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Saturday, May 4, 2013

60th Anniversary: Moss in the Mille Miglia! The Greatest (Car Guy) Story Ever Told!

Today marks the 60th Anniversary of Sir Stirling Moss' epic victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia.  And the account of that victory, written for Motorsport Magazine by his navigator that day, Denis 'Jenks' Jenkinson, stands as one of the Immortal Pieces of Automotive Journalism.  I repost this today to honor Sir Moss and Denis Jenkinson not only for their brilliant victory, but also for the brilliant victory that gave rise to this brilliant account.   My all-time favorite automotive narrative!  Enjoy!

I think this may be the single greatest piece of automotive journalism I have ever read.  Denis Jenkinson rocks!  Baurspotting loves Sir Stirling anyway (see previous Stirling Moss posts in Baurspotting), but this story just had me on the edge of my seat.... brilliant!

(Yes, I have read and loved David E. Davis Jr's famous "Turn Your Hymnals to 2002", about the BMW 2002.  That is Number Two on my list.  http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/04/1968-bmw-2002-turn-your-hymnals-to.html  )

It is Denis 'Jenks' Jenkinson's first-hand account of his experience as the navigator in the Mercedes 300SLR driven to record-setting victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia by Stirling Moss.   Mille Miglia:  1000 miles over normal Italian roads, through towns and cities, averaging over 97 mph, and cruising  large sections at 170mph!


Sound pretty incredible?  It IS incredible!  Do yourself a favor:  stop whatever else you are doing, and read this account.  You can thank me later.

Here is just a taste of what you are in for...... enjoy it, but by all means click on the link at the bottom and read the whole story (it appears in easier to read print there also, btw).

Scanned from a reprint of the original article printed in May 1995.
Tony Dilworth - December 5th, 2010.
eMail Tony




















Here is the link to the full story:
http://www.foodman123.com/moss.htm



Hearty thanks to my friend, Tom D in bimmerforums for these video links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtRWhPQVAY8&feature=youtu.be
Wow.  You will love this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lg2VAFKo7g

Thanks, Tom D.!
http://maptal.es/tales/253#step1

Baur content?  Oh, yes!  How about Sir Stirling Moss himself reviewing a BMW E21 Baur .... from 1979!  we've got it!
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/08/stirling-moss-reviews-bmw-tc1-baur.html
Baurspotting loves Sir Stirling Moss!

http://www.motortrend.com/classic/features/1210_1955_mille_miglia_the_most_epic_drive_ever/viewall.html
Date:  May 1-2, 1955

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