The Mille Miglia Novel

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE 1000 MILE DREAM  is a fast moving, nostalgic journey behind the scenes of the Mille Miglia in the late fifties and a wheel-gripping ride-along with Sergio Delbello, the prodigal, rising-star driver from Tuscany. Blinded by the lifestyles of the rich and famous of the Italian Riviera, his dream of competing in the legendary annual road race is realized when he is seduced into a Faustian bargain by the wealthy, dissolute Viscontessa Tessina.

The story captures the intrigues, dangers and ambiance of the original, classic Mille Miglia. Taken behind the scenes,the reader travels foot-to-the-floor around the 1000 mile circuit with the international cast of eclectic  characters, their lives and loves, in parallel sub-plots that are not resolved until the last car crosses the finish line in a dramatic and unexpected ending.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Fontana was born and raised in Northwestern Ontario - Boundary Waters Country - where Rainy Lake connects Ontario and Minnesota and the bass fishing is the eighth wonder of the world.

Now retired, Jim pursues his interest in motorsport (keeping three old sports cars running smoothly) and writing. He has published books on Law, True Crime, and newspaper articles on motorsport.

Jim's inspiration for this novel began at the age of twelve; while visiting Lucca, Italy, his parents' hometown, he saw the passage of the 1950 Mille Miglia, won that year by Giannino Marzotto driving a 166/195 Ferrari.

Back In Canada, each May the local radio station would let him monitor the Mille Miglia standings as they came in on the teletype from Europe. The original Mille Miglia, which ran almost continuously from 1927 to 1957, has been one of his life-long studies.

He and his wife Maggie live in south Ottawa (about 30 minutes from Ogdensburg, New York) with an entourage of two cats and a dog.

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Comments from readers:

“. . . Loved The 1000 Mile Dream. Having driven the Italian event 20 times and the California Mille 21 times, I feel you really got it right."

                                   Martin Swig                                                                                                                                                                                                  Founding Director of the California Mille , San Raphael, California

“Reading a novel about the Mille Miglia is both enticing and problematic . . .  it is a good read, a page turner, it goes as fast as at least a hot OSCA through the Futa Pass . . . . I enjoyed reading it.”

                                                                   Pete Vack

                                               Motorsport Journalist & Publisher

                                               Veloce Today magazine (Online) 

“Jim Fontana blends his love of classic sports cars, passion for his Italian roots, his fondness for offbeat characters and a zeal for motorsport history. Guile breeds between the sheets, intrigue hatches in high mountain passes, and vengeance flags the finish. Through each twist and turn of the 1000 Mile Dream, Fontana shifts gears with the pacing of a professional circuit driver. Settle in and enjoy but be sure you are buckled in.”

                                                     Mark Vandusen, Broadcaster /  Journalist

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For autographed copies for yourself or as a gift for a friend, you may order directly at: [email protected]

$20.00 Hardcover

$13.00 Softcover

$5.00 Postage & Handling

(Above prices reflect a 30% author's discount off the sticker price.)

To Order:

By Mail:   J. Fontana

                Fontana Books

                2162 Old Prescott Road

                Ottawa (Greely) ON

                Canada  K4P 1L4

Email:      [email protected]

Payment: Check, Money Order, or PayPal

(All copies ordered as above will be autographed as requested)

                 A GREAT GIFT FOR THE MOTORSPORT ENTHUSIAST

                                        IN YOUR LIFE !

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 THE 1000 MILE DREAM   

               The Mille Miglia Novel

                             by

                   James Fontana 

 Book Review by WILL SILK  

                                in

  SPORTS CAR DIGEST                     

 June 27, 2011  

 www.sportscardigest.com/the-1000-mile-dream-review/

James Fontana’s new book, The 1000 Mile Dream, is a fictional piece that parallels the  actual running of a Mille Miglia event during  those glorious days of the early 1950’s. While  purists and historians will have to take a moment to perhaps adjust from time to time in reference to how close  the author gets to the actual event, the story is nonetheless very entertaining and filled with action and drama.

The story centers on a young, up and coming, Italian race driver by the name of Sergio Delbello who comes from a more rural lifestyle in Italy’s agricultural community. Delbello becomes involved with a viscontessa who promises the young driver that her love and wealth will be all his provided he does her the favor of killing her husband who also happens to be racing in the Mille Miglia that year.

 The story goes on to be filled with several sub-plots with an array of supporting characters, all of which Fontana does a good job of developing in a true international sense to lend more credibility to his fictional tale about Italy’s greatest race. The story doesn’t simply end at the finish line in Brescia however, as Fontana includes a little tale at the end of the book that tells of Sergio showing up at his uncle’s tire shop on a Moto Guzzi and relaying some shocking news to his old employer.

 Fontana’s wealth of knowledge on the true Mille Miglia is relayed by being able to connect the reader with the actual course through the cockpit of Sergio Delbello’s Lancia. For fans of the Mille Miglia, this book certainly would be a must to add to their collection.