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Photo Report Racing Against The Clock At The 2022 Mille Miglia

The most beautiful race in the world is also a special passion and long-standing partnership for Chopard.


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There is no race like the Mille Miglia and no country other than Italy could do it justice. Originally held 24 times between 1927 and 1957, the Mille Miglia (also known as the 1000 Miglia) was an all-out endurance race held on the public roads from Brescia to Rome and then back to Brescia. This year marks the race's 40th re-running since it was re-established in 1977 as a regularity race, where drivers are challenged to cover a specified distance at a precise average speed (rather than driving flat-out, as you might on a race track). 

The event is open to cars produced between 1927 and 1957 which also competed in the race during those years. As such, it has become an incredible collector car event and public display of the cars as they travel along the 1000-mile loop of Italy. The race is done in stages, stopping at a variety of layovers along the route so the drivers can rest and the locals can appreciate the cars. 

karl-friedrich and friends

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, his daughter Caroline Marie, and race car driver Jacky Ickx before the start of the Mille Miglia. 

The Mille Miglia has long been on my bucket list, and this year I had the chance to attend the opening ceremonies with Chopard, who has been supporting the race as a primary sponsor since 1988. Chopard's Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is a massive car enthusiast and has been competing in the race most years since 1989. While his usual co-driver is the famed race car diver (and longstanding Chopard ambassador) Jacky Ickx, this year, Karl-Friedrich is driving with his daughter Caroline Marie (the trio can be seen above). 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Karl-Friedrich and Jacky for the latest episode of HODINKEE Radio and it was a great chat about how they met, what makes the Mille Miglia so special, and why Chopard has been such an integral supporter of the event for so many years. Click here to give it a listen. 

300sl details

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's 1955 300 SL (W198) 

sl300 details

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's 1955 300 SL (W198)

car macro

An Austin Healey 100/6

the start of the day

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's 1955 300 SL (W198)

The race runs over several stages from June 15-18, 2022 and our day started at a hotel about 45 minutes outside of the start/finish city of Brescia, Italy. While a shuttle had been arranged for a non-driver such as myself, I weaselled my way into the miniature back seat of a departing 1955 Fiat MilleCento that left behind Karl-Friedrich's 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. What a frame for such a view. 

car driving on the road

The view from the back seat of a 1955 Fiat MilleCento 1100/103 TV Berlina. 

karl-friedrich's 300sl through the window

The 300 SL from the back seat of a 1955 Fiat MilleCento 1100/103 TV Berlina.

the view out the windshield

A small car on the highway. 

The drive would prove somewhat longer than planned as the Fiat had something of a fuelling issue that left us on the side of an Italian highway en route to Brescia. 

dash detail of the millecenta

The dashboard of the Fiat MilleCento 1100/103 TV Berlina and its accompanying SOS button for the race. And yes, we had to use it. 

break down in brescia

At least we looked good when we broke down. 

Once we found our way to the tight maze of Brescia's old-world streets, the breakdowns were less of an issue. Everyone in the city knows why such a car would be there, they knew we were lost, and often a push and a smile came before I could even manage to unfold myself from the back seat of the darling Fiat. 

Eventually, we made it to Piazza della Vittoria for the official "Sealing of the Cars," the final stage of the vehicle's inspection. 


The 1000 Miglia Village – Piazza della Vittoria, Brescia
the staging aera

The staging area in Brescia before the official start of the race. 

a porsche 356

A 1955 Porsche 356 1500 Speedster

headlights

A lovely 1950 Healey 2400 Silverstone 

the staging area

Honestly, the Piazza della Vittoria was a complete zoo. Pure automotive spectacle and a throng unlike any at Pebble Beach or Villa d'Este. The cars are brought in waves, filling both sides of a wide corridor as they pass the final checks and leave the piazza. There are people everywhere, cars crawling slowly through the mass of influencers, drivers, officials, and interloper photographers such as myself. Loud music plays, and a roaming man with a microphone speaks endlessly and at great pace over a PA. I don't know what he's saying. I don't speak Italian and it's about 35C (95f). My camera is hot in my hands. 

