Mille Miglia 2016
Discussion
Hi,
Been interested in following the Mille Miglia tour for a while now, would like to do as part of a package tour with other cars if possible.
Has anyone got a recommendation for who to book with? There's quite a few that spring up from Google, looking for a 5 day tour driving down before and back.
This one looks decent, anyone had any experience of doing this?
https://www.selectmotorracing.com/Historic/H_milli...
Cheers
Been interested in following the Mille Miglia tour for a while now, would like to do as part of a package tour with other cars if possible.
Has anyone got a recommendation for who to book with? There's quite a few that spring up from Google, looking for a 5 day tour driving down before and back.
This one looks decent, anyone had any experience of doing this?
https://www.selectmotorracing.com/Historic/H_milli...
Cheers
I've followed a few MM rallies over recent years - not been part of a group but have really enjoyed myself doing my own thing. Always planned to go with a fellow enthusiast, but end up taking my wife. Either book a Hotel in Brescia a good few months in advance, or pick from one of the wonderful village hotels near by Get there the day before the start, if possible, the atmosphere is great. What I tried to do was book a hotel on the route an hour or two down the road from the first night stopover - so that the cars go by early in the morning. Ill follow for a while, then head off towards Bologna or Florence (keeping the other half happy - and get a bit of outlet shopping done) while the cars head down to Rome. The spend the 2nd night just outside Siena - I've stayed here - which was good - plenty of parking, had a bus stop across the road up to the Cathedral as well as a great pizza place: Pizzeria La Colonna Di Burroni Francesco. Grab lunch outside along one of the small streets close to the main piazza in Siena where the cars queue up to get to the square. You sit no more than 2 feet from the cars, and get to chat to some of the drivers and navigators as they queue and you eat your lunch.
Then follow part of the route back to Brescia (taking in Maranello/Modena if possible). The arrival in Brescia is also really good, if a little quieter than the start.
If you fly in and/or out of Bergamo, do go up to the old city up at the top of the hill - its beautiful and has some great restaurants.
Hope this helps.
Then follow part of the route back to Brescia (taking in Maranello/Modena if possible). The arrival in Brescia is also really good, if a little quieter than the start.
If you fly in and/or out of Bergamo, do go up to the old city up at the top of the hill - its beautiful and has some great restaurants.
Hope this helps.
If you don't want to wait until next year try GP Nuvolari which takes place next month over 18/19/20 September.
See http://www.gpnuvolari.it/en/technical-info.aspx
Very similar event to MM - quality entries but fewer hangers-on mean you can follow the participants virtually the whole time.
Last year we were fighting off Choppard dolly birds who were trying to thrust goodie bags at us after we were directed by the local Polizia into a town square time control!
PM me if interested or see you there?
Cheers, Pewe.
See http://www.gpnuvolari.it/en/technical-info.aspx
Very similar event to MM - quality entries but fewer hangers-on mean you can follow the participants virtually the whole time.
Last year we were fighting off Choppard dolly birds who were trying to thrust goodie bags at us after we were directed by the local Polizia into a town square time control!
PM me if interested or see you there?
Cheers, Pewe.
Hi Vert,
I will echo what several others here have said - I'm not sure that an organized tour gets you into some of the best places to spectate, or adds any great value over a do-it-yourself approach. I've managed to see part of the MM on two occasions so far. I happened to have business meetings to arrange in northern Italy, so it was then a simple matter to set my business dates so I could tack a couple of days "holiday" on to the end.
The start at Brescia is worth seeing for the atmosphere and the chance to have a good look at all the entrants cars. But, hotel prices in town and nearby will be at their highest then and Brescia will be jammed with hangers on, TV crews and spectators. I notice that the tour your link points to is taking its guests round the MM museum there. Good idea - but not on the day before the event starts. Go there at some other time a bit further away from the tour dates and you will be able to see the exhibits and the wonderful photographs properly.
