Autoblog

Here's more reason for Alfisti to rejoice. Although it hasn't been a race of pure speed since 1957, winning the Mille Miglia is still an honor and a testament to skill behind the wheel. This year's trophy hoisters are Luciano Viaro and Luca Bergamaschi, in a 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500S. They beat a 1927 Bugatti T 37, and a 1933 Aston Martin Le Mans.

It's the third Mille Miglia victory for Alfa Romeo since the race changed format in 1957: they won with the same car and driver combo in 2005, and prior to that they won in 1977 with a 1927 RL. During the 30-year span when the race was about being the first and fastest, from 1927 to 1957, Alfa won 11 times. Coincidentally, this year's winner is the same car that won the 1928 edition of the race.

[Source: World Car Fans]

The market for automotive timepieces has become flooded in recent years. Automotive what, you ask? Watchmakers have been clamoring to find ways to associate their products with cars and racing, to the point that selecting our ten favorites from the field was a difficult task, and several fine examples had to be left out.

Chopard, meanwhile, has been one company on the forefront of the convergence with their sponsorship of the famous Mille Miglia classic rally in Italy, producing a line of wristwatches in association. The Swiss watchmaker has just unveiled the latest, a pair of jumbo chronographs that commemorate the historic race.

The Mille Miglia GT XL Chronograph is being produced in two versions. The first has a steel case with Chopard's trademark rubber strap with a tire-tread pattern taken from vintage Dunlop racing tires, and will be produced in a limited run of 2007 editions. The more exclusive edition of 500 has a black leather alligator strap and a rose gold case. Since the extra large face is crammed with the chronograph sub-dials, Chopard laser-etched the numbers 12 and 6 on the sapphire crystal itself. Flip it over and you'll find a map of the race course – from Rome to Berscia to Ferrara and back to Rome – engraved on the case back. Inside the case is the ETA 7750 automatic chronograph movement, enclosed in an exclusive package which will go on sale at Chopard boutiques worldwide next month.

[Source: Sybarites]