This year I felt stronger than ever before and the SIATA ran very well. Unfortunately, my chronometers were affected by the rain and began to malfunction on day 2, eliminating a great placement. However, I pushed on throughout the long hours and rain. Some of the drivers gave up and some of the cars gave out, as 100 cars of the 373 did not finish due to difficulties experienced in this year’s event.
Press coverage was greater than ever before for the SIATA, Angelino and our ‘Beneficenza-driving for Il Trampolino – the medical camp for European children’! Photos and 21 dedicated articles appeared in local and national newspapers and TV interviews were many.
Pre and post visits to the hospital in Brescia were a highlight for the kids and for me. This year the gifts that I gave to the children and on the route were USA decorated pencils and fotos of the SIATA - the kids seemed to enjoy them as they cheered and smiled. Fotos will be on Gallery site soon! We raised $15,000 for the camp and hospital and are receiving more money every day!!
A special full page (pg.24) of the official Mille Miglia catalogue showed me driving on a shady lane of trees, a tranquil foto and moment of reflection in last year’s Mille Miglia.
On Wednesday before the Mille Miglia, a special mass is held in the Duomo for the ‘Pilots’ . This year Costantino Franchi, Organizer, asked me to do the reading at mass in English. This was an honor and I was nervous! For peace of mind, I prayed and took communion. And I felt ready for the 1000 miles to come. I would do my best and be safe.
I was invited by Ludovico Maggiore, Sponsor of the Mille Miglia, to be a part of the ‘Squadra Maggiore". Ludovico drove the ‘1st car – a 1930 OM 665 MM ’ of this year’s race and finished 116th overall. He generously gave a rental car for the assistance team. After the registration on morning of Thursday May 2, he invited the five other cars to the Piazza Loggia and his beautiful motor home for aperitifs, coffee and snacks and a place out of the rain. We all practiced with the Chronometers offered by Luciano Viaro, co-pilot with Jack Croul in the 1951 Ferrari 340 America. (This was a winning 1951 MM car piloted by Gigi Villoresi.) Jack’s sons, Spencer and Tim drove the 1956 Fiat 8V Zagato and finished 266 overall-their first Mille Miglia drive!
Just before the race, Dottoressa Marcella Rossi gave me a beautiful silver necklace of a little bear, her ‘Buona Fortuna and Angelino’ for me! Grazie Marcella!!
Brescia to Ferrara:
The preparation for the 10th Solo race was like all others, except this year I trained my body and increased the strength of my back, shoulders and arms. After miles and miles in the rain or wind, the helmet begins to feel like 100 pounds sitting on my shoulders. But not this year! The difficulty this year had to do with the rain but also the higher entry number of 221. This makes it very difficult at night to pass the 12-cylinder racecars that zoom around me and then drive at a slower speed. This position requires constant work in the SIATA to maneuver around the normal traffic and the racecars. What can I see in the rain? Visibility is minimal and dangerous at any speed as there is no windshield, only my goggles and helmet shield.
Cold, wet and soggy for 37 hours! New Gortex helped but water always finds its way into my suit.
Equipped with the Chronometer, bottles of water, a couple of juice cartons, raisons and bananas I was waiting for the start holding onto the umbrella in pouring rain and heavy wind. Tucking the umbrella away just before the start line, friends cheered and waved for good luck. Angelino was under the tonneau cover safe and dry! Then the start! Off into the dark of night!
Grand reception in Montichiari and the crowd waving and cheering me on! Interviewed by press and Attilio Faconi. First use of Chronometer was in 1-hour and 27 minutes - perfect, dead-on perfect score of 320 points! Push on and hope to not be in a monsoon rain storm for the next stop…100/second penalty points were difficult to obtain!
Driving through historic cities of Mantova where Tazio Nuvolari was born and the where the original Mille Miglia was rerouted after Nuvolaris death to honor him, then on through Ostiglia pushing for the night’s destination.
Arrived in Ferrara feeling strong to the cheers of friends and well-wishers! The major of Ferrara presented me with a beautiful silver framed relief of the city as a gesture of good will and thanks for my 10th solo!
Jack and Luciano were out! Unfortunately, there was a breakdown in the gearbox before Ferrara and Jack and Luciano had a dnf. Disappointing news and I will miss them on the route!
