Tip: unique lecture at Louwman Museum about a small Austin

Lecture on small British racing car

The title of the lecture is “The grand tour of a small British racing car. The lecture is given by Velja Mijatovic and Rob Janzen. How big does the ambition have to be to enter a small British race car in the greatest road race of all time? The duo addresses this question, among others.

Charles Goodacre

The visitor is taken to 1931 in which a small Austin with at the wheel an inexperienced 21-year-old Englishman – Charles Goodacre – competes valiantly in the Mille Miglia of Mussolini’s Italy. The Austin and its driver compete against such resounding names as Nuvolari, Campari and Varzi who dominate the field in powerful Alfas, Maseratis and Bugattis. Remarkably, the little fast Austin manages to sell his skin dearly in the race and impresses with his performance. Even on Enzo Ferrari!

Challenging gravel roads

The lecture discusses this grand adventure filled with challenging gravel roads and danger, where steering skills are a must. The lecture also looks at the downside of the Mille Miglia and how it was used as a propaganda tool by the fascist regime led by Mussolini, where showing superiority to the world was essential.

Lecture: Aug. 17

Visitors to the Louwman Museum in The Hague can attend the lecture on Thursday, Aug. 17. Commencement of the lecture is 3 p.m. The hall opens from 2:45 p.m.