62 replies to this topic

[DoubleFault]

There were several threads on the history of motor racing in Russia at this forum, but most data were incomplete and often incorrect. Here are the results of all known (to me ;-)) races in Russia 1898-1905. Data are far from to be complete too, but these are all that I was able to collect from contemporary sources. All dates are according European calender (Russia have different calender at those times). Sorry for improper formatting, I copied data from my Excel files.

Sources: contemporary reports in Russian magazines Avtomobil', Sport, Sportsman

1898

St.Petersburg-Strel'na-St.Petersburg (I Kubok Obschestva velosipednoy ezdy = I Cup of Society for Cycling)
24.10.1898 (11.10 in Russian calender) St.Petersburg-Strel'na-St.Petersburg
41.6 Km
1 Petr Belyaev Clement 1.75 hp (tricycle) 1:33'36"
2 Alfonce Merl Clement 1.75 hp (tricycle) 1:45'36"
3 Stepanov Clement 1.75 hp (tricycle) 1:49'24"
4 Schneiderov Clement 1.75 hp (tricycle) 2:04'00"
5 Lavrentiev Benz 6.5 hp 2:11'00"
Did not finish
R Louis Mazy Clement 1.75 hp (tricycle) motor
R V.I. Von Lode Clement 1.75 hp (tricycle) collision with cart

Winner Speed: 26.1 kph

Notes
1. 14 entrants; 7 starters: 1 car (Benz) and 6 Clement tricycles
2. Route: Aleksandrovo Railway Station - Strel'na and back
3. Distance: 39 versts (1 versta = 1066 m)
4. Race was run on snowy roads - first snow race in history!
5. Maximum weight limit was 6 puds (1 pud = 16.38 kg), so Benz car weighting 52 puds was ineligible for prizes

1899

Velogonka Moscow-St. Petersburg (Bicycle Race)
?.06.1899 Moscow-St. Petersburg (RUS)
692.9 Km
1 Louis Mazy Clement (tricycle) 26h58m
2 Abrikosov
3 Trubetskoy
Did not finish
R Schneiderov mecanical (at Torzhok)
R Comber
R Gerz


Notes
1. Motorcycle race was the part of traditional cycling race (velogonka) between Moscow and St. Petersburg
2. Distance: 650 versts (1 versta = 1066 m)
3. Start at 1-minute intervals


1900

II Kubok Obschestva velosipednoy ezdy
??.02.1900 St.Petersburg (RUS)
? Km
1 Vadim Mikhailov




II Gonka Moscow-St. Petersburg
??.06.1900 Moscow-St. Petersburg (RUS)
692.9 Km
FP # Driver Entrant Car Result
1 Hippolite-Auguste Deschamps De Dion-Bouton 2.25 hp (tric) 26h23m
Did not finish
R ? (car)
R ? (car)


Notes
1. Distance: 650 verst (1 versta = 1066 m)
2. Starters: 2 cars (both retired) and 1 tricycle


Luga-St.Petersburg
??.??.1900 Luga-St.Petersburg (RUS)
138.58 Km

1 Loginov


Tricycle class
1 Hippolite-Oguste Deschamps

Winner Speed: 36.819 kph

Notes
1. Distance: 130 versts (1 versta = 1066 km)
2. Deschamps was the overall winner


1901

III Kubok Obschestva velosipednoy ezdy
17.03.1901 St.Petersburg (RUS)
? Km

Race cancelled due to snow


St.Petersburg-Gatchina-St.Petersburg
24.04.1901 St.Petersburg-Gatchina-St.Petersburg (RUS)
72.5 Km
1 J-G. Genrik Mors 6 hp

Winner Speed: 27.723 kph

Notes
1. Two classes: cars and motorcycles
2. Distance 68 versts (1 versta = 1066 m)

Luga-St.Petersburg
??.06.1901 Luga-St.Petersburg (RUS)
138.58 Km
1 Rene Millot Perfecta 6.5 hp
? Emile Lidtke

Winner Speed: 34.512 kph


III Gonka Moscow-St.Petersburg
17.07.1901 Moscow-St.Petersburg (RUS)
692.9 Km
1 Louis Mazy / Vadim Mikhailov Starley-Bertrand 6.5 hp 37h50m

Winner Speed: ? kph

Note
Only one finisher

1902

Strel'na-Krasnoe Selo-Strel'na
25.08.1902 Strel'na-Krasnoe Selo-Strel'na (RUS)
29.84 Km
1 ?
2 P. Puzanov Bollee-Puzanov (tricar)



Gonka Zhurnala Avtomobil'
09.10.1902 Strel'na-Krasnoe Selo-Gatchina-Strel'na (RUS)
63.96 Km

1 Samuel Suurmets Georges Richard 10 hp 1h25m41s
2 Barbais Georges Richard 10 hp
3 A. Korovin Panhard-Levassor 24 hp
4 Konstantin Kapustin Prunel 12 hp
5 Kraft Gardner Serpollet (steam) 2h21m
Did not finish
R Bruno Farih Georges Richard 10 hp crash
R Vege Georges Richard 10 hp
R Alexandr Soldatenkov Gardner Serpollet (steam)
R P. Puzanov Leon Bollee 3.5 hp withdrew
Did not start
DNS Reiss De Dion Bouton 4.5 hp withdrew