As to "following the tour", that's a bit difficult if you mean "drive behind the main pack of old cars". Many entrants are chased/led by a pack of TV cars or motorbikes, plus chase crews/mechanics in newer cars of the same marque. I can recall seeing the famous number 722 Mercedes 300SLR being followed by six modern SLR's and a couple of Merc 4X4 machines. And that convoy was just servicing one MM entrant. The big manufacturers take precautions in case their old-timers should suffer a breakdown; understandably they don't want negative publicity.
My own top tip for capturing something of the atmosphere of what the Mille Miglia road-race must have been like back in the day is to consider ignoring the start and instead plan to get yourself positioned "down the route" on somewhere like the Raticosa or Futa passes a couple of hours or so before the cavalcade is timed to be coming through. Get parked out of the way, mix with the locals and have your camera ready. By the time the road is cleared the competitors will be well north of you but you'll have had a great day of it. That I can promise.
It's quite easy to organize this yourself, given that Italy is the last country in Europe with a majority population that seemingly likes a good car. I organized 4 of us to go to Monza for the Italian F1 GP race a couple of years ago and simply bought our tickets off the official website and booked us hotel rooms north of Monza over the web. You can look at the map of the MM route and do just the same - then spend the money you've saved on the tour organizer on some wonderful Italian meals. PM me if you'd like info on best airports to fly in-out of and other motoring places/museums to visit. I've done these Italian trips both in my own car, driving from the UK and by flying in + hire car to various Italian airports. Both options have their merits.
I'd also get on and do it before the buzz around the MM gets any bugger than it already is. Some of the driving you'll witness is pretty lairy, given that it is all on public roads, and the horrible thought is that another bad accident might see the MM banned for a second time. I'm thinking to spectate on the Tour Auto in France rather than the MM next year for just this reason. Far less well-known, so less crowded and more accessible all round.
Whatever, do get to see an MM live if you can; it should be on every petrolheads' bucket list.
I will echo what several others here have said - I'm not sure that an organized tour gets you into some of the best places to spectate, or adds any great value over a do-it-yourself approach. I've managed to see part of the MM on two occasions so far. I happened to have business meetings to arrange in northern Italy, so it was then a simple matter to set my business dates so I could tack a couple of days "holiday" on to the end.
The start at Brescia is worth seeing for the atmosphere and the chance to have a good look at all the entrants cars. But, hotel prices in town and nearby will be at their highest then and Brescia will be jammed with hangers on, TV crews and spectators. I notice that the tour your link points to is taking its guests round the MM museum there. Good idea - but not on the day before the event starts. Go there at some other time a bit further away from the tour dates and you will be able to see the exhibits and the wonderful photographs properly.
As to "following the tour", that's a bit difficult if you mean "drive behind the main pack of old cars". Many entrants are chased/led by a pack of TV cars or motorbikes, plus chase crews/mechanics in newer cars of the same marque. I can recall seeing the famous number 722 Mercedes 300SLR being followed by six modern SLR's and a couple of Merc 4X4 machines. And that convoy was just servicing one MM entrant. The big manufacturers take precautions in case their old-timers should suffer a breakdown; understandably they don't want negative publicity.
My own top tip for capturing something of the atmosphere of what the Mille Miglia road-race must have been like back in the day is to consider ignoring the start and instead plan to get yourself positioned "down the route" on somewhere like the Raticosa or Futa passes a couple of hours or so before the cavalcade is timed to be coming through. Get parked out of the way, mix with the locals and have your camera ready. By the time the road is cleared the competitors will be well north of you but you'll have had a great day of it. That I can promise.
It's quite easy to organize this yourself, given that Italy is the last country in Europe with a majority population that seemingly likes a good car. I organized 4 of us to go to Monza for the Italian F1 GP race a couple of years ago and simply bought our tickets off the official website and booked us hotel rooms north of Monza over the web. You can look at the map of the MM route and do just the same - then spend the money you've saved on the tour organizer on some wonderful Italian meals. PM me if you'd like info on best airports to fly in-out of and other motoring places/museums to visit. I've done these Italian trips both in my own car, driving from the UK and by flying in + hire car to various Italian airports. Both options have their merits.
