California Mille 2008

California Mille 2008 Photos and Stories.

1000 miles throughout Northern California
over 4 days
27 April thrugh 1 May 2008

California Mille 2008

The 18th California Mille runs1000 miles throughout Northern California over 4 days. The event starts with a Car show at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill on Sunday, 27 April 2008 from 11am to 5 pm (the day before the actual start). The show included all Mille participants plus 60 classical luxury cars. The highlight of Sunday, was a literal walk down the red carpet and memory lane as the event founder, Martin Swig led long time car celebrity David E. Davis and Martin's son David, through a car by car review. Each member recounting personal stories of their long histories from the golden age of motoring and interviews with the car owners.

The California Mille salutes Italy's famed Mille Miglia (thousand mile) race that ran from Brescia to Rome to Brescia from 1927-1957. Cars that could have qualified for the original event are eligible to apply for entry in the California Mille.

The 18th California Mille's cars list included l5 Jaguars, 11 Alfa Romeos, 9 Mercedes-Benz, Talbot-Lago, Nash Healey, Allard, Aceca-Bristol, Hudson Hornet, Kurtis, Cisitalia, Cunningham, and Delahaye. Participants are said to be from l5 U.S. states and six nations: Australia, Colombia, Switzerland, the U.K., Canada and the U.S. Three 2008 Mille entries completed last year's Peking-to-Paris marathon.

California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

Alfa Romeo 6c2500 SS Touring
Ville d'Este sn-915882 1949
California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

Bentley 6.5-8 Lt, Le Mans 1926
California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

Duesenberg Dual-Cowl-Phaeton Le Grande 1930
California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

far left; David E. Davis, Martin Swig (hat), David Swig, far right
California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

Martin Swig
California Mille 2008

David E. Davis (center)
California Mille 2008

left, Martin Swig, interviewing a driver, David Swig, far right
California Mille 2008

California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

Martin Swig (hat) and David E. Davis share stories as they move from car to car.

David Swig, left comments on Bently's with David E. Davis

California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

ARRIVO
California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

Jaguar D Type 1954-54
California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill

Jaguar C-Type 1952
California Mille 2008
The San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill