Cars Of The California Mille – 2012 – Part 1

With the many car events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic we will not see the car action we are accustomed to at this time of year. I thought it would be a good idea to reach back into the My Car Quest archives and occasionally re-post certain articles with lots of photos of interesting cars and events to help us get through.

This is the third of the My Car Quest Archives Series – Cars Of The California Mille (Part 1) – from April/May 2012.

Mike Gulett, Publisher

by Mike Gulett –

The California Mille is 22 years old and was started by Martin Swig and a few of his friends, some of who are no longer around, unfortunately. It was inspired by the famous Italian road race The Mille Miglia.

The event begins on San Francisco’s Nob Hill. The cars were parked in front of the Fairmont Hotel and the road was closed.

Entries are limited to 60 cars, of the type built and raced prior to January 1958.

The itinerary  is:

Monday April 3 – San Francisco, Lodi, Incline Village

Tuesday, May 1 – Incline Village, Minden, Incline Village

Wednesday, May 2 – Incline Village, Colusa, Calistoga

Thursday, May 3 – Calistoga, Bodega Bay, Calistoga

The total distance this year is 891.9 miles or 1,427 km.

As I write this the group is likely in Calistoga.

This sounds like a great drive – if you are not familiar with Northern California look up this route on a map. It goes through some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.

This week the countryside is even more beautiful with the sights and sounds of these terrific cars.

I would love to go on the California Mille but none of my cars are old enough!

Let us know what you think in the Comments.