A rare sight, even at a Chopard event – an LUC Time Traveler One world timer. 

a 300sl

Among the best liveries seen in the program, on a 1954 300 SL. 

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mille miglia

Details of a 1949 Healy 2400 Silverstone 

a blue car

A 1949 Healy 2400 Silverstone

the staging area

The program had waves of cars enter the Piazza della Vittoria for staging. 

jaguar

Details of a 1952 Jaguar XK120 OTS Roadster 

300sl dash

The interior of a 300 SL

a jaguar dtype

Good.Ness ... a 1956 Jaguar D-Type 

The author swoons. 

Loud enough to require headsets. Amen. 

But the cars. I tell you – the cars. Standing in the hot sun, I turn to see one dream car after another. A black D-Type, all manner of amazing Fiats, Ferraris, and Alfa Romeos. And an incredible blue BMW 507 that has been in the driver's family for three generations as his grandfather bought it new. Scroll down, you can't miss it. 

a chopard watch

One of the Chopard-run cars with the driver sporting this year's Mille Miglia 2022 Race Edition. 

a man in a car

Let's go. 

an alfa romeo

A 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport 

a mercedes

A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL and its onlookers 

a mercedes

The dash of a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL 

aston martin

What I believe to be an ANC Sportscars replica of a 1957 Aston Martin DBR1, judging by the registration plate and the lack of a Mille Miglia car number or associated meatball. 

two men in a car
a jaguar

Details of a Jaguar XK 140 

details of a porsche 356

Details of a Porsche 356 Speedster 

details of an alfa 6C

Details of a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport 

bmw 507

A literally jaw-dropping 1957 BMW 507. I've never seen one in blue and it may be my favorite from the entire event. 

a bmw 507
a bmw 507

Wow. 

a red car

The past runnings of a 1952 Parisotto Pasqualin Fiat 750 Sport. 

two alfa romeos

Old and less old, a 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport Zagato (left) and a 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider.  

a fiat

A beautiful 1950 Fiat Colli 1100

an alfa romeo with a flag on it

Viva Italia. 

an alfa dash

The incredible interior of an Alfa Romeo 6C. Just look at that switch gear. 

a red car

A wild 1938 Fiat 1100 Berlinetta MM 

a blue car

A 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spring Veloce Bertone 

the dash of a rally-prepped car

The dashboard of a 1936 Riley Sprite fitted with several computers to aid with the regularity rally. 

a fiat

A 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider "America" Pinin Farina 

a red 300sl

A very red 300 SL


Come si dice ... the watch?
the chopard 2022 mille miglia

By now you've looked at a lot of images of cars, but there is a watch story and it's not the result of some passing phase for a major brand. Chopard has been a key supporter of Mille Miglia since 1988 and they continue to use the race as a namesake for an entire line of sports watches. In turn, there is a limited edition version of a special Mille Miglia design in honor of the annual event.  

This year, Chopard produced a pair of limited edition chronographs - the Mille Miglia 2022 Race Editions. With 1000 in steel ($7700) and 250 pieces in a two-tone with 18k rose gold ($11,400), these chronographs are based on the existing GTS line and are 44mm wide and have a blue ceramic tachymeter bezel surrounding a silver dial with blue and red accents. 

the mille miglia 2022 chopard

Tucked inside that extra-large case is an expression of the ETA 7750 with automatic winding, a date at three, and COSC chronometer certification. The watches come fitted to really lovely brown leather straps with rubber linings that carry the pattern of vintage racing tires from Dunlop. 

the mille miglia 2022 chopard
the mille miglia

A two-tone example of the Chopard Mille Miglia Race Editon for 2019 

the mille miglia

The 2015 Mille Miglia Race Edition from Chopard with a bright red dial, as found on the wrist of a repeat participant of the race. 