Note
Distance: 60 versts (1 versta = 1066 m)

1903

Gentelmenskaya Gonka Sankt Peterburgskogo Avtomobil-Kluba (Gentlemen Race of St Petersburg Automobil Club)
14.06.1903 St. Petersburg (RUS)
24.5 Km
FP # Driver Entrant Car Result
1 Albert Efron FN 2 hp (motorcycle) 30'55.0"
2 Konstantin Kapustin / Boris Postnikov Richard-Brasier 12 hp 31'17.2"


Note. Only amateur drivers were eligible for the race

1904

Strel'na-Alexandroxskaya-Strel'na
30.05.1904 Strel'na-Alexandroxskaya-Strel'na (RUS)
38.4 Km
1 Alexandr Soldatenkov Richard-Brasier 32'

Winner Speed: 72 kph

Motorcycle class
FP # Driver Entrant Car Result
1 Konstantin Kapustin Sarolea 3 hp 42'

Winner Speed: 54 kph


Luga-Gatchina-Krasnoe Selo-Strel'na
28.08.1904 Luga-Gatchina-Krasnoe Selo-Strel'na (RUS)
128 Km
1 Francois Donier / Evgeny Kuzmin 2h50'

Winner Speed: 45.2 kph

1905

I Kubok Belyaeva (Belyaev Cup)
30.05.1905 Strel'na-Alexandroxskaya-Strel'na (RUS)
40.5 Km

1 Konstantin Kapustin Richard-Brasier 12 hp 49'07"

Winner Speed: 50.8 kph


Note. Race for Belyaev Cup was established by Petr Belyaev, winner of the first 1898 race
at the same route Srtrel'na-Alexandrovskoe and back


Some general comments.

Most races were held near St. Petersburg and its suburbs (Gatchina, Krasnoe Selo, Luga, Strel'na etc.). Like other early races Russian events were combined races for serveral classes (cars, tricycles, motorcycles). Drivers with French names (Louis Mazy, Alfonce Merl, Hippolite-Auguste Deschamps, Francios Donier and several others) were French car dealers living in St. Petersburg.
Nobody from Russian racing drivers appeared in these listings continued racing at international level. Alexandr Soldatenkov apparently have no relation to well known Basil Soldatenkoff.
Besides these town-to-town races there were sprints, hill climbs and record runs. Most of them were held on Volkhonskoe chosse near St.Petersburg, but details of these events are even more obscure.

1906-1914 to follow.

[humphries]

DF

Some very interesting information. In Russia at this time distances were measured in these versta (Werst). Into what was the versta divided up?

One of the most pleasing aspects of this forum is the information on motor racing history emanating from eastern Europe. With the problems of language and location very few, if any, historians from western Europe have tried to unravel its mysteries. In my opinion it makes a refreshing change from some well-worn historical topics and certainly better than the current scene. All people from that part of the world please keep searching and revealing!

I wonder if the 1899 Troubetskoy is any relation to the 1940's Prince Igor?

John

[kos]

Ancient Russian measures of length (Values stated as they were from seventeen century up to begining of 20th century)

Name	  Value in Russian units	Value in Metric units

---------------------------------------------------------

Versta		  500 Sazhen'				  1.0668 km

Sazhen'		3 Arshin					 2.1336 m

Arshin		  4 Pjad'					  71.12 cm

Lokot'		  10 2/3 Vershok			   47.41 cm

Pjad'		   4 Vershok					17.78 cm

Vershok			 -						4.445 cm

[anjakub]

Originally posted by DoubleFault
1899

Velogonka Moscow-St. Petersburg (Bicycle Race)
?.06.1899 Moscow-St. Petersburg (RUS)
692.9 Km
1 Louis Mazy Clement (tricycle) 26h58m
2 Abrikosov
3 Trubetskoy
Did not finish
R Schneiderov mecanical (at Torzhok)
R Comber
R Gerz


1900

II Kubok Obschestva velosipednoy ezdy
??.02.1900 St.Petersburg (RUS)
? Km
1 Vadim Mikhailov

1899

Gonka Moscow-St. Petersburg
?.06.1899 Moscow-St. Petersburg (RUS)
692.9 km
1 Louis Mazy Clement (tricycle) 26h58m
3 Trubetskoy 42h59m
2 Abrikosov 42h23m (irregularly passage to Tsarskoe Selo)

Did not finish
R Schneiderov - engine



1900

II Kubok Obschestva velosipednoy ezdy
9.03.1900 (28.02.1900 in Russian calendar) St.Petersburg (RUS)
65 verts = 69 km
1 Vadim Mikhailov 2h17m
2. Stepanov
3. Tan'sky
4. Surmets
NC (after time limit - 4 hours
Bludau (tricycle) 4h21m
Krynsky 4h41m
DNF: Orlovsky

Note:
Start at 1-minute intervals

[fines]

Superb info! Thanks!

