Caledonian Classic & Historic Motorsport Club
Home | About | Events | News | For Sale | Links

 



 
Breakfast in Brescia


Just like Moss at the start

Valpolicella and Soave vines on route.

Ravenna


  View from San Marino.
Looks like rain ahead.
 Picnic in the rain overlooking the Adriatic Sea

 
Castle at Popoli overlooking the river
Vineyards on the hillsides crossing over to Rome
 
Rest day in Rome

Ancient roman ruins


Victor Emmanuel II monument, known locally as the 'wedding cake'

Automobile Club D'Italia HQ 


Trevi Fountain

View of Rome from top of St. Peter's in the Vatican

Back to the Mille Miglia

 Vetralla

     Vineyards in Tuscany

    Views across Tuscany

Horse race in Siena


fNot to be missed, the Ferrari visit

Crikey - Enzo still lives,
here in his office!

Tesco bag not big enough to sneak this bad boy out of town

Nearest the crews got to a drive in a Ferrari.


The 1000 mile route retracing the 1955 route Brescia - rome - Brescia.

Not quite in 10 hours and 7 mins, that Moss managed in 1955, but was the 98.5mph speed matched?
Graeme Gallaoway's Anglia
Trans Italia Tour - 23 September to 6 October
The Trans Italia Tour is a non competitive tour across Europe to Brescia where it will follow the route of the 1955 Mille Miglia. With a rest day in Rome to see the sights of the Eternal City this tour has lots to see

 The Mille Miglia 1955 Route 

Saturday 28th September - Brescia to Ravenna

Breakfast in Brecia and the start of the 190 mile Prima Tappa of the 1955 Mille Miglia. Stepping into the shoes of Stirling Moss felt good as the cars roared into life and headed out of town towards Verona, passing the southern end of Lake Garda. Now I'm sure Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson in their works Mercedes 300 SLR had to keep up a good speed to cover the round trip of 1000 miles in 10 hours! The Trans Italia crews have a bit more time for the journey.

Just as well as heavy traffic out of a now built up Brescia, and multiple road works kept the average down to no more than 30mph for the first 3 hours. 

Overcast to start but the temperature soon rose to 30 degrees, which encouraged Donald and Margaret Campbell in their 1989 Ferrari 328 to remove the targa top. Now this does not happen to often so the picture may be a rare opportunity to see this event. Behind them Roddie Main makes up a baugette for a quick snack in the back of Dave Spence Sierra 

Crossing the Fiume Adige at Verona the route continued east to Vicenza, and on to  near the east coast at Padua. The temptation to turn left and drive to Venice had to be overcome, and the turn south toward the Renaissance city of Ferrara was the Mille Miglia route.  

Final sprint of the day was cross country, missing Bologna to reach Ravenna for the overnight stop. 

Tomorrow hugs the east coast of Italy for the 185 mile Seconda Tappa to Pescara. There might even be a slight detour into another state ! More tomorrow.

Sunday 29th September - Ravenna to Pescara

Today's run of some 185 miles hugs the east coast of Italy looking out to the Adriatic Sea. The seconda tappa routes down to Rimini, founded by the Romans in 268 BC, and a favourite tourist destination. Some crews took time out to head up to the Republic of San Marino, which claims to be the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world, as the continuation of the monastic community founded in 301 (pretty old then!). See map of this mountain top city. Time for a quick look round then back on the route to Ancona and the final overnight in Pescara. 

Weather started wet and deteriorated on route, forcing a picnic in the rain. Thunderstorms forecast for overnight. I'm sure Moss and Jenkinson didn't have this sort of weather in their open top Mercedes 300SL.  Lots of fun though.

The Ferrari crew decided to use one of the automatic parking facilities in Pescara. Reverse the car into a lift, lock it and press the button. The car disappeared backwards into the depths somewhere. Will it appear tomorrow morning. Don't lose the swipe card overnight!

Monday 30th September - Pescara to Rome

The morning started with early thunderstorms of Pescara, but that soon cleared and the Ferrari managed to once again take the roof off. Retrieving the car from the automatic car parking system was trouble free. As Margaret Campbell reported "Pressed the button and the car appeared like a can of coke from a vending machine". 

Heavy traffic out of town kept the speed down on the Terza tappa over to Rome.  The temperature rose to over 24 degrees, so plenty sunscreen applied as the cars headed south west for Popoli, a castle fortress town since 1016 and heavily bombed during WW2. 

The skies darkened as the road turned towards Rome. With thunder threatening the Ferrari roof was quickly refitted. Just as well as forked lightning crackled above the crews heads. 

On the last leg into Rome the weather cleared and once again temperatures rose for the rather slow approach due to a traffic congested Rome. 

Time to celebrate and pop the cork on a good bottle of Italian wine. 

Made it to the half way point round the Mille Miglia route, and a rest day tomorrow for a bit of sight seeing in the eternal city.

Tuesday 1st October - Rest day in Rome

Time for a bit of R & R in the eternal city before starting the trip north to Brescia. The crews worked out that driving in Rome is perhaps not a good idea. Best left to the locals who to us folks look suicidal as they nip around some of the narrow streets. Zebra crossings are interesting. My observation is that if you are walking over a crossing then traffic will stop, but  if you dither part way then you are fair game and traffic will buzz in front and behind you. Best to follow a local and keep close to them.

The crews took in the popular sights, as you can see from Roddie Main and Margaret Campbell at the Colloseum. A few took to the open top bus in the warm sunshine to get their bearings. Spot the Automobile Club D'Italia where you can find everything you need to know about driving in Italy.

No visit would be complete without a real Italian pizza so time was taken to enjoy a meal in the shade out of the sun.  Richard and Andrew Bartniczek look to be enjoying their meal, a change from driving their Mini over the mountain roads. Dave Spence about to tuck in, whilst Roddie Main and Donald Campbell are sampling the wine. 

Tomorrow the cars head north out of Rome to Florence, by way of Siena, unfortunately too late for the annual Polio horse race round the city square. 

Wednesday 2nd October - Rome to Florence

Having taken in all the sights that Rome has to offer it was time to head north on the return leg to Brescia. The quarto tappa of the Mille Miglia route started by joining the usual gridlock on the Rome ring road, just like the M25 on a bad day!  Once clear  the cars headed toward Vetralla, passing Lake Bracciano on the way. Driving through the Tuscany countryside we passed through Montefiascone and alongside Lake Bolsena. 

Passing the famous wine region of Montepulciano, one of my favourite italian wines, some of the crews stopped off at Buonconvento where Roddie Main met up with his sister in law who just happened to be on holiday in the region. What planning!

After refreshments it was north to Siena. The tour was just too late to see the famous for the horse race through the town in July and August. So it was press on northward to Florence and the overnight stop.  

Tomorrow heads back to Brescia so completing the 1000 mile tour of the Mille Miglia. 

Meantime there might even be a little time to see some of Florence before we depart, including the Ponto Vecchio which is lined with jewelers shops. Maybe a bargain for the ladies to find. Must remember to leave time for the visit to Modena and Ferrari tomorrow.. 


Thursday 3rd October - Florence to Brescia

The fifth, Quinta tappa, or fase finale, final stage, of the Mille Miglia taking the crews back to the start town of the event in Brescia, completing the 1000 mile race route as close as possible to the 1955 event. This is one of the longest stages of the tour at round 260 miles.

The weather was bright and sunny as the crews headed north out of Florence towards Bologna then turned north west to Modena, famous for the manufacture of supercars. Everyone thinks rightly of Ferrari, but Maserati and Lamborghini also build cars in the same town. However as the tour had a Ferrari crew it was obvious that Maranello had to be visited. The other crews thought is a good idea too. 

A tour of the museum allowed time to catch a glimpse of some of the famous Ferrari cars, including the P3 pictured, and engines of the past. Donald and Margaret Campbell spotted a great engine replacement for their 328 but had nothing more than a reusable Tesco carrier bag, and the engine, no matter how they tried, would not fit inconspicuously in it! A tour of the  of the factory and test track allowed a peek at the latest cars the company are working on. Unfortunately no photos were allowed. 

With ego's suitably satisfied it was time to continue on route to Brescia, passing the town of Parma, famous for its prosciutto and cheese, and one of the oldest universities in the world. Reaching Piacenza the route turned to Cremona where the cars crossed the river Po. Rather than take the direct route to Brescia the cars stuck to the 1955 route taking a dog leg to  Mantova crossing the land bridge with Lake Superiore on the left and Lake di Mezzo on the right that split the city. 

Home stretch now to a cool beer in Brescia and celebrate the completion of the Mille Miglia part of the Trans Italia tour. 

Final section tomorrow drives back across to France to Menton to see the Nuit du Mentonnais.

Friday 4th October - Brescia to Menton

With the Mille Miglia route complete it was time to head back to France for the start of the Nuit du Mentonnais rally. some 250 plus miles away to the west. The route took us back on the more direct route to Cremona and Piacenza before heading due west for Asti, whose name is derived from the Celtic word for 'Hill'. So the Scots were here even before this tour!  As in Siena the city celebrates a horse race, the Palio di Asti, but this time bareback horse riding. 

From Asti the route passed through Alba, reminding all the scots of their homeland, and to the foot of the Italian Alps to start the climb from Borgo San Dalmazzo. Choice then was take the hairpin road La Ca Canelle over the border, or under the peaks through the Galleria de Colle di Tenda.  For most the tunnel won,and was a good choice as rain was starting on the Italian side and over the top, but sunshine awaited the arrival in France and the visit to the village of Tende, clinging on to the side of the Alps, see photo left. 

A nice easy run south to Menton passing through regional favourites at Sospel and Castillon. With everyone safely at the destination it was time to brush up and celebrate with what else? A good meal and a bottle or two of red wine. 

Saturday will see the Nuit du Mentonnais before the the long hike up through France to home. 

 

Checkout the early part of the tour, UK to Brescia  - click HERE

Ceckout the final part of the tour  - The Nuit du Mentonnais   HERE




 

Updated 5 October 2013
Webmaster