Big changes are in store for the inaugural Mille Miglia North America Tribute. The 1,000 mile rally shifted the date of the event from August to October, in addition to moving the starting location from Monterey to Santa Barbara, California.
The Mille Miglia North America Tribute will now be held October 25-29, 2011, starting and ending in Santa Barbara. Previously, the event was scheduled for August 14-17, starting and ending in Monterey. The event is now associated with the Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance, another event run by the Stratus Media Group, the company sub-licensed to produce the Mille Miglia North America Tribute by the MAC Group.
Mille Miglia organisers explained, “We have decided to rearrange the event day and put it off a few months in order to provide the best setting this Tribute deserves, becoming the centre of interest in the international scene of classic cars and car enthusiasts. We would like to live up to the ever-growing expectations created by this Tribute and to respond to the task of truly appreciating such a prestigious event, to showcase Italian finest qualities, of which the Mille Miglia is an icon and proof.”
As previously reported, there has been much confusion in the classic car community regarding the Mille Miglia North America Tribute, the California Mille and the Art Center Monterey Tour. It will be interesting to see if the changes to the date, location and route map will produce any more clarity to the situation.
For more information, visit www.millemiglianorthamerica.com or read the official notification below.
From Mille Miglia North America Tribute event organizer Stratus Media Group:
Under the direction and support of its Italian counterparts at MAC Group, Meet Communications and the Automobile Club of Brescia, Stratus Media Group, Inc., will unite the Miglia North America Tribute with the 25th Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance in October. This will now be a televised celebration of history, prestige, tradition, and automotive genius. And, together the two events create the ultimate automotive experience, allowing the MMNAT to make memorable impact as it launches in North America, evolving the Mille Miglia brand into a global tradition.
The five day North America Mille Miglia Tribute begins on Tuesday, October 25th with traditional ceremonial events. The three day driving experience begins the morning of Wednesday, October 26th, taking participants from Santa Barbara to Monterey, Napa, Carmel, and returning them back to Santa Barbara on Friday, October 28th. A full public display of the MMNAT cars will presented at the Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance on October 29th.
It takes months for Mille Miglia qualifying vehicles to prepare for the experience. This shift in schedule accommodates preparations needed to participate. The setting in Santa Barbara and the Central Coast during October provides the perfect climate for this experience. Like the Italian Mille, this open road endurance experience will be a challenge, taking into consideration the age of these vehicles and that they are NOT necessarily a daily driver.
Setting this adventure apart from other 1000 mile events are: the high standards set to maintain the tradition of the original Italian Mille Miglia by only accepting a select and limited number of vehicles, nationally and internationally manufactured from 1927 – 1957, meeting the elite standards set by MMNAT Rules Committee; Traditional Red Arrow Ceremonies with representatives from the Italian Mille Miglia, City of Brescia and Italian Ministries presiding such as the Sealing Ceremony, Vehicle Presentations and Awards Ceremony; a mapped route taking participants through historic back roads – major highways are avoided; Luxurious commemorative gifts from Sponsors, exquisite VIP events and hospitality, Superior hotels; Open to an ENCORE event much like the Ferrari Tribute that runs in conjunction with the Mille Miglia in Italy.
The Mille Miglia has come a long way since its inception in 1927. Thanks to drivers’ passion for triumph and unyielding public support, the “world’s greatest road race” will continue its metamorphosis into a global tradition. Stratus Media Group (SMDI) is the exclusive licensee of the Mille Miglia North America Tribute in conjunction with the MAC Group, MEET Communications, and San Remo Rally, licensors of the Automobile Club of Brescia, owner and operator of the Italian Mille Miglia.
[Source: Mille Miglia North America Tribute]
Canceling an event on a months notice is very poor form. If Stratus Media Group had anything near the expected entry there are some very upset people. There is a pattern here. Stratus has published some very ambitious schedules in the past only to quietly bail out of the events one at a time. In fact, the only event they have produced in the last few years was the Santa Barbara Concours and an associated “Mille Tribute” attended by less than 10 cars. Since Stratus is a for-profit, publicly traded company, their financials are public record. The Santa Barbara Concours took in approximately $40,000, unfortunately it cost Stratus $210,000 to produce the show, for a loss of $170,000. These numbers are from their last 10-K filing with the SEC, (symbol SMDI) it is a public document and a very interesting read.
A finer example of marketing bafflegab would be hard to find. Desperately looking for entries to cover their costs? Good job Taruffi on tracking down the filings. Would you invest in this lot?
LOL.