The historic Mille Miglia race and the OM industry represent two pillars of excellence for Brescia, symbolizing the city’s sporting and industrial success respectively. These two phenomena have managed to maintain their relevance over time, thanks to their ability to evolve while remaining true to their roots. Their glorious past is celebrated not only through the modern incarnations of the Mille Miglia race and OM industry, but also through a valuable historical archive that documents the miles traveled together since the first edition of the famous car race, which was won by the Brescia-based company.
The exhibition “Mille Miglia Non Stop” recently opened in the evocative Sala del Capitano of the Rocca Visconteo-Veneta in Lonato del Garda, offering a unique overview of the history of this legendary race. The photographic collection largely comes from the Negri Archive and includes historical images that cover the pioneering period of the race. These photographs are particularly valuable because they document an era when few professional photographers followed the event, often taken by local photographers along the route.
The exhibition will remain open until September 1st within the monumental complex of the Ugo Da Como Foundation.
Known as “the most beautiful race in the world,” the Mille Miglia is now a spectacular event with international appeal. However, its origins were very different: few people could imagine the future evolution of that initial race. The challenging roads made it difficult to follow the competition, and many of the images from that time were not systematically collected or organized.
On Sunday, July 21st at 11 am, in the Sala del Capitano of the Rocca in Lonato del Garda, there will be a cultural meeting entitled “Mille Miglia and the OM, two Brescian successes.” Among the speakers will be Mauro Negri, president of the Negri Foundation, and Fabrizio Rossi, a notary and president of the International OM Registry, as well as a collector of vintage cars. This meeting will offer further insights into curious topics related to the history of the Mille Miglia and the OM industry.
Italian Version