Found my hotel and longed for a hot shower and sleep for a few hours before starting all over again early am. Not hungry and just needed sleep at 2:30 am!
Ferrara to Rome:
In the SIATA at 6:30am and ready for the day, cloudy skies and rain threaten again. Stop watches are malfunctioning! Huge disappointment!!
Drive quickly through Ravenna, Gambettola and up to the Republic of San Marino. Beautiful vista of the countryside and a grand reception from citizens and tourists alike! Urbino was a surprise as it was a fascinating city to see, checked it off as a city I would like to return to and slowly visit on a walking tour!
Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi add to the allure of ancient history and colorful artisans of centuries ago. When stopping the children mob the SIATA and ask for autographs and after are jumping up and down with squeals of laughter and joy.
The SIATA speeds along and fatigue begins to appear. Eat a banana! My secret weapon against fatigue. On through Spoleto, San Gemini, Narni, Rignano Flamino observing the magnificent views, country in Springtime, and of course Rain.
Arrival in Roma around midnight and a fast drive through the center, surreal skies and monuments, Coliseum, luminous in the night. But all I could think of was again a hot shower and some food. The hotel was not the usual Jolly Hotel and confusion as to how to find this hotel at this hour took more time. Finally to sleep at 2:00am without any dinner!
Roma to Brescia:
Early start and in the car in pouring rain at 6:00am!! No brakes for the first hour and arrived in Ronciglione very wet and minimal brakes. A major snafu was created here by my assistance and resulted in over an hour late departure. However, the people of Ronciglione awarded me with a bouquet of flowers, a beautiful silver tray in a blue velvet case and a ‘sprig of silver flowers’ and a grand cheering on. For several years they seem to enjoy my solo effort and cheer the loudest as I am interviewed on the run.
Driving on to the Radicofani, and arrival in Siena but no time to stop for food! Pushing on to the Campo of Siena, famous for the Palio- over 1000 years of a race of horses and competition between guilds. Fascinating to see costumes and great passion for this horse race – July 2nd – I have been invited to see the race from a safe balcony above the campo by Giorgio and Anna Cocchia. Giorgio is driving with his son in a Lancia Aurelia B20 (place 97th overall).
Racing through Chianti and fields of red poppies and emerald green hillsides is breathtaking! Arrival in Florence was great due to several friends waving flags and cheering loudly!!
Playing on the road with Spencer and Tim in their 8V Zagato was fun and arrival in Modena together was a fast run!
There was one man standing on the side of the road looking into the sky with a grin from ear to ear! And as I drove closer, I could see his dog sitting patiently and quietly on the side, and then I saw the white cane and realized he was blind. I waved anyway and honked my horn. His face was lit up with the joy of listening to the
Symphony of magnificent roaring racecars!! An image I won’t soon forget!
Parma and wonderful crowds and friends including Marina Medioli, Co-director of the children’s camp cheering with her husband and one year old daughter, Gaia, handing me a little supply of candy, gum and of course a bit of Parmesano was gladly received!
Cremona was stunning and once again I saw Luciano and after a grand reception and TV interview I was headed towards the city everyone longs to see – Brescia – the finish.
Rain again but then a calm and I switched my driving goggles for a pair of yellow tinted eyeglasses. Within minutes a driver zoomed past me and showered me in gravel! Shattering my right eye lens. My face felt bruised but my eye was ok.
Lucky!!!
Arrival in Brescia and long line of people clapped and yelled ‘Brava Sylvia’. However, the announcer acknowledging my 11th Mille Miglia and 10th Solo finish also threw a ‘wet blanket’ on this accomplishment by asking, "but Sylvia, after 10 years you still cannot find a man?" Tired, disappointed in the placement and the question, but pleased to have finished what I started out to do, drive well, finish and raise the awareness of Italy and world about the European Children’s Medical Camp, I raised Angelino up to the crowd clapping and said nothing. I drove to the Hotel Vittoria and got out of the SIATA for the first time in 17 hours and went to my room to use the bathroom.
My 10th Solo Mille Miglia completed and I remain the only woman to solo and finish any Mille Miglia let alone ten. With this knowledge, I can smile, if only to myself and hug my Angelino.
