Mille Miglia 2017 Day 4 – Parma to Brescia

by Sara Norris

Perhaps the fact that we ended our last day of a classic car race with less photos on the memory card – compared to the previous days – was a sign that on the last day of Mille Miglia we focused on what was even more important – having a lot of fun without stressing out too much. It’s difficult to refrain from taking photos of all amazing cars when you’re right next to them, but at the same time constantly walking with a camera in your hand and always telling yourself “I need content” is not always the best approach either. Not when you’re part of something as unique as Mille Miglia, and what you really should do is simply enjoy the journey.

Mille Miglia 2017 - Ferrari 250 Mille Miglia Spider Vignale

Mille Miglia 2017 - Osca MT4

Mille Miglia 2017 - Cooper Jaguar Sport

Mille Miglia 2017 - Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera

On the last day of Mille Miglia I think we nailed it. We got caught up by the atmosphere, to the point that I was hesitant to stop to take any photos at all – keeping on driving seemed like a much better idea. We had such an amazing spot in the convoy, following the world’s most beautiful classic car race on the last leg back to the place where it all began – Brescia. The drivers were in a cheerful mood having made it to the last day – which already is a great achievement considering many cars dropped out of the race during the first days. The serious faces were all wiped out – we only saw the happy smiles. As we got closer to Brescia the landscape changed from deserted country roads, to roads where crowds of people – thousands – had lined up to loudly cheer the drivers through the final stages of the race. High fives, flattering compliments, fans who worship everything that Mille Miglia represents – and for some of them a modern Porsche 911 was as exciting as one of the classics.

The last day of Mille Miglia 2017 was also the day when Dan finally admitted that the Porsche 911 Targa 4, that Porsche kindly had lent us for the race, had actually been a pretty cool choice for our journey. I’m aware that I can’t expect a lot of praises from a man who has dedicated his life to BMWs. However I’m still a little surprised that he had the audacity to publish an article about our Mille Miglia adventure with the phrase “…firstly the choice of car was not mine – my girlfriend had procured a Porsche press car – so although I wasn’t exactly slumming it, there was going to be laughably little boot space (which was mostly going to be occupied by shoes, obviously) because some fool had decided to put the engine in the wrong place…”. Luckily I know that’s just his twisted sense of humour. I believe Dan got a taste of the true spirit of Porsche on the last day of Mille Miglia when we didn’t just drive – we raced. Anyway, the game is certainly not over yet. A Porsche will enter our life, one day, and when the day comes I’m sure he’ll love it at least half as much as I do. To be fair he doesn’t really have a choice…

In most cases when you see flashing blue lights in your rear view mirror it’s a sign that you’ve been bad. A sign to stop – certainly not go faster. During the Mille Miglia we learned that things are very different on this world-famous classic car race through Italy. We had the Italian carabiniere on motorbikes escorting our speeding convoy through the traffic, pushing the unlucky ones that did not have race stickers on their car to the side of the road.

Mille Miglia 2017 classic car race

Mille Miglia 2017 - Alfa Romeo

Mille Miglia 2017 - Osca MT4 1450 2AD

Mille Miglia 2017 - Porsche 356

Mille Miglia police escort

My friend told me before the race – as a friendly advice from a Mille Miglia veteran to a Mille Miglia beginner – that if you have media stickers on your car you don’t have to worry about the police. “Just go fast – it’s normal”, he said. At the time he said that I was sceptical, but several months later as I still haven’t received any speeding tickets from those four amazing days in May, I’m starting to believe that there is some truth in what he said. We got away with it. Trying to keep up with a 50s Porsche 356 or Cooper Jaguar Sport during Mille Miglia – while still of course respecting the classic car race and always giving priority to the competitors and their support teams – is not something you should be punished for. In fact it just shows you’re in the race with the right spirit, supporting fellow drivers and enthusiasts on the road, letting them get on with their important race while at the same time getting a small slice of the cake yourself.

And what a mouthwatering cake Mille Miglia is… The hotels are already booked for next year’s race. The car is still undecided. I might need to be persuaded quite a bit for it to be a BMW next year – I was quite happy with a Porsche… All I know is that it’s once again going to be an absolutely amazing adventure.

Mille Miglia 2017 - Bugatti Type 40 Gran Sport

Milla Miglia 2017 - Porsche 911 Targa 4

Mille Miglia 2017 - Dan Norris / BMW Car

Mille Miglia 2017 media sticker

Following Mille Miglia 2017 in a Porsche

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1 comment

Paul Wee May 27, 2021 - 6:29 pm

Great job by both you and Dan!
Perhaps, some day when the pandemic is over, we will see you guys staging a hot drive in the far flung east!
Well done, stay safe and keep well.

Paul Wee,
Singapore

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