MORITZ’ MILLE MIGLIA

“The most amazing 4-1/2 days that we could think of”

Simon Aldridge speaks with Moritz Hardieck about his Mille Miglia journey

For Moritz Hardieck and Marc-Julian Siewert this year’s Mille Miglia was their best so far. The two friends have participated as co-drivers or in support cars multiple times, but this year they entered their own recently acquired  alloy-bodied Jaguar XK120. CKL has maintained the car for many years - it being previously owned by the US based Jaguar collector and CKL customer Walter Hill, and then Stefan Ziegler.

“It is a remarkably original car - I don't think that this one has ever been fully rebuilt.”

Chris Keith-Lucas

This original alloy-bodied XK120 - one of the first 240 XK120s that were built - retains it's hand-beaten aluminium body panels mounted to an ash frame. After the first 240 XK120s were handbuilt in this way, the car went into full production with pressed steel bodies, which are quite different underneath to the original cars despite having similar lines. Discussions about preparations began last Autumn, and it was decided then that the car would retain it’s original engine and gearbox for the event. Preparation consisted of thoroughly overhauling the ignition system, hoses, suspension and brakes and installing a new oil cooler.

Normally on these events CKL provide a support vehicle and a team of mechanics to ensure smooth running, however, in this case Moritz decided to run the event with CKL advice just a phone call away, rather than physically with them. CKL made every effort to make this strategy successful. For instance, before the event Moritz and Mattias (Moritz’ mechanic) came over to the UK for a workshop with CKL’s Toby Coomber, who spent a few hours training them in basic XK120 maintenance and repairs, preparing them for the event as best he could in the time available. They also took the car for a test run on the Sussex roads around our HQ, which must have been quite spirited because they came back with a broken rear spring - good thing that happened in testing and not in the race. Preparation work was completed in November, and then the task fell to Mark Hews to give the car a proper road test and shake down over 500 miles.

When Moritz and Julian met the car in Brescia, their first drive in the car was the Mille Miglia tour of the city center, during which various scrutineering activities took place. The car immediately felt great and gave them the confidence that it was going to make it to the finish.

“We were confident to run her hard but treat her well, and that we would finish the event.”

Moritz  Hardieck

Over the next 4-1/2 days the car ran perfectly. This year’s event included 600km of new route taking the event further northwest through the Piedmont region. This was the first time that the Mille Miglia route had included Milan city center, and the prolonged running in traffic was perhaps the sternest test of the car and crew. Despite the heat, the car behaved and didn't let them down.

Chopard are sponsors of the event, and the family enter a team of ten cars themselves each year. Since Moritz is very close with the Chopard family, he and Julian had the good fortune to join the Chopard team. Their CKL-prepared XK120 was the only non-family car to join, and Moritz and Julian had the honour of participating with the other Chopard drivers including Le Mans winners Jacky Ickx and Romain Dumas. 

The highlight for the two friends was arriving in Rome. After many hours on the road, arriving in the ancient city was a moving moment, and overcome with emotion Julian and Moritz were literally in tears. The atmosphere was incredible, with thousands of spectators lining the route and police escorts taking them through the famous streets.

Speaking with Moritz, his enthusiasm for the car, for CKL and for the event are palpable. Besides their success in the rally - finishing in 138th place with faultless reliablility - he is full of praise for the way the event this year was paced:

“We were fully engaged the whole time - I could never recall doing 4-1/2 days that consumed me so much that I forgot all about work and life's worries. At the end we were tired but fulfilled.”

MH

Thank you to Moritz for taking the time to share with us his amazing experience on this year's MM.

Your CKL correspondent: Simon Aldridge @octanesimon