The journey to the Italian race venue itself proved just how well the cars of 1940 have kept up their prowess. They made their way from Munich to Brescia not on the back of race transporters but under their steam, just as they had done 70 years ago. "It was the perfect dress rehearsal for the race," noted Baumer. Nor were the drivers bothered by the inclement weather during their crossing of the Alps, wrapped up as they were in weatherproof BMW Motorrad gear. During the Mille Miglia itself, the weather was also up to its tricks. From 27 degrees Celsius on the Adriatic to nearfreezing in snow and fog on Monte Terminillo, the teams were put through the whole gamut of the Italian climate. "But the trials and tribulations are quickly forgotten once all the participants - teams and cars - have made it safely across the finish line," summed up Karl Baumer. "And our great result is the icing on the cake."
Note: This press release is a 1:1 copy of the original issued by BMW headquarters in Germany. No adaptations have been made to cater for the UK market.