First-timers brave extreme heat, 144 Time Trials, narrow cobblestone streets and mountain roads for five days, and the SPIRIT OF ZORA CORVETTE ROCKS 2026 MILLE MIGLIA to finish the world’s most beautiful road race!
A 1957 Fuel Injection Corvette, the Spirit of Zora, owned and driven by Michael Moss with John Cutrone navigating, has finished (371st place) the grueling five-day, 1,250-mile 1000 Miglia (Mille Miglia “Storica”) in Italy, on June 13, 2026. Mike and John en route through Brescia, above photo by John Allen. Powered by a 283-cubic-inch, 283-horsepower small-block V-8 engine fitted with Rochester Fuel Injection, its entry carries a FIVA Identity Card and, according to the Official 1000 Miglia Registro, Eligible for all 1000 Miglia events. Also Eligible is the 1956 Corvette. The Spirit of Zora is equipped with key performance options available to the public when it was built in 1957. RM Motorsports, Wixom, MI. prepared it for participation in competitive endurance events.
“Zora Arkus-Duntov’s passion for performance and racing turned Chevrolet’s sporty car into America’s Sports Car in 1957,” said Moss, owner and driver of TEAM ZORA USA’s Spirit of Zora Corvette that has competed in multiple 1000 Miglia competitive events in the United States and Italy.
TEAM ZORA USA was founded by Michael Moss, a seasoned road racer, and Martyn Schorr, founding editor of VETTE Magazine, to celebrate America’s Sports Car and honor the legacy of Zora Arkus-Duntov, its first Chief Engineer. Schorr was a longtime friend of Zora before and after he retired from GM. John Cutrone joined the team as Manager and Navigator.
The original Mille Miglia was established in 1927 as a speed/endurance race on public roads between Rome and Brescia, Italy. Dubbed the World’s Most Beautiful Road Race and the World’s Unique Traveling Museum, it was also one of the world’s most dangerous road races. In 1957, the tragic crash and death of Scuderia Ferrari driver Alfonso de Portago, co-driver Edmund Nelson, and nine spectators outraged the public, ending the Mille Miglia. The 1957 race figured prominently in Michael Mann’s 2023 Enzo Ferrari biopic, FERRARI.
The importance of winning the Mille Miglia was best described by Enzo Ferrari in the early days of the race: “No driver could ever say that he had achieved his victor’s laurels, if he had not won at Brescia!”
Today, the 1000 Miglia or Mille Miglia Storica is a regularity race for historic cars. Only cars built before December 31, 1957, and related to a car that had entered and/or competed in at least one Mille Miglia from 1927 to 1957, are eligible for entry. Before the start of the 2026 1000 Miglia, TEAM ZORA USA participated in a pre-race training session – the Tour Dei Laghi Academy Rally, sponsored by Scuderia Sports. The route from Brescia to the Porsche Experience Center in Bargnana and back included laps on the Center’s race track.
In addition to following the challenging route, participation included 144 Time Trials and staying hydrated in extreme heat. Of the 436 cars entered, TEAM ZORA USA finished 371st. 50 cars did not start (DNS) or did not finish (DNF)! The result: SPIRIT OF ZORA CORVETTE ROCKS 2026 MILLE MIGLIA “Just finishing the race, while operating on three hours of sleep per night and 15 hours of driving per day, was an accomplishment,” said Moss. “While we did experience some brake and steering issues that we ironed out, the fuel-injected 283 delivered non-stop performance throughout the range of driving.”
After finishing the five-day adventure, Moss said, “It didn’t come down to just being elated by John and me finishing; it was also feeling appreciative of the help we received before we even left for Italy. Help and support were provided by members of the great Sarasota Café Racers (carguy lunch group) community.”
“It takes a village, like all these guys, plus many more local carguy friends, including the third TEAM ZORA USA member, Marty Schorr, who handled media relations and communications. The whole group got together, and some of the guys who don’t know anything about road racing and rally competition just came along for physical support and laughs! I think it really brought a whole group of older guys together to have fun and enjoy it, and they all lived vicariously through what John and I did: SPIRIT OF ZORA CORVETTE ROCKS 2026 MILLE MIGLIA.
”One of those guys is Joe Brielmann, who hosted a lunch at Arts & Central restaurant in Sarasota for some of the “village” that supported the Mille Miglia effort, welcoming Mike home (John Cutrone was unfortunately out of town), and celebrating the Team’s adventure. Ken Kayser, retired GM engineer, automotive historian and author, and expert on 1957 FI Corvettes, worked with Mike after he purchased the FI Corvette, helping secure rare factory optional parts, and documenting the Spirit of Zora.
There was also a special shout-out to TEAM ZORA USA West’s Jake Angel, who competes in western states historic racing events with his fuel-injected “Baby Shark” 1960 Corvette, above, photo by Arsenio Locsin, wrenched by legendary racer and Rochester fuel injection specialist, Larry Webb. Angel consulted with Mike on road racing chassis and suspension updates while Webb shared FI tuning secrets and supplied spare service parts. The result was that the Spirit of Zora’s 283/283 small-block never missed a beat over 1,250 miles under extreme heat conditions and was running as strongly at the end as it was when the car first arrived in Italy!
The Spirit of Zora will be showcased with ten examples of Corvette racing history in a special exhibit in the E. Pierce Marshall Performance Gallery at the National Corvette Museum this Fall.
SPIRIT OF ZORA CORVETTE ROCKS 2026 MILLE MIGLIA SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: RPO-579C 283-CID, 283-HP V-8
Induction: Rochester Ramjet Fuel-Injection
Air Cleaner: “Sebring” dual filter-element
Cylinder Heads: “539”
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Camshaft: Duntov “097” Solid-Lifter .393/.399-inch-lift, 287/287-degree-duration, lightweight valve train.
Crankshaft & Rods: Forged Steel
Transmission: RPO-685 Borg-Warner Close-Ratio T-10 Four-Speed
Rear End: RPO-677 Positraction 3:70:1
Suspension, Brakes & Steering: RPO-684 HD Racing Components, 16.4:1 Fast Steering
Wheels: RPO-276 15×5.5-inch Wide Steel w/Small Hubcaps
Tires: Dunlop CR65 Vintage Racing, 600L-15 w/#204 compound
Interior: Column-Mounted 8,000-rpm AC Mechanical Tach (RPO-579D engine option), and Radio Delete Block-Off Plate
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about the Mille Miglia @ https://1000miglia.it/en/
Own a vintage Ferrari or any car on the Eligible list and interested in running the Mille Miglia? Check out https://www.hagerty.com/media/events/behind-the-daunting-preparation-for-the-2026-mille-miglia/#comment-280964