California Mille (2014) – Subscriber Photo Gallery

Report by Dennis Gray | Photos by author and Bob Ross

The 2014 California Mille was staged April 27th to May 1st on the challenging back roads of Northern California. The four-day, 1,000-mile rally continued its long tradition of spirited driving in historic sports cars on the twisty and picturesque roads for which they were intended. The rally celebrates Italy’s Mille Miglia race that ran from Brescia to Rome to Brescia from 1927-1957. Cars that could have qualified for the original event are eligible for entry in the California Mille.

The California Mille was founded by Martin Swig, who after driving the Mille Miglia from Brescia to Rome to Brescia, decided that northern California “Looked more like Italy than—Italy.” Thus was born, in 1990, The California Mille. The Mille is produced by Amici americani della Mille Miglia (American Friends of the Mille Miglia), which also presents the annual New Year’s Day “Anti-Football Drive”, and will in 2015 re-stage La Carrera Nevada, its version of Mexico’s border-to-border La Carrera Panamericana. David and Howard Swig are co-directors of these events and Dan Radowicz is the organizer.

As always, the 2014 running of the California Mille started with the customary free car show on Sunday, April 27th in front of San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Italian Consul General Mauro Battocchi welcomed fans on behalf of his nation, offering historic insight into the original Mille Miglia. During the opening day festivities, the Swig brothers walked around the show to highlight the many unusual and significant automobiles that ranged from a 1927 Bentley 6.5-Liter Le Mans and 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet Series I to a great selection of Alfa Romeos, Jaguars, Porsches and other vehicles.

Further notable entrants at this year’s rally included a 1952 Tojeiro Roadster; 1956 Alfa Romeo 1900CSS; 1953 Siata 208S; 1957 AC Ace Bristol Zagato; 1957 and 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de Frances; 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder; 1953 Jaguar C-Type; 1957 Maserati 200si; 1939 Jaguar SS-100; 1951 Allard K2; 1949 Healey Silverstone and 1957 Kurtis Kraft 500KK; among others.

On Monday, April 28, the California Mille headed north to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, then motored east to Lodi for lunch at the Wine and Roses Restaurant. That afternoon, the Mille left the Central Valley driving to the west shore of Lake Tahoe, with an overnight at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley.

Day 2, April 29, the California Mille headed north into the picturesque and little-known Gold Lake region where drivers did their best to avoid the temptation to fish, camp and hike (as normal tourists do), continuing instead to Nevada City for lunch at the historic Stonehouse Brewery. The afternoon drive journeyed down the western slope of the Sierra with the Mille spending the night at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento.

Day 3, April 30, the Mille classics cruised along the banks of the Sacramento River, passing through the 19th century Chinese-designed town of Locke, then driving west to the Napa Valley wine country for lunch. Continuing westward, the Mille ambled through rarely-traveled back roads ending the day at Cavallo Point for the first of two nights at this San Francisco Bay-front resort.

On May 1, the final day, the California Mille climbed 2500 feet to the near top of Mt. Tamalpais, the highest point in Marin County, smiled for a commemorative group photo, then motored north for lunch in the village of Nicasio, wandered along the Pacific Coast to Occidental, then turned south for the run back to Sausalito and the final night’s awards banquet at Cavallo Point.

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Similar to 2011, 2012 and 2013, photographers Dennis Gray and Bob Ross also documented the 2014 California Mille, offering the following picture gallery that highlights the strong field of entrants and wonderful views found in Northern California. We split up Dennis and Bob’s photos into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.

California Mille 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery

You need these goggles to pilot a 1929 Bentley.

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California Mille 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

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California Mille 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

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California Mille 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

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California Mille 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

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California Mille 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

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California Mille 2014 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

Wednesday morning as the crews start to warm up the cars.

What a view to wake up to. Off in the distance is the San Francisco skyline, closer the Presidio Yacht Club then an XK-SS, Blown Bentley, XK-150, XK-120 and others. http://www.cavallopoint.com

Charlie Goodman’s 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spyder.

Elton Steven’s 1961 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster.

Robert Selz, 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.Photographer: Bob Ross

Fred Phillips, 1957 Kurtis Kraft 500KK. Photographer: Bob Ross

Jim Feldman, 1957 AC Ace Bristol Zagato. Photographer: Bob Ross

Rob maitland, AC Bristol. Photographer: Bob Ross

Bruce Meyer, 1957 Porsche 356 Coupe. Photographer: Bob Ross

Rob Kauffman, 1956 Ferrari 250GT Boano Coupe. Photographer: Bob Ross

Cory Youngberg, 1962 Lancia Appia Zagato. Photographer: Bob Ross

Nick raggio, 1957 Jaguar XK140 dhc. Photographer: Bob Ross

Masahiro Inoue, 1939 Jaguar SS-100. Photographer: Bob Ross

Yayoi Koshikawa, 1949 Healey Silverstone. Photographer: Bob Ross

Robert Davis, 1953 Siata 208S. Photographer: Bob Ross

Lawrence Macks, 1959 Porsche 356 Convertibile “D”. Photographer: Bob Ross

Jeff and Heidi Abramson, 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Lightweight Photographer: Bob Ross

