Making the Big Time…
Hot on the heels of Allen R. Kuhn’s announcement that he’ll be appearing on a California PBS special on Paramount Ranch comes a note from Joe Hurwich, who told us that he had just appeared on CBS Sunday Morning on February 2 in a segment about the Mille Miglia.
As VT readers will recall, Joe has reported on the Mille Miglia several times from behind the wheel of his Aston Martin Bertelli…and in fact Joe has run the event five times. Which is possibly why, when CBS contacted the MM organizers asking if they could recommend a person to interview during the 2024 event, Joe’s name came up immediately. The organizers asked Joe if he was interested. “Of course, I said yes,” Joe wrote in an email to us.
Wednesday, day 2, Hurwich driving. Fabian Gallucci photo.
A short while later, Joe got a call from Seth Doane, a CBS News correspondent based in Italy, who wanted details. “I told him about my Aston Martin, and the number of times I had entered the event.” Doane sounded interested. “Then I said, ‘Oh by the way, and I also own the Fiat 600 that was the first car to start the fatal 1957 race that was featured in the movie Ferrari.’” Even more interest. “Then I told Seth that the Fiat would be driven by my old friend Len Ely and his son David, as a graduation present.” That sealed the deal. “Once I did that I knew the Fiat would get top billing, but that was fine with me.”
The Aston didn’t fare badly either, as Doane filmed a ride with Joe through Brescia while keeping Joe on camera. “They had a team of six or seven people for the filming and spent about an hour with each of us. They were very professional, as one might expect.”
But for months, it was all quiet on the CBS front. “In the fall I texted Doane and asked if we had been left on the cutting room floor. He assured me that it was going to air but he didn’t know when. He said everyone liked it but with the election coming up things were very tight.”
More nail biting. Finally Joe found out with a call from Doane, who was in Italy only a couple of days before Sunday, that it was going to air on February 2, 2025. Hardly enough time to tell all of his friends. Fortunately, the segment was put on youtube, and you can watch it here. Then re-read Joe’s story as he competes in the 2024 Mille Miglia, courtesy of VeloceToday. And free for all. Thank you Joe!
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In Passing, Evan Wilson
Dear Pete,
I’m Evan’s wife (hate that word widow!) and came across a copy of your 2011 review of his updated Giulietta Book.
Evan passed away last May 19, after some strokes and a 10-year decline into dementia. No matter how fuzzy his brain was on some matters, if I wanted to spark a coherent conversation with him I had only to ask him a question about cars, Alfas in particular.
I’m not sure if you heard of his death, so I am forwarding a link to his memorial page for your info. Feel free to share it with readers if you think it would be of interest.
https://www.online-tribute.com/EvanWilson
I was happy to see that VeloceToday is still up and running. Wishing you all the best for 2025.
Cordially yours,
Ann Hume Wilson
Below, when Evan came to visit…
Evan Wilson shortly after purchasing the AlfaSud in 1976. Courtesy Evan Wilson.
One day circa 1974, a young man having emerged from a taxicab knocked at our door, suitcase in hand. He seemed in a hurry and rather preoccupied. He was rather tall and lean. “Hi, I’m Evan Wilson and I’m here to pick up the Alfasud.”
He opened the suitcase, plied $900 into our hands, went straight for the Sud in the driveway and after spending the night, was gone the next day. He said he was driving the Sud back to Baltimore where he had flown in from after spotting our ad in the brown covered Hemmings, (the only way to ad in those pre-Internet days). I told him good luck, I have no idea if you’ll make it back without any problems.
He drove the entire distance without a hitch, literally.