Mille Miglia Diary

12:00 PM: I arrive at Milano Linate airport, and make my way by train to Brescia. I check in to the hotel and am informed that the car, which had been delivered earlier that morning is in the garage. I marvel at the efficiency with which this has all come together. I go to the garage, start the car, and immediately notice that it seems to idle a little roughly. I don’t think much of it and bring the car to the outside parking lot to wait for Peter. We have scheduled the scrutineering for 3:00 pm on Sunday in order to participate in the “Trofeo Roberto Gaburri” later that evening, which is a short pre-race event, thinking that this would be a good opportunity for Peter to drive the car for the first time and for us to get familiar with the road books.

2:30 PM: After a nice lunch near the hotel with Peter and his wife, Meg, we head over to the paddock at a large warehouse facility on the edge of Brescia. The car continues to idle roughly and misfires on hard acceleration. At the facility we are directed to a series of stations, where our documents are checked and road books are issued, after which we queue up for scrutineering. I get into a conversation with a gentleman from Luxembourg, who has the same 1900, but who is competing this time in a pre-war O.M.  As he has done the event 20 times we ask him for any advice that he can offer. He says, “if this is your first time, don’t worry about your placement. Savor the atmosphere.” While waiting our turn, we apply the required stickers and numbers, looking at other cars for guidance in terms of placement. At the scrutineering, documents are checked again, as well as lights, horn, engine compartment, etc. There is a moment of confusion when I am unable to present the original certificate from the Registro, but this is quickly resolved. My concerns about the windshield appear to be unfounded, but there seems to be some discussion about the brake lights. Happily, the car passes without incident.

4:30 PM: Pulling away from the paddock, I notice that the engine continues to misfire. I call Francesco Bonfanti to discuss the issue. He is very puzzled, as the car ran perfectly before being loaded on the truck. We discuss taking the car out on the motorway and giving it a good run to make sure the fuel lines aren’t clogged. Heading out to the motorway, the misses get worse, accompanied by backfiring. I decide to head back to the hotel but with 2 km to go the car dies and won’t restart. Luckily, I’m able to coast into the parking lot of a tire store.  I call Claudia to tell her that we won’t make tonight’s event, and then call Francesco. We decide that the best course of action is for him to send a truck early Monday morning to take the car back to Bassano and determine what the problem is. We pass a pleasant but anxious evening at Meg’s hotel in Sirmione, on the shores of Lake Garda.