Bill Scheffler, 1961 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster. Photographer: Bob Ross

John Leshinski, 1951 Allard K-2. Photographer: Bob Ross

Stanley Gold, 1953 Porsche 356 Cabriolet. Photographer: Bob Ross

Robert Reed, 1929 Bentley 4.5 Supercharged. Photographer: Bob Ross

Shelby Myers, 1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster. Photographer: Bob Ross

David Dossetter, 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spyder. Photographer: Bob Ross

Mathew deGama, 1958 Arnolt Bristol Bolide. Photographer: Bob Ross

‘Rest stop’ in Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chavez Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tom and Gwen Price in the C-Type Jaguar. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chavez Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Sacremento morning dew. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Sacremento has a lot of trees. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Citizen Hotel in Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

SU’s on the Vickers blower. Photographer: Bob Ross

Villiers blower on the 1929 Bentley 4.5 liter. Photographer: Bob Ross

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Cesar Chaves Park, Sacremento. Photographer: Bob Ross

Cesar Chaves Park. Photographer: Bob Ross

Fairmont Hotel parking Saturday night.

Another view of the Fairmont Hotel parking lot Saturday night.

Terry O’Reilly’s 1952 jaguar XK120 FHC. This one has four wheel disc brakes.

1952 Tojeiro Roadster driven by Drew Alcazar.

Michael Kaleel 1954 jaguar XK120 ots.

1953 Siata 208 Fiat Two liter V8 with twin Webber carbs.

Terry O’Reilly’s 1952 jaguar XK120 FHC.

1951 Allard K2 driven by John Leshinski.

1953 C Type Jaguar driven by Tom Price.

Debbie Earle backs her 1958 Porsche Speedster into place while others reenact the Alfred Eisenstaedt photo.

Entrants from around the world.

Debbie and Steve Earle apply Mille stickers to the side of their Porsche Speedster.

1949 Healey Silverstone.

San Francisco vintage cable car.

Early Monday morning, Tony Wang’s 1958 Ferrari 250TR.

Early Monday morning.

Andrew Cannon – 1975 BMW 3.5 CSL Group 5

1952 Tojeiro Roadster driven by Drew Alcazar.

Debbie and Steve Earle’s 1958 Porsche Speedster.

Line up.

Mashahiro Inoue’s 1939 Jaguar SS-100.

Early Monday morning, 1938 Lancia Aprila driven by Chuck Schoendorf.

1928 Bentley 4.5 Liter Vanden Plas driven by Martin Chisholm.

1927 Bentley 6.5 Liter LeMans driven by Craig Davis.

John Hall’s 1962 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.

1962 lancia Appia Zagato driven by Cory Youngberg.

Herb Foster’s 1954 Jaguar XK120 dhc.

Michael Kaleel’s 1954 Jaguar XK120 ots.

Tom Thornhill’s 1955 Lancia Aurelia B20.

Doug Weitman’s 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing. The silver has just a touch of green. What a car.

Steven Adler packs his 1957 Maserati 200si.

Adler’s 1957 Maserati 200si.

Oil tank in Adler’s 1957 Maserati 200si.

Adler’s 1957 Maserati 200si ran the last Mille Miglia wearing the number 504. Driven by Nando Pagliarini to 23rd over all and 6th in 2.0 Liter Sports Racing.

Monday morning dew covers the 1957 Jaguar XK150 fhc driven by Ron Radar.

Monday morning setting the timing on a 1956 Ferrari Boano alloy coupe.

Boano alloy coupe.

Mike Thurlow’s Austin Healey.

Ed Mazula’s 1957 AC Aceca Coupe.

AC Ace Bristol Zagato driven by Jim Feldman.

Max Jamiesson’s 1957 Chevrolet Corvette.

Max Jamiesson’s drove a 1957 Chevrolet Corvette.

Rob Kauffman’s 1956 Ferrari 250GT Boano on the right and David MacNeil’s 1956 Ferrari 250GT alloy Boano on the left.

Nick Raggio’s 1957 Jaguar XK140 dhc.

1957 Porsche 356 Coupe driven by Bruce Myer.

Terry Koziara’s 1959 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk3 on the left. Neil Alexander’s 1959 Porsche 356A coupe on the right.

Mike Malamut’s 1958 Porsche Speedster.

Bundled up against the morning dew.

David Dossetter’s 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spyder.

