Mille Miglia
Storica 1998
- 39
Ferrari in the 1998 Mille Miglia Storica
- Some
Ferrari of particular interest
- Emanuele
Pirro in the Mille Miglia
- Verdict
The 1998 Mille Miglia Storica did
attract 39 Ferrari-teams among a total turnout of
358 cars. Many of them were regular and hence
well-known participants, e. g. the famous 166/212
Coupé Reggiani "Uovo"
("Egg") s/n 024MB or the 250 MM Spider
Vignale Series II s/n 0276M, which unfortunately
is a complete rebuild.
 
But
there were also some Ferrari which are seen more
rarely or that were indeed competing in the
"Mille" for the very first time. Some
of them should be mentioned separately in this
article while the total number of the Ferrari
entered in this event is too high to mention each
individual car.
German car-dealer Axel Urban from
Hamburg drove his 225 Inter Coupé Vignale s/n
0223EL; unfortunately, the car which had been
located in France for quite a number of years
dropped out of the race later, due to technical
problems.
Gary
Pearson, the well-known historic racer from
England, piloted the dark metallic blue 212
Export Barchetta Touring s/n 0084E, owned by
German Collector. Pearson's co-pilot was the
famous photographer Rainer Schlegelmilch, who was
preparing an article about the Mille Miglia
Storica for the German magazine Focus. Some of
his great shots can be admired on this website,
too!
 
Of
course, there were again several competitors from
Japan, including Mr. Yamano in his rare 212 Inter
Coupé s/n 0137EL which was bodied by the Swiss
coachworkers of Ghia Aigle (not related to the
famous Italian "Ghia" design branch now
owned by Ford who did body many early Ferrari
cars as well).
Collector
Ralph Bruggmann from Switzerland brought his
flamboyantly bodied 212 Inter Coupé Vignale s/n
0287EU. Another nice, but less extraordinary
Ferrari clothed by Vignale was the 212 Export
Berlinetta s/n 0080E owned by Pablo Gonzales from
Mexico; Gonzales is a regular contestant in the
Mille Miglia, as is his restorer, Steve Tillack
from California.
Tillack
piloted the 340 America Berlinetta Touring s/n
0126A. A second 340 America had come to Italy
from Belgium: Ennio Gianaroli's Touring Barchetta
s/n 0116A. Obviously this car has been restored
recently for it is now painted red while it used
to be yellow for many years.
A
total restoration had been performed on another
Ferrari from the U.S.: The 166 MM/53 Spider
Vignale s/n 0290M. The condition of this car is
breathtaking, thanks to restorer Wayne Obry who
co-piloted the car in this event.
Four
225 S Vignale Spider Series I had been entered in
the '98 "Mille", two of them coming
from France: s/n 0192ET is owned by Olivier
Cazalières from Paris and s/n 0172ET had been
brought by Xavier Beaumartin from Bordeaux. The
latter car is powered by an engine coming from
250 GT Coupé Ellena s/n 0869GT.
 
A
very old Ferrari to participate in this year's
Mille Miglia was the 195 S Coupé Touring s/n
0085S of Yoji Oyama from Japan. This car, too,
was subject to a sensational ground-up
restoration and is painted in the lovely
combination of dark blue with a silver-gray top
and fitted with a red leather interior. In recent
years, Mr. Oyama did absolve the 1000 miles drive
in his 166 MM Barchetta Touring s/n 0038M.
Two
250 MM Berlinetta Pinin Farina were among the
Ferrari as well: Ron Finger from the USA brought
his s/n 0250M which features covered headlights,
while s/n 0298M of German collector Hartmut Ibing
has open headlights.
Bill
Serri from New Jersey drove his rare 250 Monza
Spider Scaglietti s/n 0442M, and Bill Noon of
Symbolic Motor Cars took the wheel of Charles
Arnott's 500 TR s/n 0652MDTR which is fitted with
a V12-engine coming from a Ferrari 250 GT.
 
Audi's touring car pilot Emanuele
Pirro and his wife Marlene did compete in the
dramatic 375 MM Spider Pinin Farina s/n 0376AM.
 
Pirro
did perform outstandingly in his second Mille
Miglia entry (he did already participate in
1996): For a while, he was running on 27th
position and became 39th in the end, which is
quite remarkable. Emanuele Pirro's father Franco
shared his son's passion being the co-pilot in
250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti TdF s/n 0925GT
which was steered by Kevin Jones of DK
Engineering.
 
Unfortunately, the "Mille"
was overshadowed by at least one accident
involving a Ferrari: Jon Masterson's perfectly
restored 1956 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti
TdF s/n 0585GT was damaged badly in a crash.
According to our knowledge, no other of the
participating Ferrari has become the victim of a
severe damage this year.
Despite
of this incident, the Mille Miglia Storica did
again provide much fun to both the contestants
and a million spectators. The event seems to be
especially popular among German motoring
enthusiasts since there were so many Germans who
brought their collector's cars to Italy to
accompany the participants in an
"adequate" way. Many Ferrari not part
of the event could be seen en route as well.
The
weather was gorgeous, warm and sunny this year,
although it did rain heavily during both the
start and the arrival at Brescia, and the crowds
were as ecstatic as usual.
Although
some of the Ferrari did not make it to the finish
due to technical problem this year, the majority
of the competitors is likely to be seen again in
the 1999 Mille Miglia Storica.
Text Andreas Birner
More Ferraris
?
How
to contact the Organizer
Mille Miglia Storica; Via Cassala
60; I-25126 Brescia; Italy;
Tel.: +39/(0)30/28 00 36;
Fax: +39/(0)30/48093
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