A Race to the Italian Coast

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The first Coppa Milano-Sanremo, held exactly 100 years ago in 1906, was a reliability event, an adventurous trip from Milan to the sunny coasts of the Ligurian Riviera. The participating motor cars were divided into two categories according to their purchase price. The first category, the expensive cars, was won by Tamagni in a Marchand. The “cheap” class was won by a De Dion, chauffeured by Maffeis. The event was repeated in 1929, and continued, except in 1936, right up to World War II. In 1948 the “Coppa” was relaunched with trials at the Monza race track and the track in Ospedaletti. Due to the oil crisis of 1973, the event was suspended but, after thirty years of silence, engines were fired up once more to bring this race back to life. Next Saturday, on March 10, the Centennial edition of the Coppa Milano-Sanremo will start in Milan. But unlike hundred years ago, there’s no need to worry about the purchase price of the competing vehicles. (RB)

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