1958 Arnolt Bristol Bolide driven by Matthew deGarmo.

Monday morning, Tony Wang’s 1958 Ferrari 250 TR.

Monday morning line up.

Monday morning.

1949 Healey Silverstone driven by Yayoi Koshikawa.

1957 Porsche 356GT.

Nigel Hart’s 1956 Austin-Healey 100M.

Monday morning in front of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

C Type Jaguar.

1939 Jaguar SS-100.

1958 Arnolt Bristol Bolide.

Greg Whitten in his 1960 Witton Special.

Monday morning dew. 1938 Lancia Aprilla.

1938 Lancia Aprilla driven by Chuck Schoendorf.

Hank Mauel’s 1962 Lotus Elite.

1938 Lancia Aprilla driven by Chuck Schoendorf.

Tom Price warms up the C-Type Jaguar.

Tom Price.

Steve Schmidt’s 1957 Porsche 356 GT.

Doug Weitman.

Doug Weitman’s 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.

Badges on Robert Reed’s 1929 Bentley 4.5 Liter Supercharged.

Doug Weitman warms up his 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.

The Mittler brothers unwrap their 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder.

William Mittler.

Porsche 550 Spyder.

Hank Mauel checks out his 1962 Lotus Elite.

Tight quarters.

You need these goggles to pilot a 1929 Bentley.

Martin Chisholm, 1928 Bentley.

Robert Reed pulls the 1929 Bentley out for the start.

The 1927 Bentley 6.5 LeMans will be the first out of the gate.

1952 Tojeiro team ready for the start.

Healey Silverstone team.

1939 Jaguar SS-100 team.

First car under the gate is the Craig Davis 1927 Bentley 6.5 LeMans.

Morning sun sets off the waving Italian flag as the next car, the 1928 Bentley 4.5 Vanden Plas starts the Mille.

Third and last of the Bentley’s to start is the 1929 4.5 Liter Supercharged.

1938 Lancia Aprilia.

1939 Jaguar SS-100.

1949 Healey Silverstone.

1951 Allard K-2.

1952 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage dhc.

1952 Jaguar XK120 fhc.

1952 Tojeiro.

1953 Jaguar C-Type.

1953 Nash-Healey Series 11.

1953 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

1953 Siata 208S.

1954 Jaguar XK120 dhc.

1956 Ferrari 250GT Boano coupe.

1956 Jaguar XK140MC dhc

Austin Healey.

1957 AC Aceca coupe.

AC Ace Bristol Zagato.

1957 AC Ace Bristol.

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Veloce.

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Lt. Wt.

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce.

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Veloce.

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Veloce.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette.

1957 Ford Thunderbird.

1957 Jaguar XK140 dhc.

1957 Jaguar XK 150 fhc.

1957 Kurtis Kraft 500KK.

1957 Porsche 356.

1957 Porsche 356GT.

1957 Porsche 356.

1957 Volvo P544.

1958 Arnolt Bristol Bolide.

1959 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk.3.

1959 Porsche 356A Coupe.

1958 Porsche Speedster.

1959 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet.

1959 Porsche 356 Convertible “D”.

AC Aceca Coupe.

1959 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet.

Porsche Speedster.

1960 Mercedes Benz 300SL roadster.

1961 Mercedes Benz 300SL roadster.

1959 Porsche 356 Convertible “D”.

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spyder.

1961 Mercedes Benz 300SL roadster.

1961 Mercedes Benz 300SL roadster.

1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spyder.

1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Veloce.

1962 Lancia Appia Zagato.

1962 Lotus Elite.

1962 Mercedes benz 30SL Gullwing.

1962 Porsche Roadster.

Bill Scheffler’s 1961 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster.

John Hall’s 1962 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.

Hank Mauel’s 1962 Lotus Elite.

Stuart Passey’s 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Veloce.

A 1957 Jaguar XK150 fhb driven by Ron Rader.

Yayoi Koshikawa’s 1949 Healey Silverstone.

Masahiro Inoue’s 1939 Jaguar SS-100 .

Robert Reed’s 1929 Bentley 4.5 Supercharged.

Martin Chisholm’s 1928 Bentley 4.5 Vanden Plus. Check out Martin’s website www.martinchisholm.com

Matthew deGarmo’s 1958 Arnolt Bristol Bolide.

Max Jamiesson’s 1957 Chevrolet Corvette.

Stanley Gold’s 1953 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

David Word’s 1957 Lancia Aurelia B24S.

Mike Malamut’s 1958 Porsche Speedster.

Tom and Gwen Price in their 1953 Jaguar C-Type.

Just as the sun peaks over the ridge, Cavallo Point Lodge. The California Mille spent Wednesday and Thursday night holed up here.

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[Source: California Mille; Dennis Gray]