Long Day Ahead

The Mille Miglia was a race in which, even over a very long course, local knowledge counted.  In 1955, Stirling Moss was the 3rd - and last - non-Italian to win the 1,000 mile epic in its 30 year history.  Stirling was assisted in his efforts by the speed and stamina of the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR and the cool head of his navigator, bearded Journalist denis Jenkinson who had plotted the natural hazards of 1,000 miles of Italian roads onto a roll of paper in a waterproof case, which he communicated to Moss via a series of hand signals.  The British pair did not have it all their own way and in the early stages, as shown here, they were harried by the Ferrari 121LM of Eugenio Castellotti as the race charged from town to town through the Italian landscape.  Castellotti's matinee idol looks belied a steely determination and skill behind the wheel which made him the darling of the Italian fans.  Although very fast, his Ferrari ate its rear tyres at an alarming rate, allowing Moss to ease clear and win at record speed.  A year later, Mercedes having retired from motor racing, Moss and Jenkinson crashed out in their Maserati while Castellotti won a very wet Mille Miglia.