The 19th running of the California Mille will take place April 25-30, 2009 over 1000 miles of Northern California’s finest roads. Approximately 75 historic race cars – 
those that could have qualified for Italy’s famed Mille Miglia race – will take an entirely new route in 2009, traversing the majestic Pacific Coast, California’s legendary gold country and the picturesque Sacramento River Delta.
The Mille will depart San Francisco’s Nob Hill on April 27th on a four-day, 1000-mile back road adventure, concluding on the 30th with a free car show and awards banquet in the center of Sausalito.
Preceding the Mille’s departure will be a two-day festa Italiana in front of the Fairmont Hotel, with a Dolce Vita day of Italian food, wine and culture on April 25th, and a free display of California Mille cars and Palo Alto Concours classics on April 26th.
The California Mille salutes Italy’s Mille Miglia (thousand mile) race that ran from Brescia to Rome to Brescia from 1927-1957. It is one of a series of nonprofit drives presented by Amici americani della Mille Miglia, headquartered in San Rafael, California.
Additionally, it was announced that Chopard will be the Presenting Sponsor of the 2009 California Mille. The Geneve-based firm has been a long a supporter of cultural and artistic events, including the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Automobile Grand Prix and Italy’s famed Mille Miglia.
If there’s ever been any doubt about the significance of the California Mille, Chopard’s recognition and sponsorship firmly places ours as a world-class motoring event, said Mille organizer Martin Swig.
In 1988, Chopard became the main sponsor of the re-launched Mille Miglia drive that runs annually from Brescia to Rome to Brescia, Swig revealed. And to commemorate that historic race, Chopard designed a special timepiece that in its own way reflects the passion, technical excellence and precision that we see in today’s Mille Miglia.
This year, five Chopard watches, as elegant and functional as the 75 classic race cars of the California Mille, will be presented to five entrants selected by the Milles mechanics and tow truck driver, said Swig.
Other sponsors of the California Mille include The Fairmont Hotel, The Lodi Wine Growers, KSFO Radio, British Motors Jaguar, Land Rover, Lamborghini, Bentley and Lotus, Jesup & Lamont Securities Corporation and the Nob Hill Gazette.
For more information, visit www.californiamille.com.
[Source: California Mille]
