Blancpain Sponsors California Mille Miglia

Vintage sports car rallies are popular around the world, but the California Mille Miglia, now in its 18th year, has acquired a special cache. Offering routes that depart San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, follow the rugged unspoiled California coast line, climb through high mountain passes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, wind though historical gold rush towns in the foothills, snake through the Napa Valley and terminate at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, the California rally attracts drivers and extra special vintage cars from several continents and all across the United States. Every year the rally is besieged by enthusiasts vying for one of the 75 precious spots in the field. Blancpain was delighted to be a part of the California Mille Miglia last month, extending its sponsorship for a second year.

The California Mille Miglia begins with a car show open to the public at the top of Nob Hill in San Francisco. More than 10,000 people flocked to ogle the likes of a pair of late 1920’s Bentleys from Lucerne, Switzerland; a classic Delahaye; a bevy of vintage Jags including ultra rare type C and type D race cars, XK 120s and XK140s; a BMW 328, seldom seen AC Bristols; Gullwings; and of course Ferraris. Blancpain erected its tent alongside the show so that rally participants and the public could view a large part of the current collection and a very special piece created in honor of the rally. To mark the second year of its participation, Blancpain produced an ultra limited series of 20 stainless steel Fifty Fathoms Chronographs. This California Mille limited edition features a unique carbon fiber dial and engraving on the case back which distinguishes it from the regular production Fifty Fathoms Chronograph.

This year’s rally, as is traditional, spanned four days of driving for the 1000 mile route. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, the course followed back roads through the Sacramento Delta, across the Central Valley, climbed over Kit Carson pass in the Sierra Nevada and thence along Lake Tahoe to Incline Village. The second day’s route, crossed Donner Summit and from there, offered a descent through the old mining town of Nevada City, a traverse through the Sutter Buttes and then a narrow twisty route over the coastal hills to Mendocino. The third day followed California’s hidden coast, including a pass through the Avenue of the Giants redwoods, to Ferndale, followed by a loop back down the coast to Mendocino. The last day sprinted along the coast, up to the summit of Mount Tamalpais to a finish at Fort Baker in Sausalito.