Friday 3rd July 2009

Mini Mille Miglia

Slot-car racers line up for charity re-run of Italian classic

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An amazing recreation of the classic Mille Miglia is taking place near Perugia in Italy this weekend, on a painstakingly fashioned slot-car track that replicates the roads and scenery of the original event.

An Allard passes the cemetary

The Mini Mille Miglia is modelled on the 1000-mile Mille Miglia road race, which took place between 1927 and 1957 and boasted Sir Stirling Moss as one of its winners. In recent times, the race has been reintroduced as a tour entered by 400 classic cars, many of which feature world-famous racing drivers and celebrities behind the wheel.

The slot car re-enactment is as strict on entry as the life-sized tour, and eligible models must hark back to the legendary marques that made up the original field, including livery. The replica track, stretching over 30 metres, has been painstakingly modelled on the Italian countryside and features cyprus-lined hairpins, castles, bridges, a village, valleys and forests. More than 80 cars have entered into the re-enactment, sent by enthusiasts from around the world.

Bugatti and Ferrari through the village

Sir Stirling himself has got in on the act as a supporter of the event, which is a charity fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. "Alzheimer’s has, very sadly, touched all our families. The idea is so different and so much fun, I have to say, I am delighted to be a patron of the Mini Mille Miglia," he says.

Sir Stirling won the Mille Miglia in 1955 in record time at the wheel of a Mercedes 300SLR.

Moss flies through an Italian village	Retro circuit features latest digital track

And some extra Jag pics to keep the flag flying!

 

 

[markh450]

They need to fit a tiny digital camera to one of the cars to get a drivers perspective!

[RichardR]

That looks fantastic, with overtaking opportunities included as well:



I hope the guy who built it isn't going to be forced to take it all apart when his Mum wants to do the Hoovering though!

[DJC]

Absolute genius.

[SlimJ]

Thats just an awesome effort! like to see more pictures of it though.

[tog]

RichardR said:

I hope the guy who built it isn't going to be forced to take it all apart when his Mum wants to do the Hoovering though!

Or his wife, if he's like me... Not my fault though - if she buys me a Scalextric set for a wedding present surely she'd be offended if I didn't want it set up all the time. And it's not obstructing the whole living room!

[Collaudatore]

tog said:

And it's not obstructing the whole living room!

My thoughts exactly, it's only taking up the floor.....

[Furyblade_Lee]

That is absolutely fantastic!

[stifler]

That is very cool. Any ideas about costs to enter if you have a slot-car that would comply?

[Chris-R]

SlimJ said:

Thats just an awesome effort! like to see more pictures of it though.

I've put a few more in - have another look.

[carl_w]

Would be better if it was to scale though, i.e. took 10 hours to do a lap.

[Hugh Jass]

Superb

[Cerberus90]

I didn't think more than one car could run on each slot? Can't on my Scalextric anyway, you just end up with carnage usually.

[Hugh Jass]

Cerberus90 said:

I didn't think more than one car could run on each slot?

It's a digital track, you can run more than one car in each slot

[FC3SCorey]

http://oldslotracer.com/

[minimanAC]

markh450 said:

They need to fit a tiny digital camera to one of the cars to get a drivers perspective!

Apparantly you can. The website says your allowed to enter a Range Rover or similar with wireless webcam as a support vehicle!

[Mark-C]

Saw the headline and was ready to let rip with "another stupid bloody special edition Mini" .... instead I got this - genius.

[snowen250]

If anyone wants more info on this event, or to see some of the other cars entered visit www.slotforum.com
There is a thread on the event which the organisers continually update. And nice chaps they are too.
Simon

[ZesPak]

markh450 said:

They need to fit a tiny digital camera to one of the cars to get a drivers perspective!

that would be awesome

[norman156]

I want that in my house! Hats off to the people that built the track, really is very impressive. Wonder how many hours the whole thing took...

[lonefurrow]

Brilliant!