By Brenda Williams
The origins of this Italian road race go back to a duel between two cities, Milan and Brescia. In 1921 the first Italian Grand Prix had taken place on the Montichiara course near Brescia. However, Milan had constructed the new Monza circuit to host the 1922 Italian Grand Prix. The people of Brescia were highly incensed at what they considered to be the arrogance of their neighbor. Brescia had long been the heartland of Italian motor sport and their citizens did not appreciate being upstaged by Milan. So the Brescia Automobile Club decided that something spectacular must be done to respond to Milan without offending the Royal Automotive Club of Italy.
The Brescia Automobile Club was fortunate that its membership included some very wealthy motor sports enthusiasts, some influential politicians, and talented racing drivers. They also had the expertise of Renzo Castagneto of Verona, a talented organizer who had established a name for himself in motorcycle racing. The club decided to organize a long distance race for production cars. This would provide manufacturers with a much needed vehicle to showcase their products to the public. They, realizing the importance of publicity, they solicited the help of Giovanni Canestrini, who was with the "Gazzetta dello Sport', a publication supported by the motor industry.
It would be known as the Mille Miglia Cup race and would run the1600 kilometers from Brescia to Rome and back. The choice of Rome as a destination was a political move designed to flatter the incumbent government officials. However, in later years other routes would be used. Only unmodified production cars would be allowed to compete. The first race bean on March 26, 1927 and had an entry fee of one lira. Seventy-seven cars started the inaugural race, all of which were Italian makes. When the race ended, fifty-one had crossed the finish line.
Giuseppe Morandi, driving a 2-litre OM, won with a time of twenty-one hours and five minutes. He had averaged forty-eight miles or 78 kilometres per hour. OM's captured the top three places. Italian drivers and Italian cars dominated the race before and after the war.
However, Rudolf Caracciola, a German with an Italian name, won in 1931 driving a Mercedes-Benz. And in 1940 another German driver, Huschke von Hanstein took first place in a BMW 328 Belinetta Touring car. This race, like most other European competitions, was suspended from 1941 to 1946, because of World War II.
Following the war, Clemente Biondetta won three consecutive races from 1947 to 1949 with an Alfa Romeo in 1947 and a Ferrari in 1948 and 1949. Stirling Moss, accompanied by Dennis Jenkinson, was the only British driver to ever win. He drove a Mercedes-Benz SLR 300. Prior to the war, Tazio Nuvolari was a two time winner in an Alfa Romeo. Nuvolari told about following Achille Varzi with his headlights turned off. Varzi thought he was in the lead until, upon reaching the straight, near the finish line; Nuvolari turned on his headlights and passed the shocked Varzi.
In 1957 Spanish driver, Alfonso, Marquis of Portago crashed in the village of Guidizzolo. Alfonso, his co-driver and thirteen spectators were killed. The race was discontinued following this accident.
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