Few triumphs have inspired drivers like Sir Stirling Moss\u2019 victory at the 1955 Mille Miglia. Then just 25 years old, driver Moss and co-driver Denis Jenkinson roared through 992 miles of Italian countryside in just 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds. Average speed? 98.53 miles per hour.<\/p>\n
Here, Moss tells the story of his victory in his own words.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the flag fell, I went flat out,\u201d said Moss. \u201cObviously, when I\u2019d see a car I caught up with, I really felt great about it, but I had no idea of the enormity of what it meant to myself because it\u2019s really\u2014it\u2019s quite the thing to have on your CV.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finishing ahead of the then-two times Grand Prix World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio, Moss\u2019 achievement has long since been labeled \u201cThe greatest race\u201d\u2014a title that probably won\u2019t be applied to any other motorsport event ever again. The 1955 Mille Miglia had it all: incredible drivers, now-iconic machines like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR #722, and a harrowing course that was dangerous beyond belief.<\/p>\n
How dangerous? Moss said he had to wiggle the car from left to right on the road so that spectators would take a few steps back as he flew through the often small Italian towns along the route.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m certain it\u2019s my greatest win,\u201d said Moss. \u201cI can\u2019t think of any other car in the world that would have given me the opportunity to achieve the speeds we did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Called SLR for Sport Leicht-Rennen (\u201cSport Light-Racing\u201d in English) the 300 SLR was the world\u2019s most advanced race car of its time: direct fuel-injected straight-8 engine, roughly 310 horsepower, and a top speed of around 180 mph (290 km\/h).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 722 is a really strong car\u2026\u201d said Moss. \u201cThe fact the car\u2019s really old doesn\u2019t matter\u2014that car, the way it is now, I reckon we\u2019d beat any other cars, anyway!\u201d<\/p>\n