The Spirit of the Mille Miglia!

 

Viva Italia. Viva Alfa Romeo. Viva Mille Miglia.

The Mille Miglia begins this week in Italy, and Historic Festival 44 is joining the celebration with Italian style, Alfa Romeo passion, and stories worth telling. Lime Rock Park welcomes remarkable cars and special guests with real Mille Miglia experience — a fitting salute to Italy’s legendary thousand-mile road race as we celebrate Alfa Romeo, our Featured Marque. Molto bene.

Alfa Romeo and the Magic of the Mille Miglia

One of the most important Alfa Romeos in the world is coming to Historic Festival 44.

Lime Rock Park is honored to welcome 12 extraordinary cars from the Revs Institute, including the legendary Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B — the car Alfisti know simply as the “Two-Nine.”

No sports car of the 1930s was more feared. Built from Alfa Romeo’s Grand Prix bloodline, the 8C 2900B was created for one purpose: to win the Mille Miglia.

And win it did. In 1936, three Alfa Romeo 8C 2900s entered the Mille Miglia and swept the podium, finishing first, second, and third. Alfa Romeo built only a little more than thirty road-going 8C 2900Bs between 1937 and 1939, which is why seeing one at Historic Festival 44 is so extraordinary.

The Revs Institute car has a remarkable story of its own. Displayed on the Alfa Romeo stand at the 1938 Paris Automobile Salon, it later survived World War II after its owner, Angelo Biemmi, hid it on his estate in Iseo. Then came its greatest chapter: the 1947 Mille Miglia.

Starting 149th out of 153 cars, the nine-year-old Alfa faced newer competition from Maserati, Ferrari, and Cisitalia. Then the rains came. Through brutal weather and impossible conditions, the 8C 2900B charged across Italy and won, holding off a heroic drive by Tazio Nuvolari.

It was the fourth Mille Miglia victory for the 8C 2900 and the eleventh and final Mille Miglia win for Alfa Romeo.

See this extraordinary Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B at Historic Festival 44 as part of a special Revs Institute paddock display featuring 12 remarkable cars.Get Tickets To Historic Festival 44 Here

Historic Festival 44 will celebrate Alfa Romeo in grand style, with a tented paddock display featuring over 20 world-class Alfas, plus a major Alfa presence at Sunday in the Park Concours and the Gathering of the Marques.

 

Alfa Romeo, Nuvolari, and a Le Mans Legend

Peter Sachs’ 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato Corto Spider is a world-class, supercharged straight-eight from the golden age of European road racing, clothed by Zagato and tied to one of the great stories in Le Mans history.

In 1933, this Alfa Romeo was driven at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Tazio Nuvolari and Raymond Sommer. Nuvolari, making his only appearance at Le Mans, helped build a commanding lead before the car was slowed by damage and a leaking fuel tank. The leak was patched with chewing gum, and Nuvolari charged back into the fight.

After 24 hours, the Alfa Romeo crossed the line first, winning by just 10 seconds in one of the closest finishes in Le Mans history.

Its story has continued at Lime Rock Park. In 2014, Sachs’ Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 won Best of Show at Sunday in the Park, with Sir Stirling Moss and Lady Susie Moss presenting the award. In 2026, it was awarded Best of Show at the Greenwich Concours, further confirming its place among the world’s most celebrated automobiles.

See Peter Sachs’ 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato Corto Spider at Historic Festival 44, where it will be displayed at Sunday in the Park as Lime Rock Park celebrates Alfa Romeo as our Featured Marque.Get Tickets To Historic Festival 44 Here

 

The Mille Miglia, Through Donald Osborne’s Eyes

Donald Osborne knows the Mille Miglia not simply as a historian, commentator, and lifelong Italian car enthusiast, but as a participant. He has driven the event four times, including in a 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.

“For any of us who are captivated by the time machine aspect of historic cars, the Mille Miglia is as close as you can get to truly re-living the past,” Osborne said. “While it is certainly not the wild blast through half of Italy it was between 1927 and 1957, it is still very much an epic event. Thirteen-hour days at the wheel of what is, at its newest, a 70-year-old car is a challenge for any entrant. And, the experience of a lifetime!”

Meet Donald Osborne at Historic Festival 44, hear his Mille Miglia stories, grab a selfie, and pick up a signed copy of his book, Stile Transatlantico.La dolce velocità awaits. Get tickets to Historic Festival 44 here.

 

Meet the Heroes Who Made the History

Miles Collier founder of the Revs Institute

Honored Guest at HF44

The Voice, The Wit, The Champion. David Hobbs.

Donald Osborne 

Brings Automotive History to Life.

Trans-Am Legend Tommy Kendall returns

Dorsey Schroeder. Still Stirring Up Trouble After All These Years

The Stories from 

Jocko Maggiacomo 

Are Worth the Trip

From Arese, Italy, 

Alfa Romeo Historian Lorenzo Ardizio 

Mike Joy: From the Broadcast Booth to the Driver’s Seat

 

The Full Historic Festival Experience

If you own a historic

Alfa Romeo — or a car worthy of inclusion

Apply for the Sunday in the Park Concours Here

The greatest car show

takes place on track

Register for the Gathering of the Marques Here

We’ve listed our preferred hospitality partners 

to help you

Plan your HF44 Weekend Here

 

 

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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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