13th-17th June, 1000 Miglia. A cure for the soul. Get it prescribed by your doctor!
10 June 2023 3 min read 4 images
Photo credit: 1000 Miglia, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo
It’s hard to find an event that, after concluding its sporting epic in 1957, approximately 66 years ago, still maintains the enthusiasm and interest that accompanies its revival. However, there is one: the 1000 Miglia, held in Brescia, Italy.
The magic of the 1000 Miglia stems from numerous unique and unrepeatable elements. Since the 1930s – more precisely since 1927 – it has been a sporting endeavour like no other: a remarkable 1,600-kilometre journey, as if on a racetrack, on public roads that wind their way across half of Italy. An epic feat, regardless of the car being driven, requiring talent and physical endurance. It was a risky undertaking too, because it was undertaken without knowledge of the roads and their pitfalls. From the very beginning, this event attracted participants from every country who, beyond the race, found crowds along the entire route to support and cheer them on.
This legendary event can be summarized by the following astonishing figures: Stirling Moss covered 1,592 kilometres alongside Denis Jenkinson, completing the race in ten hours and seven minutes, resulting in an average speed of 157.650 kilometres per hour. To put it into perspective, this included stops at checkpoints, refuelling, personal necessities, and even waiting at level crossings that were closed due to the arrival of trains (and back then, there were truly many). Simply incredible.
The legend of the 1000 Miglia is also marked by several tragedies, with the cruellest and most devastating of all occurring in 1957, which led to the permanent cancellation of the race. Just before reaching Brescia, a cruel twist of fate caused the Ferrari driven by De Portago and Nelson to veer off the road after a tire was damaged by a “cat’s eye” - cement blocks containing reflectors positioned at the centre of certain curves – resulting in the death of the drivers and nine spectators.
Apart from the indelible memories that resurface in the minds of those who take part – the adventure, physical exertion, risk, and the boundless enthusiasm of the audience captivated by this legendary event year after year – today’s 1000 Miglia is, for the many participants who come to Italy to take part, a kind of modern “Grand Tour”. Competing in strictly vintage automobiles – only models that were part of the original race are allowed – while respecting sometimes challenging travel times and crossing Italian cities and towns that are normally closed to traffic, while being celebrated and applauded, is something truly unique. Stopping with one’s car for lunch in the famous and magnificent “Piazza del Campo” in Siena, home of the famous Palio, becomes an enduring memory for a lifetime.
Once, the race was held in a single day, but today the route is split over several days: it expanded from three to four a few years ago and, starting from 2023, it will encompass an impressive five days. The departure is on 13th June and, naturally, the finish line is in Brescia on the 17th. Then there’s a descent to Rome, followed by a return through the scenic landscapes of Tuscany. As a new addition in 2023, there will be an exciting excursion to Piedmont before making the triumphant return to Brescia via Milan and Bergamo. Over 400 cars participate in this extraordinary event, accompanied by support vehicles and, increasingly, passionate enthusiasts who drive their own sports or classic cars, blending seamlessly with the competitors. It’s a remarkable celebration of engines that should be prescribed by doctors as a cure for happiness. Those fortunate enough to have the means should seize the opportunity (as some classic car specialists, and not only Italians, offer the rental of eligible cars for the event, leaving no room for excuses!).
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