Travel: Vicariously Live Day One of Mille Miglia

Vicariously Live Day One of Mille Miglia

By
May 20, 2013

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

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JimC
JimC
8 years ago

Great photos! Thank you for taking them – and with a great eye towards composition!

I will happily go back to the Mille Miglia again. What’s not to love? Old cars, sounds, smells, gorgeous Italian scenery, petroheads as drivers, and petroheads as spectators. The only negative? It was colder than I expected!

Peter Van Wassenberg
Peter Van Wassenberg
11 years ago

I was there in Ferrara. If you want to see a lot of the cars who participated this years race, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKp1a2_zxfM&feature=em-upload_owner and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_B5o2myhu4

Leucea Alexandru
Leucea Alexandru
11 years ago

Great pictures!

Andreas Lavesson
Andreas Lavesson
11 years ago

Truly spectacular cars. I’ve always wanted to go and since I live only a few hours away by plane, I have to some day(s). My car bucket list is filling up and I really have to start crossing things off at a higher pace…

Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
11 years ago

Anyone know what car number 158 is?

Yanick Kuper
Yanick Kuper
11 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Lange

That’s a 1948 Maserati A6 GCS. Awesome pictures! Pretty sure I ran into you guys a few times on Thursday.

Josh Clason
Josh Clason
11 years ago
Reply to  Yanick Kuper

Will you be at Villa d’Este? If so, please say hello as we love to meet our readers.

Yanick Kuper
Yanick Kuper
11 years ago
Reply to  Josh Clason

Unfortunately not! I will be at the Spa-Classic this weekend (another event you guys need to put on your calendar since it’s run by the same people who organize Tour Auto!). I will be back at the MM next year. If I ever get the opportunity, I’ll certainly say hi!

Afshin Behnia
Afshin Behnia
11 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Lange

Here’s a list of all the cars and their drivers/co-pilots by car number:
http://www.1000miglia.it/crono/CCHA105.HTM

Rodney Wren
Rodney Wren
11 years ago

This is very high on my Bucket List. I must attend some day soon. Beautiful shots.

Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
11 years ago
Reply to  Rodney Wren

Me too, did part of the route as part of Ferrari 50th anniversary back in 1997, would love to do the full event.

Dan Woodward
Dan Woodward
11 years ago

I will go some day.

Doubtful as a participant, but spectating will surely still be magnificent.

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