the first mille miglia from chopard

Above, an extra-special treat that was shown to me by the man in charge of heritage at Chopard, Juan Garcia. It's the original Chopard Mille Miglia watch from 1988. It's a quartz-powered monopusher chronograph that is just 32mm across with a red-painted bezel and tritium markers. And here I thought I was leading the small watch charge with a 33.5mm Seiko ...

a lume shot
the case back

While the 2022 edition is simply too big for my wrist, I do like really like the look and feel of these latest Mille Miglia Race Editions and I have a long-standing appreciation for the smaller and more vintage-themed 39 and 42mm sizes.

the the mille miglia 2022 chopard
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The Race Begins at Viale Venezia
a ferrari

Another of my personal favs from the event, a Zurich-registered Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta Pinin Farina from 1953. 

For the final part of my time at Mille Miglia, we got to see each car start its official timing at a special stage on a closed segment of Viale Venezia, a road in Brescia. Truth be told, I didn't stay to watch all 451 cars drive up the ramp and start the race, but we did stick around to see some amazing cars and cheer on Karl-Friedrich and Caroline Marie in that lovely 300SL. The crowds lined both sides of the street for miles. 

a green car

A 1955 HWM Jaguar 3.4 approaches the stage. 

a man in a jeep

It is going to be a long 1000 miles in a 1952 Fiat AR 51 Campagnola ...

a car entering the start point

A 1953 Jaguar XK 120 OTS Roadster climbs the ramp to the start of the event. 

people happy at mille miglia

Wishing well to the drivers of a 1927 Lancia Lambda tipo 218, among the oldest cars at Mille Miglia. 

a bugatti

A Bugatti T37 from 1927. Sounds incredible. 

a blue car

Points for style in a 1945 D.B. Citroen Spider. 

bugattis

A pair of 1927 Bugatti T37s waiting to start the first leg towards Rome. 

a pair sitting close in a red car

Close quarters in a 1948 OSFA Fiat 750S. 

chopard 300sl

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's own 1955 Mecedes-Benz 300 SL approaches the stage. 

a car entering the start area

Fandom and a 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Spider Colli. 

a fiat 500

An adorable 1952 Fiat 500 C Belvedere

a healy

An exceedingly cool 1947 Healey Duncan Drone 

a green car

Another Healey, this time a 1948 2400 Elliott. 

a bugatti

The nose of a 1929 Bugatti T40 

a ferrari

A jaw-dropping 1955 Ferrari 857 S 

sometimes you need a push

Vintage cars ...

red on red

A 1947 Cisitalia 202 S MM Spider Nuvolari 

a blue car

Also from 1947, the impressive Talbot-Lago T26 GS. 

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a red car

A wild-looking 1946 Lancia Aprilia Sport followed by a 1947 Cisitalia 202 S MM Spider. 

flying the italian flag

Waving the flag from a 1941 Lancia Aprilia Berlina 1500. 

For some, myself included, the love of vintage cars and watches is all but inseparable and while the Mille Miglia may at first seem like an opportunity to cosplay as a vintage race car driver, the truth is – it's that and a whole lot more. The energy, the excitement, the crowds, the extra Italy of it all. Intoxicating. 

I've never been one to find a lot of appeal in brand partnerships or ambassadors. Sometimes they are cool. Usually, they fall flat and, at a personal level, a dud partnership can actually detract from my interest in a given model or brand. But Chopard has found a great fit with the Mille Miglia, one that reflects the passions of their leadership while leveraging Chopard's ability to operate as an independent, family-owned brand.

a ferrari

A 1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider Vignale

a jaguar xk120

A 1950 Jaguar XK120 OTS Lightweight

a green car

A 1955 HWM Jaguar 3.4 

As a driver or a spectator, it's another great reason to visit Italy and try to keep up with the spectacle of it all. For me, now that I've done it from behind a camera, I hope someday I get the chance to do it from behind a steering wheel. What a blast. 

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