Mille Miglia 2008

Hi guys,
Just back from Italy were we went with two English friends to the MOST FANTASTIC CAR EVENT OF THE YEAR, the Mille Miglia 2008. A fantastic journey, wonderful weather and an amazing lot of BEAUTIFUL CARS!!! We drove up with them till Urbino, then crossed the Apenines to Sienna and joined them again the next day on their way from Rome to Brescia again. See it for yourself at http://web.mac.com/adam356

Mart,

Thanks for posting the pictures as well as the story to follow along with you on your recent journey. I loved the hats and googles. And the pictures of the Alps were truly extraordinary. It was a real pleasure.

Dave
NJ

Thanks for the story and pics! I think that this is the beginning of a costly trip for me next year! Awesome photos of dream cars in a dream landscape. Oh yeah, the girls are pretty nice too!

Two replicas posing in front of the Porsche factory. Now THAT'S a picture!

Later on some video material will be added too. One of the highlights was the moment we went through the old center of Sienna. Many people on both sides of the track while we were in a slowly drivin' parade. Some pictures.

Awesome pictures. Looks like you guys had a blast. 2 Thumbs UP!

We really had a great week!!! The second day of the rally suddenly a blue Porsche 550 Spyder appeared. At the wheel Dutch racing legend Gijs van Lennep and besides him former Formula 1 driver Jan Lammers. Both once won the 24 hours of Le Mans. We had a nice short chat, made some pictures, let them pass and went up to San Marino behind them.

VERY cool! Fabulous set of photos, thanks for sharing!

OMG! those pictures are awesome! We were in Italy last year and those pics brought back alot of memories, Tuscany is so beautiful, my Husband and I were saying how fun it would be to have the speedster there.

Thanks for sharing.

Looks like a once in a lifetime experience. I read an article in the Robb report a few months ago that really gave me the bug.

http://www.robbreport.com/archived-issues/Article.aspx?article=14656

Jennifer, Justin, it's an amazing beautiful scenery. I think it's the most beautiful in Europe. It's like drivin' in a dream. If you ever go there, wake up early and drive your Speedster through the trails of morning dew while the sun slowly comes up.
BTW, the site is updated with a report and pictures of the second (third) rally day.

Mille Miglia is one of the top car events in the world. My questions is,do the allow replicas to be part of the event?

No Lambros, they don't. It's even impossible to get in with a 'correct' original car. The tradition is that only cars that have been in the Mille Miglia already are allowed to join. There is a very strict selection. Because the rally takes place on public roads it's 'easy' to join the participants, like we did. The Intermeccanica Speedster, with original Porsche bonnet straps, Carrera mesh wire stone guards (and Carrera sound!), but also our Lindbergh helmets (summer version) and goggles helped to slip through the official barriers sometimes (like in Sienna).

Mart
Thanks for the explanation. I didn't think so either but when I saw pictures of your speedster there I had to ask. You are one lucky guy for being there. Thanks for the pictures and if you have more please post here.

Some video stuff will follow!

Mart, this is one of the best posts I've ever seen on this site. Entertaining, informative and absolutely inspirational!

I agree with Rick, and that Tuscany landscape2 up above is astounding in it's makeup and clarity.

wow... I want to live there for the rest of my life. No kidding.

I know you guys don't read Dutch, but this is the MM-topic at our Dutch 912 Registry site. A lot of interesting pictures of our visit to Porsche and the rally. Marcel van der Meer, my co-driver on the trip is one of the 'founding fathers' of a complete new 912 movement in the Netherlands and Belgium. You might understand: my other car is a 912.
http://forum.deklassieke912.nl/frm/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1781

Spotted from an Italian hill on the Passo di Futa by my friend Bas (owner of the silver 550 Spyder #3).
You will find his Mille Miglia 2008 pictures at http://picasaweb.google.nl/derijk.bas/MilleMiglia2008

Thanks for the pictures.

Mart -

WOW! Great pictures of beautiful scenery. Thanks for sharing!

You are living my life...

Peace - Out!

Mart,

I agree with many others and want to thank you for this most entertaining post.

Dave

http://www.supercars.net/gallery/119513/1841/2.html


Here is a link with A LOT OF PICTURES from 2008 Mille Miglia I have found. Enjoy.

WOW! Auto-nirvana!

OK guys, thanks! It was me a pleasure. And BTW, one of you (or more) should go to the Carrera Panamericana, coming October. In a way that's the American Mille Miglia.
http://www.panamrace.com/route.html

Mart, I see a lot of wet cars at the arrival point ie. the TR2's were all wet. Were they driving top down in the rain?
I'll be dreaming in the 50's tonite!

~WB

Assuming that 550 is real, can you imagine driving it in the rain?

Yes, it started to rain while they drove up to the finish in Brescia. (We had really heavy showers on our way back to Holland in Northern-Italy and Switzerland.) David, the 'black numbered' 550 Spyders are official participants and 'real' for sure. Holland brought the State of Art-team with two 550 Spyders 1500 RS. #259, shown in this topic already, is the blue one driven by Gijs van Lennep and Jan Lammers. The other, the white #260 was driven by our Royal Highness Prince Bernhard van Oranje Nassau van Vollenhoven jr. and Menno de Jong. Van Lennep and Lammers finished in 64th position.
The silver #3 550 Spyder is a superb Beck replica owned by my friend Bas de Rijk. Last year Bas had replaced the Speedster windshield for the very low 'James Dean'-racing windscreen. He also had rain on his way back to Holland. No roof, no heater, just a big tonneau...
Yesterday he wrote to me: It wasn't easy for Stirling Moss in his '55 Mercedes SLR, but we have suffered too...

Mat wrote: "one of you (or more) should go to the Carrera Panamericana, coming October."

ROAD TRIP!!!!

Gordon, maybe this will help...
http://www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx/

Adam has posted the video stuff! I ask your special attention for: 'Alpine pass' and 'Checkpoint Siena'. The Quicktime-files need some download time! Enjoy!
http://web.mac.com/adam356/iWeb/Mille%20Miglia%202008/Video%20Clips.html

Great thread, thank you Mart......

Mart, What heaven! I love your pics, love Italy, love the fact that your driving an IM through Europe. Where did you get that headgear. I have a set of goggles, but lack that necessary piece. Great post.

Howard, I bought the Lindbergh caps (ecru canvas/cotton) at a shop 'The Pilot Store' in Amsterdam. http://www.deleertent.nl/pilot/frpilot.htm
Price: 79 euro which is currently about 125 USD.

wrt Tuscany and Sienna, etc. I can say I've "been there" but can't say I've "done that" -- w/ the Speedster, that is. Some kind of super, collasal cool, what you have here. The whole ruddy lot of us SOCers are envious beyond words. I have seen the hills, the villas and tasted the food, wine, ah . . .

Come on Gordo, let's go!! What the He-- are we waiting for? You can bring the Grandkids -- they'll love it.

Look here! You guys have your own 1000 miles! http://www.californiamille.com/