Stratus Media Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SMDI), a live entertainment company, announced today that they will bring the the Mille Miglia, the historic and world renowned automotive driving event, to North America August 14th through August 17th. The Mille Miglia North American Tribute (MMNAT) will be held in advance of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Historic Automotive weekend, which draws thousands of spectators and automobile aficionados in addition to hundreds of private collectors.
SMDI will produce the 1,000 mile experience in the spirit of the of the original Mille Miglia in Italy, on a picturesque California coast route running through the remarkable landscapes of Carmel, Santa Barbara, and Napa Valley, concluding in Monterey. Hospitality stops and Sponsor Villages set up along the route will provide perfect opportunities for spectators to speak with crews, compare models, and imagine driving in these fantastic cars. The driving experience, intertwined with exquisite VIP events, exclusive hospitality, unique sponsorship opportunities and other memorable engagements, will leave a lasting impression for all involved. Entry fees begin at $8,000 per vehicle. The MMNAT is expected to receive over 15,000 applications, but will only accept the 300 vehicles, nationally and internationally manufactured between 1927 and 1957, meeting the elite standards set by MMNAT.
“We are honored to have been exclusively selected to produce, manage and market this unique sporting adventure, celebrating the greatest vintage cars ever built,” stated Paul Feller, CEO and Chairman of Stratus Media Group, Inc. “Bringing this historic 82 year old event to North America provides an extraordinary world-wide promotional and marketing platform that integrates with our luxury auto shows. Just as drivers discover Italy through the Italian Mille Miglia, they will explore North America’s California coastline and wine country like never before in this Mille Miglia North American Tribute. Sponsorship negotiations with U.S. and present Italian Mille Miglia sponsors have begun. In conjunction with the Tribute, SMDI will produce a nationally televised Mille Miglia series.”
The Italian Mille Miglia event is an open road endurance race, currently one of the most important classic sports cars events in the world. From 1927 to 1957, this was a legendary speed race focused on drivers, challenges and adventures. Today, the legacy of the Mille Miglia remains strong through the use of yesterday’s cars on today’s roads. In 2010, over 4 million people lined up on the roads to see the cars and more than 1,500 registered journalists from all over the world covered the events.