Fourteen Ferraris in the 1000 Miglia Storica 2018
The start of the 36th commemoration of the 1000 Miglia took place on Wednesday, May 16 on the Viale Venezia in Brescia. The 450 crews registered in 1000 Miglia 2018, came from 36 countries and represented 73 car manufacturers. As the tradition requires, the race connects Brescia to Rome and back, in four stages via Cervia-Milano Marittima and Parma; this year covering 1743 km. Once again, the Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia took place prior to the official start of the race and included more than a hundred post-1957 models from the Dino 246 GT to the 812 Superfast.
Fourteen Ferraris participated in the 2018 edition of the 1000 Miglia. These included four which already ran the race in its initial run from 1927 to 1957 - a 275 Sport/340 America Spyder Scaglietti, driven by Rainer Wolf and Martin Guthy, raced three times between 1951 and 1953; a 340 America Spyder Vignale, driven by Henk and Nico Jacobs, competed in 1952; and finally, a 250 GT Boano alloy coupe, driven by Jacqueline Pohl and Thomas Fischer, which finished 11th its category in 1957. Also worth mentioning is the Alfa Romeo Tipo B 2900 P3 driven by Andreas and Nathalie Pohl, which was entered by Scuderia Ferrari in 1934, and driven by Carlo Pintacuda.
The first stage left Brescia and skirted toward the south of Lake Garda. After the ceremonial passage by Sirmione, the direction moved toward the Adriatic Sea via Mantua, then Ferrara, and finally Ravenna where the first day of competition finished at night fall in Cervia-Milano Marittima. The first leader was a 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 SS piloted by Giovanni Moceri and Daniele Bonetti, followed by Argentinians Juan Tonconogy and Barbara Ruffini in a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 GS “Tested Fissa” (which finished in the thirteenth place and first of its class in the 1934 Mille Miglia, on behalf of Scuderia Ferrari and controlled by Anna Maria Peduzzi). Also notable was that in the special test of Colombare, the 1951 212/225 Export Berlinetta Vignale, driven by Alessandro Podini and Carlo Invernizzi, was classified 12th and 1st its class. This Berlinetta also took part in the 1000km of Paris in 1956 with Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Joseph Ampoulié.
The departure of the second stage took place before sunrise. The first pass was by the Republic of San Marino where the reception is always exceptional. Then the route continued to Arezzo where the crews stopped for lunch. That afternoon, the race continued through Cortona before arriving in Rome along the Via Veneto. Juan Tonconogy and Barbara Ruffini seized the leadership at the end of this second stage with their Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 GS, in front of Andrea Vesco and Andrea Guerini, winners of the two last editions in their 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Zagato. In the special test of Casteldimezzo, Edoardo Tabacchi and Lamberto Taco classified in 18th place in a Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder Scaglietti, which was raced by Ernie McAfee in the United States during the 1950s.
At dawn on the third day, the race carried the crews towards Lake Vico, then Siena and Lucca, and finally a pass through the Passo della Cisa before arriving in Parma. The 500 Mondial Spyder Scaglietti of Tom Hartley and Massimiliano Girardo classified in 16th place at this special test of Cisa. Giovanni Moceri and Daniele Bonetti seized second place in a 1928 Alfa Romeo 65 1500 SS, while first went to Vesco and Guerini. Tonconogy and Ruffini continued to be at the top of their general classification.
The final stage was the shortest. After passing by Piacenza and Lodi, the competitors moved toward Milan to the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese for a special test. There, the 375 MM Spyder Pinin Farina of Michael and Stehle classified 31st. The road continued in the direction of the Autodromo di Monza and then to the surroundings of Bergamo before the final flag was lowered in Brescia!
Tonconogy and Ruffini were the happy winners of 1000 Miglia 2018 in their ex-Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo, and Tonconogy’s third victory in the race after winning in 2013 and 2015. In second place was Giovanni Moceri and Daniele Bonetti in an Alfa Romeo 65 1500 SS, followed by Andrea Vesco and Andrea Guerini in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS. The first Ferrari to finish was the 1951 212/225 Export Berlinetta Vignale driven by Alessandro Podini and Carlo Invernizzi and classified 100th.
In each city, in each village, the passage of 1000 Miglia is a festival. The houses are decorated with multiple flags and ornaments bearing the logo of the Race, the schoolboys distribute drawings to the competitors, and the local clubs show off their classic cars. It is probably the only race that is equally exciting for both the fans piled up on the roadsides and for the drivers and co-drivers in their cars!
Images by Arnaud Meunier.
A complete report on the 1000 Miglia Storica, with a chart of all Ferrari entrants, including model, drivers, results and the all-important chassis numbers, will be in the August 1 issue of Cavallino #226. Subscribe today!
