Mille Miglia 2011

The MM is on public roads so spectating is not a problem, as I mentioned also in an earlier post. In fact, that is the whole charm of the event, all the townspeople line up along the road and cheer the cars on. There are a couple of tests on Fiorano and Imola (or did they change Imola this year? Can't remember), but although you're not allowed on the circuit you can still see quite a bit at those tracks. Apart from that it's all on the open road. I would recommend setting up at a terrace on a nice town square on one evening and watch the cars come through whilst enjoying the fruits of Italy (you can decide which fruits you sample...), and then during the day watch the cars come by somewhere in the country side. if you want to look at the cars up close you will need to visit a town where they stop, either for lunch or dinner, or at the start or finish. Look at the MM website for the route. Obviously you will need to plan ahead because the cars come by quickly and they drive 1000 miles in 2 1/2 days....so it is quite easy to start chasing your tail or missing the cars you wanted to see etc.. If you stay in the North you can watch the cars go South on Friday evening and come back North on Saturday from late afternoon (Firenze to Maranello) into the night (to Brescia).

Please be aware that during the week before the start of the MM Ferrari offers factory tours for the MM Tribute participants which means it will be difficult (and likely impossible) to book a factory tour. Ferrari does normally provide accommodation for 1 night as part of the factory tour (if booked through a dealer or as a registered owner on the website), but during the MM I would think you can forget that as they already book for 280 drivers and navigators, plus crews etc..


Onno

 

Hiן Gents,

Has anyone recieved the confo of accpeted entery yet?
If i recall correctly, last year we already recieved the nod by late Jan....

rgds
Elad

 

No, if I recall correctly it says Feb 1st on the website.

Onno

 

So is there a "preliminary" list of the participants yet visible - to public?

 

No, not until a couple of weeks before the start.

 

No MM or us. We canceled our position on the waiting list. But than again, we now know how special it was we did it twice. BTW I fully support the thought that new entrants are in favour. But next year we probably subscribe again.

ciao
Oscar

 

For those who are interested, a little video of the SIATA which my brother and I test drove last Saturday. Things are shaping up! We're getting very excited about our first MM participation, although we have tasted the forbidden fruit in a way last year with doing the Tribute.

How is everybody else doing? All preparations done?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnmXKNll7tM&feature=player_profilepage[/ame]


Onno

 

Lovely Siata, I am sure your going to enjoy yourself.

 

Brilliant little machine!
Noisy gearbox too...something is rattling, indeed!

Congrats with the acceptance, enjoy!

Btw, did you drive to Italy with the 550?

 

2:05 and 5:09! How can you have missed that beauty, Jack?


Onno

 

Could have been his? ;-P

 

On Dutch plates? You're slipping Jack...


Onno

 

This whole event is so Italian in its organisation - so far all I have is an email saying your in

Do they actually send you anything in advance or do you just pick up all the maps the day before?

 

Haven't participated in the real event but the Tribute was organised by the same crowd and I picked up my stuff at the same booth on the same day as the MM so guessing it will be the same procedure. In fact, I'm counting on it!

I only received a couple of e-mails last year, nothing analog was sent. You pick everything up (and buy your racing license - if you need one for the event) at the Fiera in Brescia. The organisation is actually not bad, everything runs pretty smoothly over there. It's just that it's a bit opaque before you get there. If you have any specific questions - shoot! There are plenty ex-competitors here and I also know a fair bit about it.


Onno

 

Indeed, Onno, I am!

In my defence, I was watching the clip to see the Siata, but there is reallu no excuse.

I'm jealous!

 

No need to be jealous, I'm sure you'll drive her in future. But perhaps not for 3,000km in a weekend.

O/T but because I know you'd be interested: this Saturday finally driving the 330GTC for the first time in 11 months. Weather is glorious here, it's going to be one epic weekend!


Onno

 

I have been to two of them. Two suggestions:stay away from the area around Brecia; find one of the check points. They are usually in a town square. The cars get lined up waiting to go thru. Great place to talk to the drivers and see the cars close up

. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

Doug, I did it last year. They're more organized than it appears. I've PM you my number - call me an I'll give you so more info on the event. Craig

 

Finally the list of starters on-line:

http://www.1000miglia.eu/form/vetture_accettate.php?l=en

 

Number 139. Not too bad!


Onno

 

I m number 60 this year, 139 it s not bad. From my experience, anything behind 150 it s a nightmare! Say hello if you see me, i ll do the same!

 

I'll come over for a chat, Jaime!


Onno

 

We are scheduled for a factory tour on the 13th in the afternoon. I would like to see the cars pass by that day and am considering goin to Imola. Does anyone know where the checkpoint will be in Imola? Planning on thaking Onno's advise and finding a cafe or other spot to park for a while.

 

This year there are not just more Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwings entered than all Ferrari-entries but also more Porsche 356 and almost as many Jaguar XK120/140.
I thought it was intended to have more variation in the list....The best days of the MM might be gone...

 

On the web you can check the expected passing times trough towns. Highly recomendad to find a nice place in the middl e of the route, open your camping chais, a bottle of wineries and enjoy two hours seeing cars passing by. Enjoy!