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| La Festa Mille Miglia, now in its 22nd year, kicked off. It is held as an event to promote support for the people affected by the disaster of Typhoon 15 and 19 and hope things are back to normal as soon as possible. The former Urabandai route made a comeback last year, and this year's journey also travels around the Tohoku region, mainly in Fukushima Prefecture. Day one, 25th, started from Meiji Jingu Shrine in Harajuku before noon. Although a cold rain was already falling in the morning, entrants set off energetically with their car fully ready for driving in the rain. They left Meiji Jingu Shrine and headed to DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS, the first competition venue. PC competition (a measurement competition to drive a designated section in a designated time in seconds and compete for the difference between competitor's time and a set time) here is held in the results open format every year. This year, it seemed some of the entrants were not able to perform at their best due to the heavy rain. The entrants left DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS and traveled north to Fukushima Prefecture. They received stamps at the three stamp points, Oike Park in Yabuki Town, Tenei Village Office, and the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum in Inawashiro Town. Then they competed a PC competition at the driving school in Yabuki Town, and day one ended. As the entrants had to drive in the rain all the way to the finish line in the Urabandai Lake Resort in Kitashiobara Village, fatigue showed on their face, but at the same time they looked relieved when arriving at the finish line safely. The cars that finished an approximately 320-km drive are now taking a rest in the parking lot. Looking at those rainy cars, I am wondering how many of them will be able to drive three more days and finish the rally. This year's La Festa Mille Miglia held as a disaster-affected area support event raises relief donations at each point, and all collected donations will be given to the affected municipalities on the route after the event. Many areas still bear the deep scars of the typhoons and some of the areas were forced to change the route. Day two will take a route of approximately 270 km across three Tohoku Prefectures, Fukushima, Miyagi and Yamagata. The route runs close to the affected areas so I hope this event will encourage local people even a little. （text & photo：Mika Iwamoto） |
 STANGUELLINI S1100 sets off from Meiji Jingu Shrine in pouring rain  Praying for road safety before start  BUGATTI T35C competing PC competition in results open format at DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS  MG C-TYPE competing PC competition at Yabuki Driving School  Entrant in TRIUMPH TR2 looking at measurement line in PC competition |
