Two idiots is a recounting of my experiences following the 2017 & 2019 Mille Miglia and my preparations to do so again in 2020.
400+ race cars, 1000's drivers and navigators, 10,000 media, event and support personnel and and entire country of fans all coming together for an automotive event spanning four days of automotive madness. The experience of the Mille Miglia is overwhelming and pure joy for the automotively inclined.
The cars range from multi-million dollar classics like the fleets of Mercedes 300 SL’s, one-off pre-war race cars, workhorse FIATs and VWs and the hundred of other machines that gain entrance to the race. The variety comes from the requirement that any car running must be a model that ran the official event between 1927 and 1957.
The racers are families who have a qualifying car passed down through the generations, enthusiasts working with restoration groups who send a mini-fleets to participate each year, millionaires participating on a lark and celebrities or professional drivers indulging in a piece of automotive history.
All this takes place against the beautiful canvas of the Italian countryside. Whole communities make their way roadside to celebrate the automobile despite the hours of disruption to their daily routine and traffic patterns. Every inch of the 1000 miles feels like a party.
With a little over three months before the 2020 event join me as I relive the 2019 Mille Miglia from the red carpet where the final sealing ceremony is performed to the press paddock at the finish line the event and all 1000 miles in between.
For more photos of the 2019 Mille Miglia visit me on Instagram @runtheredarrow.