underway, with the teams driving first to Orvieto and then to Solomeo, where lunch takes place. After the break, the procession will continue to Siena and Prato and then pass through Futa and Raticosa, which precede the arrival in San Lazzaro di Savena, near Bologna.
On the final day, Saturday, June 15th, the route passes through Ferrara, Bovolone and Villafranca, then along the shores of Lake Garda, where lie the lush vineyards of the Valtenesi and picturesque villages such as Salò, ultimately returning to the Viale Venezia in Brescia to finish with a grand party.
Photos
Thanks to the Villa Trasqua team, we can use the photos made by the one and only Niko Bloemendal of Bloemendal Fotografie. Besides his photos, we took our own camera with us and shoot some nice pictures of what we think has captured the athmosphere of the event. Enjoy!
Published:
Thursday June 13th, 2024
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Comments
Alan Hulsbergen
22 June 2024, 14:20
Thank you, Morris and Michel, for this beautiful report from the most beautiful race in the world.
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Christian Thomi
17 June 2024, 12:45
Thank you for the interesting diary, Morris, and congratulations to you, Michel and the brave 3-Litre!
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Joop Terpstra
14 June 2024, 21:44
Thanks Jeff. By the way on the trip back to Holland me and my friend slept in cornfields, left and right from the car. ofcourse in our sleepingbags :-) But while I was working on the MG in the last daylight my friend walked slowly up and down the cornfield with his hands on his back to see if it was safe to sleep there....those were the days belief me ;-)
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Maurice
12 June 2024, 15:00
"Do you really need a support team to put the hardtop on the car?!"
This made me smile and is the question that defines the Mille Miglia.
Go Morris!!!
(And Michel...)
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This made me smile and is the question that defines the Mille Miglia.
Go Morris!!!
(And Michel...)
Joop Terpstra
12 June 2024, 11:44
In summer, 1986, a friend and I drove in a 1932 MG J2 from Holland to Merano, Italy, for the Klassik Tagen organised by BMW. The car was doing all right until the Brennero Pass, where it rained so much that in the middle of the night the electrics gave up all together and we were stranded at a farmhouse where the farmer opened a barn and we drove in. Next day we dried everything with rolls of toilet paper and we got the thing running again. On arrival in Merano the Lucas generator gave up and went to heaven but at a local Bosch service they repaired it and because we were not able to reach a hotel we slept in a public parking garage on the stone floor inside sleeping bags and the next day we washed ourselves at the back of a church where there was a bathroom which we were allowed to use.
The rally through the mountains was, after the repair of the electrics, no problem, but we were one of the last to return to the finish in Merano again. We had lots of fun and were the rebels over there. All the T-type drivers were at the German MG table, but we chose to speak and eat at the gala dinner with some Austin-Healey 100 driver, and the MG drivers were shocked that we didn't sit with them. Oh well, we were free birds there and did what our heart told us.
On the way back to Holland we had some wheel bearing and sealing problems in the back axle (oil-drained brakes) but could buy them at a local SKF shop and put them in and burned the brakes on the sidewalk and after putting everything back in the axle we drove on...
No support cars here, we did all the tinkering ourselves and that is how it should be. These trips of pure adventure stay in your soul the rest of your life... I have shared it now after 38 years with you all. So please do like us: just drive away with some tools and you will be fine
I drink to that—cheers!
Read more
The rally through the mountains was, after the repair of the electrics, no problem, but we were one of the last to return to the finish in Merano again. We had lots of fun and were the rebels over there. All the T-type drivers were at the German MG table, but we chose to speak and eat at the gala dinner with some Austin-Healey 100 driver, and the MG drivers were shocked that we didn't sit with them. Oh well, we were free birds there and did what our heart told us.
On the way back to Holland we had some wheel bearing and sealing problems in the back axle (oil-drained brakes) but could buy them at a local SKF shop and put them in and burned the brakes on the sidewalk and after putting everything back in the axle we drove on...
No support cars here, we did all the tinkering ourselves and that is how it should be. These trips of pure adventure stay in your soul the rest of your life... I have shared it now after 38 years with you all. So please do like us: just drive away with some tools and you will be fine
I drink to that—cheers!
Jos van Genugten
12 June 2024, 09:28
The organisation should ban all support cars on the classic route. The number of them and the way they usually drive is annoying or even dangerous to the classic traffic and congests the roads. Part of the competition should be to take a toolbox and help yourself if it’s needed and if a real big problem happens, call your assistance and wait half an hour.
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Bart Kleyn
14 June 2024, 19:11
I completely agree; after all, the Mille Miglia represents heritage, a heritage of true heroes. It is slowly becoming a parade for those who can afford it. But still it is a wonderful event, bringing the whole of Italy together. An event of passion, passion for everything automotive, everything that is beautiful and maybe above all—in Italian style—passion for everybody showing passion, for everybody alive.
We can learn from this.
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We can learn from this.