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| This year the La Festa Mille Miglia marked its 25th year. Due to the spread of COVID-19, it ended up starting from Yabuki Town, Fukushima Prefecture instead of Meiji Jingu Shrine this time. While the event was canceled last year, it took place for the first time in two years this year with all necessary measures to prevent infection in place. On day one, the 24th, it was clear and sunny in Fukushima. The participating vehicles arrived one after another at the car inspection venue, Yabuki Driving School, very early in the morning. Although the venue was suddenly changed from Meiji Jingu Shrine, where they usually got car inspection, to Fukushima Prefecture, the inspection for all the cars went smoothly without any big trouble, and prayer for road safety was held at 1 pm. After the prayer for road safety, the entrants moved from Yabuki Driving School to the starting venue, Nakamachi Pocket Park. The 55 cars set off from the park at 2 pm, seen off by Yabuki Town Mayor Hiruta waving the starting flag. The entrants left Yabuki Town and went to to the Tenei Village Office in Tenei Village. After receiving a stamp there, they headed to the next stamp point, Nakanosawa Onsen in Inawashiro Town. At Nakanosawa Onsen, local staff handed out masks to each vehicle to promote COVID-19 prevention measures. The entrants received masks and a stamp, then headed to their final destination, the Inawashiro Ski Resort. PC competitions (a measurement competition to drive a designated section in a designated time in seconds and compete for a difference from a set time) were held at the Inawashiro Ski Resort. A drizzle started to come down like a shower and it made the competitions harder. By the time the entrants arrived at the Urabandai Lake Resort, the rain let up and patches of blue sky peeked through the thick clouds. Almost all of the vehicles arrived around 5 pm. Perhaps this is the first time all participating vehicles have crossed the finish line of day one before it got too dark. On day two, the entrants will take a route of approximately 280km through Fukushima, Miyagi, and Yamagata prefectures. They must be very excited to drive through the Tohoku Route for the first time in two years. |
 BUGATTI T35C sets off from Nakamachi Pocket Park, seen off by Yabuki Town Mayor Hiruta waving starting flag  Participating vehicles arrive one after another at car inspection venue Yabuki Driving School  Prayer for road safety before departure  FIAT BALLILA receives stamp at Nakanosawa Onsen  CISITALIA COLOMBO BARCHETTA receives last stamp of day one at Urabandai Lake Resort |
