GEOFF’S MILLE MIGLIA PART 2

YESTERDAY IN OUR (AND HIS) TALE, Geoff Healey started the 1949 Mille Miglia in a year-old Healey 2400 Westland (that had placed first in class there the year before). Today, Geoff co-driving with Tommy Wisdom continues his adventure

Win Some, Lose Some; Have a Coke. Geoff wrote in January 1950 R&T, “Dawn was breaking as the cars wound, climbed, and dived over the Appenines. We were in a tight bunch… and arrived at Livorno together, checked in, refuelled, and cleaned the windscreen (windshield). We lost minutes on the others due to our speaking little Italian. Afterwards, however, we took the lead on the long straights along the lovely seashore” 

A sibling Healey 2400 Westland. This and following images from Riga Master Workshop.

“At the Rome control, Sanesi and Venturi [in an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500] led the Healeys and the Bristol. Here, the refuelling was more efficient and a Coca-Cola was given each man—very welcome too after miles on those dusty roads.” 

Unwarranted Pauses: “We drove away on the winding and undulating road that followed when a railroad crossing gate held us up; the Alfa Romeo and the Bristol soon arrived beside us. We exchanged cheery good mornings with our Italian rivals…. The gates went up like a horserace starting gate and the Healey leaped ahead with its superior acceleration.”

“Five more miles, and again we waited together at another crossing. Then we drew right away and never saw our rivals again.”

A Fine Ambiance: “The beautiful town of Chieta was entered quickly to the sound of screeching tyres and cheering crowds. The whiff of Castrol R and Methanol from the racing car just ahead hung like perfume in the hot air.”

“There was a rapid refuel [at Pescara] and more of the ever-welcome Coca-Cola, and then away up the Adriatic coast. The engine purred at 4800 rpm as we cruised the long straights passing small cars as though they were standing still.”

Ravenna, Last Control Before Brescia: “… Sandri, last year’s [class] winner in a Healey, greeted us with two beers, a nice gesture, but no time for an exchange of compliments as we led by a bare few minutes.”

A Wartime Bridge to Brescia: “We bumped over the Po River on the pontoon bridge still bearing the old signs left by the armies that had built it. There followed tricky fast bends, dangerous bridges, and treacherous surfaces.”

“The crowds grew even more dense. The roads became obstructed and we swerved around trucks, blasting our horns continuously, and pressed on relentlessly towards Brescia. Five miles from the town and a bare ribbon of road lay between mountains of people who cheered with a roar like thunder or a raging sea.”

Image by B.I.S. from R&T, January 1950.

“We flashed over the line, happy but uncertain of our position. The car was driven to the official garage to be lockup up, then we went into the first bar for two large beers. We walked back to the start to see Lurani on the Bristol and Sanesi on the Alfa cross the line.”

A Class Win, 10th Overall. “Within a few minutes, the result was known. We were first, Sanesi and Venturi second, and Lurani and Addinton third. The Healey had done it again! The old car slept contentedly in the garage.”

The Biondetti/Salani Ferrari 166 MM’s winning time was 12:07:05; average speed 82.1 mph. The Healey/Wisdom Healey’s, 14:24:03; average speed 69.1 mph. It sure sounded like Geoff and Tommy had a ball. ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2024