La Festa Mille Mille Miglia 2016

Report

【Day2】15 Oct 2016

Warm welcome from locals

Day two, October 15, started under the clear and sunny weather. Many of the entrants checked their car by starting the engine in the early morning for the more than 300 km long drive. Due to the cold in the morning, condensation formed on the windshield, and it was too heavy to see ahead. They fully warmed up their car, then headed to the first point Matsunoyamaonsen.

Day two took a route that goes through alternately winding roads and urban area such as a hot spring district and a shopping street. On the winding roads, the entrants enjoyed the beautiful views of rice terraces, lakes, and mountains and also could get glimpses of some leaves turning red. They seemed to enjoy the long drive all the way to the end.

Many local people warmly greeted the entrants with cheers at a hot spring district and a shopping street. Many of them looked forward to this annual event and seemed to enjoy the atmosphere of the rally by waving flags before the arrival of the first car. Hearing the engine sound, the crowd let out a big cheer, and then they all said, "Keep it up!" to the entrants. When children reached out their hand to give five, the entrants responded to them with a smile. How do the cars and the drivers look in the eyes of those children who know only modern cars? If they become interested in classic cars even a little through this rally, I will be delighted.

As many as 13 PC competitions were conducted on day two. The entrants who could not perform well on day one strove hard for the win, and the rankings changed dramatically. As for the top three, they each achieved good results throughout the two days, keeping their place of day one. PC competitions depend on various factors, including the car condition, the cooperation between a driver and a co-driver, and the weather of the day. The key point will be how to synchronize the timing between a driver and a co-driver while keeping their concentration. Each team checks their car condition by actually moving it early in the morning, and a driver and a co-driver trust each other when they compete. Seeing that, I strongly feel that every team has the possibility to win.

Day three will run on a route of approximately 310 km from Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture to Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. The entrants are sure to meet many people at the next town, too.

(text & photo:Mika Iwamoto)
BUGATTI T35C competes in open PC competition at Takada Honcho Shotengai
BUGATTI T35C competes in open PC competition at Takada Honcho Shotengai
BNC 527 MONZA greeted in Shibuonsen
BNC 527 MONZA greeted in Shibuonsen
Entrants in LAGONDA LG45 TYPE T7 RAPIDE get stamp, then leave Shibuonsen
Entrants in LAGONDA LG45 TYPE T7 RAPIDE get stamp, then leave Shibuonsen
FIAT 501S running through Karuizawaginza Mall surrounded by crowd
FIAT 501S running through Karuizawaginza Mall surrounded by crowd
Entrants in ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA get stamp at Karuizawaginza Mall
Entrants in ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA get stamp at Karuizawaginza Mall
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