A thousand miles, a thousand heroes, a thousand stories
First held in 1927 and finally abandoned after a tragic 1957 event, the Mille Miglia ('thousand miles') road race in Italy was one of the greatest of all motor races. It attracted a vast number of entries, from amateur drivers in family cars as well as the great drivers and marques. Published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the last race, this richly detailed book, draws on personal recollections, official records and newspaper coverage to capture the flamboyant spirit of the Mille Miglia. There are lively accounts of the races, drivers and marques, together with extensive race results, circuit maps, and more than 250 photographs, including rare colour images. This engrossing book recreates the races, the atmosphere, the politics, the technical changes - even the weather and road surfaces.
Eighty years ago four motor racing enthusiasts who had witnessed the thrill of the Le Mans 24 Hours came up with the idea of a 1,000-mile race round Italy that would challenge cars and drivers to the limit. The Mille Miglia was certainly that challenge, from the first race held in 1927 on largely unmetalled roads - the cars throwing up clouds of dust as they tore southwards from Brescia to Rome and back again - through to the final race in 1957, when the Marquis Alfonso de Portago crashed 25 miles from the finish, killing himself, his co-driver and 10 spectators. Until that tragic accident, this was a race that made champions of men and heroes of champions.
The pre-war years were dominated by great Italian winners, with only German driver Rudolf Caracciola breaking their dominance in 1931 with his massive 7- litre Mercedes-Benz SSKL. The Mille Miglia was revived to its former glory in1947 and over the next ten years it attracted vast entries with great marques competing including Aston Martins, Jaguars, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. But it was Ferrari who dominated the post-war period, save in 1954 when reigning Grand Prix World Champion Alberto Ascari won for Lancia, and in 1955 when Stirling Moss scored a famous victory in a Mercedes-Benz 300SLR.
