By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Mountain residents traveling along Highway 18 midday on Wednesday, April 24 were amazed at the vast variety of pre-1958 classic cars they passed: Alpha Romeos, Ferraris, Porsches, Mercedes and others cruising down the roadway. This year, the California Mille chose to include these Southern California mountain roadways for their annual 1,000-mile road rally.
Coordinator David Hord spoke with the Alpine Mountaineer at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa as his California Mille tour drivers stopped for lunch during their four-day, 1,100-mile road driving tour. Each year, the California Mille has around 70 cars cruising the “good driving back roads” of California. The Rim of the World Highway with its breathtaking views out to the ocean made the list for this year’s tour.
The California Mille is based on the Mille Miglia road race that started in Italy in 1927. The Mille Miglia was run 24 times from 1927 to 1957. The race was reborn in 1977 in Italy as a road race for cars produced in 1957 or before.
The California drive includes all prearranged meals, hotels and gas stops, plus the drivers are followed by three mechanics in case of mechanical problems and a flat-bed tow truck, which eases all driving worries and concerns that may arise.
“This is a great drive and such a view, I love it,” one of the drivers told the Alpine Mountaineer.
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