I'd also get on and do it before the buzz around the MM gets any bugger than it already is. Some of the driving you'll witness is pretty lairy, given that it is all on public roads, and the horrible thought is that another bad accident might see the MM banned for a second time. I'm thinking to spectate on the Tour Auto in France rather than the MM next year for just this reason. Far less well-known, so less crowded and more accessible all round.
Whatever, do get to see an MM live if you can; it should be on every petrolheads' bucket list.
The OH's parents live in Brescia and I drove out there in June, missed the MM obviously, but loved it.
Went to the MM Museum and this thread has just reminded me I was thinking about heading out again next year , but making sure we go at the right time!
Accommodation will be sorted so it's just a case of jumping in the car again
Went to the MM Museum and this thread has just reminded me I was thinking about heading out again next year , but making sure we go at the right time!
Accommodation will be sorted so it's just a case of jumping in the car again
Found this thread using the "Search".
Can't believe there is so little about the MM since it was only last weekend.
Went down there for the 3rd time,had an excellent time.
Weather on opening day was awful and I don't know what the display would have been like in the centre of Brescia
seeing as a lot of the cars have no roof whatsoever.
I missed it anyway as I spent the morning at Alfa Romeo museum at Arese,Milan.
Went down to Poggibonsi on Saturday to see the cars out on the road.
Weather was so much better and it was great to see them on the open road.
I don't like the way participants and support/staff harrass and hoot at members of public minding there own business
out on the roads.
Can't believe there is so little about the MM since it was only last weekend.
Went down there for the 3rd time,had an excellent time.
Weather on opening day was awful and I don't know what the display would have been like in the centre of Brescia
seeing as a lot of the cars have no roof whatsoever.
I missed it anyway as I spent the morning at Alfa Romeo museum at Arese,Milan.
Went down to Poggibonsi on Saturday to see the cars out on the road.
Weather was so much better and it was great to see them on the open road.
I don't like the way participants and support/staff harrass and hoot at members of public minding there own business
out on the roads.
I have lots.
Currently trying to assemble a thread on my whole trip with a phone that keeps messing up.
I'll get there eventually.
Anyway I thoroughly recommend going to this,I've been 3 times.
Go to Brescia on the Thursday to see the cars on display in the city square,then see them leave the start in the afternoon.
Then over the next 3 days either follow it to Rome n back or find somewhere on the route to see them pass again.
Currently trying to assemble a thread on my whole trip with a phone that keeps messing up.
I'll get there eventually.
Anyway I thoroughly recommend going to this,I've been 3 times.
Go to Brescia on the Thursday to see the cars on display in the city square,then see them leave the start in the afternoon.
Then over the next 3 days either follow it to Rome n back or find somewhere on the route to see them pass again.
I've done this 4 times now, and was there last weekend. The weather for the start was atrocious as usual - however, this year it really seemed to impact the atmosphere. I am not sure what changed, but it felt really subdued and very few specialist stall holders. Also could not see all the cars in the squares this time...
I followed the cars down to Ferrara, and that was excellent - then headed to Maranello (to take my friend around) and then on to Siena to wait for them to come back from Rome - Awesome as usual and the atmosphere and weather was great. I then was on the road following the cars after lunch as they headed to Florence and Bologna, before heading for the Airport.
I followed the cars down to Ferrara, and that was excellent - then headed to Maranello (to take my friend around) and then on to Siena to wait for them to come back from Rome - Awesome as usual and the atmosphere and weather was great. I then was on the road following the cars after lunch as they headed to Florence and Bologna, before heading for the Airport.
To anyone thinking of going..... It's a must do bucket list type of thing. Our car club took 3 cobras , tvr, merc ....
Went last year stayed in Brescia for the off.... Cars in square etc was outstanding... Browsed round the scrutineering etc
Weather was great.. Atmosphere brill
The drive down via Switzerland and back through montc blanc was sensational ....
Defo want to go again and spend longer and follow the route to Rome....
Went last year stayed in Brescia for the off.... Cars in square etc was outstanding... Browsed round the scrutineering etc
Weather was great.. Atmosphere brill
The drive down via Switzerland and back through montc blanc was sensational ....
Defo want to go again and spend longer and follow the route to Rome....
Gassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff