Vicariously Live Day One of Mille Miglia

We had the good fortune of being invited by the generous Mark Gessler to spend the first day of the Mille Miglia with his team, Scuderia Sport. Mark is one very energetic man who in addition to his many day jobs (one of which is presiding over the Historic Vehicle Association) organizes the Scuderia Sport, a team comprised of 12 extra-ordinary cars piloted by equally special drivers and co-drivers. They are, in fact, the official Zagato team, and Andrea Zagato and his wife Marella Rivolta run their 1957 Alfa Romeo 1900 SSZ as part of the Scuderia.

Though every year there is a good chance of some rain during the Mille Miglia, this year the rain not only came down particularly hard, but it followed the race as it wound down through to Rome and back. A little weather, of course, did not detract any of the participants, nor the spectators.  

The first day of the race is essentially a show. A show on a grand scale that every vintage car enthusiast should experience at least once in their life. Behind the all the glamour and ritz and beautiful people surrounding the event, there are glorious machines driven hard by serious racers intent on winning. This first day is everyone’s chance to see each of these machines up close and smell the racing fuel that burns from some of the more fortunate cars. Though we can’t bring you the olfactory experience, we hope that these photos give those who couldn’t attend a sense of the event.

Photography by Afshin Behnia and Josh Clason