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| This year is the 26th time the La Festa Mille Miglia has been held. This time many many first-timers and young teams have participated so the car inspection venue was more lively than usual. Under the crisp autumn sky, as many as 63 cars set off from Meiji Jingu Shrine at 11 a.m. , seen off by Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko, Italian ambassador to Japan Gianluigi Benedetti, and Shibuya Ward Mayor Hasebe. At the start ceremony on Jingu Bridge, kindergarteners waved the start flag with a big band performing live, so unlike previous years the event started in a festive and lively atmosphere. The entrants left Meiji Jingu Shrine and headed straight for Fukushima Prefecture. At the first point in Fukushima Prefecture, Yabuki Driving School, after competing a PC competition (a measurement competition to drive a designated section in a designated time in seconds and compete for a difference from the set time), the entrants received a stamp, then headed to Nakamachi Pocket Park, seen off by local people. At Nakamachi Pocket Park, many people warmly welcomed the entrants and the cars this year as well. The cars lined up in order of participant number in the park once, then set off again at a predetermined time for each car. In Yabuki Town, I saw many people waving small flags and cheering for us and the cheering made us forget how tired we were after the long drive here. After that, the entrants received a stamp at the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum, and by the time they competed the last PC competition at Inawashiro Ski Resort, the temperature dropped a lot and the evening wind felt cold. The Japanese pampas grass swaying on the roadside makes me realize that summer has ended and autumn is here. At the La Festa Mille Miglia, where cars without a top or a window drive, the scenery and the air we see and feel at the places we visit tell us about the magnificence and the beauty of nature as well as the changing seasons sometimes harshly and sometimes kindly. Almost all the cars arrived at Urabandai Lake Resort by around 6 p.m. It started to rain and the cars, which had traveled approximately 325 km, were being checked and repaired in the parking lot. It would continue until midnight. Tomorrow will also be a fun yet tough journey. On day two, the entrants are taking a route of approximately 417 km that travels across Fukushima, Miyagi, Yamagata and Tochigi prefectures. We will enjoy the autumn scenery in Tohoku, meeting the local people again, and the long drive. （text & photo：Mika Iwamoto） |
 BNC527 MONZA sets off from Meiji Jingu Shrine, seen off by H.I.H. Princess Akiko and spectators  Prayer for road safety before departure  BUGATTI BRESCIA T13 competing PC competition at Yabuki Driving School  ERMINI 1100 SPORT receives stamp at Yabuki Driving School  GIAUR TARASCHI 750 SPORT passing through Nakamachi Pocket Park |
