The Fairmont Hotel Hosts Display of Rare Vintage Sports Cars ``Nob Hill Toasts the California Mille''
SAN FRANCISCO--April 19, 2001--On April 29 from 4 to 6 p.m., the public can preview one of the nation's most spectacular displays of vintage sports cars at "Nob Hill Toasts The California Mille." Sponsored by The Fairmont San Francisco, the outdoor reception will showcase 70 rare sports racing and production cars, dating from 1927 through 1957, which will tour Northern California in the prestigious California Mille. Highlighting this year's event is an additional display of nearly 100 classic luxury cars from the local community.
Cars participating in the California Mille include a 1951 Cunningham C1, a 1953 Ferrari 375MM, a 1954 Ferrari 250GT TDF, a 1956 Alfa 1900 SS Zagato, a 1956 Talbot Maserati, a 1957 Jaguar XK-SS and a 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder.
In addition to the unique display of cars along Mason, California and Sacramento streets, partygoers will enjoy wine and spirits, sumptuous hors d'oeuvres and a chance to win fabulous raffle prizes, courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Other sponsors of the world-class auto event include Jaguar Cars North America, KGO-AM, Veuve Cliquot, Pearl Vodka, Pacific Echo, Stella Artois and Fiji Water.
Jim Dunbar of "KGO Morning News" will be the master of ceremonies for the exciting event and Sid Colberg of Concours de Elegance fame will introduce the unique cars and drivers of the California Mille.
The event will benefit the Nob Hill Foundation, Inc. which serves to preserve and enhance historic Huntington Park. Tickets are $35 per person in advance and $45 at the door. They can be reserved by calling (415) 772-5204. (Please note that the public can view the cars for free without participating in the cocktail reception.)
Drivers from around the world will begin displaying their prized automobiles in front of The Fairmont Hotel at noon on April 29. At precisely 7:30 a.m. on April 30, the Italian flag will drop to commence the tenth annual running of the California Mille. The 150 participants, including the drivers, their navigators, mechanics and a California Highway Patrol escort, will embark on a four-day journey across 1000 miles of California back roads.
The California Mille is patterned after the world-famous Italian Mille Miglia, the legendary 1000-mile open road race from Brescia to Rome and back. Although the Mille Miglia originally ran from 1927 through 1957, it was revived as an annual event in 1982.
Today, the California Mille is the only U.S. event to be recognized by the Mille Miglia Storica (Historical Society) of Brescia, Italy.
The California Mille unites rare and very valuable cars from across the globe. This year's collection ranges from pre-war Alfa Romeos to post-war Ferraris and includes a bountiful array of Jaguars, Porsches and other renowned sporting cars. Drivers from Europe, South America, Japan, Australia and many cities across the United States will participate in the celebrated tour of cars.
Martin Swig, an avid historic car racer, is the organizer of the California Mille and was the sole American entrant in the Mille Miglia in 1982. Event sponsors include Jaguar Cars North America, The Fairmont San Francisco and Memo Design Watches. The Fairmont San Francisco is located atop Nob Hill at 950 Mason Street.