[quintin cloud]

Excellent data

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Some corrections and additions:

1898

I Cup of Society for Cycling
23.10.1898* (11.10.1898 according old russian calender)
41.605 km / 39 versts
Organizers: ''Samokat'' magazine, Society for Cycling
Route: Volkhonskoe road near St. Petersburg (Alexandrovskaya railway station to Strelna city and back)

* Difference between Gregorian (modern) and Julian (old) calender has been 12 days in XIXth century and 13 days in XXth century.

Results:
1. Petr Belyaev (RUS) 1:33'36 = 26.67 kph
(started at 10:17'00, finished at 11:50'36)
2. Alfonce Merl (F) 1:45'36 (+0:12'00) = 23.639 kph
(started at 10:21'00, finished at 12:06'36)
3. Stepanov (RUS) 1:49'28 (+0:15'52) = 22.804 kph
(started at 10:15'00, finished at 12:04'28)
Entered by prince A. P. Oldenburgsky for his personal mechanic Stepanov
4. Schneiderov (RUS) 2:04'00 (+0:30'24) = 20.131 kph
(started at 10:13'00, finished at 12:17'00)
5. Lavrentiev (RUS) 2:11'00 (+0:37'24) = 19.056 kph
(started at 10:25'00, finished at 12:36'00)
Entered by trading house ''Carl Schpan''
Retired:
R Louis Mazy (F) engine trouble
(started at 10:19'00)
R V.I. von Lode (RUS) collision with cart
(started at 10:08'00)

14 entrants, 7 starters, 5 finishers

Notes:
1. All competitors except Lavrentiev (Benz Victoria 6.5 HP 4-seater) raced with Clement tricycles equipped by 1.75 HP De Dion-Bouton engines.
2. I'm not sure that it was really first snow race in history (what about 1895 Chicago – Evanston – Chicago run?).

1899

25-versts record run near St. Petersburg
21.05.1899 (09.05.1899 according old russian calender)
26.67 km / 25 versts

New russian speed record for this distance: 0:51'31''2 = 31.06 kph
(set by Rudolf-Robert Lundberg (RUS) on tricycle)

0.25-mile sprint at Kamennoostrovsky velodrome in St. Petersburg
?.05.1899
0.402 km / 0.25 mile

1. Louis Mazy (F) 0'26

Moscow – St. Petersburg Race
?.06.1899
693.42 km / 650 versts
Route: Moscow – Torzhok – Vyshny Volochek – Novgorod – Tsarskoe Selo

Entrants:
Gerz (D) car (6-seater)
Troubetskoy (RUS) car (2-seater 8 HP)
Comber (F) car (2-seater 8 HP)
Louis Mazy (F) Clement 2.25 HP (quadricycle)
Schneiderov (RUS) Clement 1.75 HP (tricycle)
Andrey Abrikosov (RUS) Clement 1.75 HP (tricycle)

Results after 1st stage (Moscow – Torzhok, 221.894 km / 208 versts)
1. Louis Mazy 8:03'00
2. Andrey Abrikosov 9:35'00 (+1:32'00)
3. Troubetskoy 9:50'00 (+1:47'00)
Retired:
R Schneiderov (technical breakdown)
R Comber (went astray)

Results after 2nd stage (Torzhok – Vyshny Volochek, 69.342 km / 65 versts)
1. Louis Mazy 10:12'00
2. Andrey Abrikosov 12:39'00 (+2:27'00)

Interruption for the night

Results after 3rd stage (Vyshny Volochek – Novgorod, 225,095 km / 211 versts)
1. Louis Mazy 19:38'00
2. Andrey Abrikosov 31:20'00 (+11:42'00)
3. Troubetskoy 31:20'00 (+11:42'00)

Final classification:
1. Louis Mazy 26:58'00 = 25.714 kph
2. Troubetskoy 42:59'00 (+16:01'00) = 16.132 kph
3. Andrey Abrikosov 42:23'00 (+15:25'00) = 16.361 kph (disqualified for irregularly passage)
Retired:
R Schneiderov (mechanical breakdown)
R Comber (went astray)
R Gerz

6 starters, 3 finishers

5-miles run at velodrome in Moscow
28.06.1899 (16.06.1899 according old russian calender)
8.045 km / 5 mile

Results:
1. Tideman (RUS) tricycle 11'36''8 = 41.564 kph
2. Rudolf-Robert Lundberg (RUS) car (4-seater) 12'37''6 = 38.229 kph

100-versts race for the prizes of ''Samokat'' magazine
27.08.1899 (15.08.1899 according old russian calender)
106.68 km / 100 versts
Organizer: ''Samokat'' magazine
Route: Ligovo – Gatchina – Krasnoe Selo – Strelna – Volkhonka – Ligovo (2 laps)

Results:
1. Louis Mazy (F) 2:43'38 = 39.117 kph

11 starters, 7 finishers

Record runs at Kamennoostrovsky velodrome in St. Petersburg
?.?.1899

New russian speed records:
0.402 km / 0.25 mile – 53.239 kph
21.336 km / 20 versts – 52.387 kph
(both set by Kumel (RUS) on tricycle with 2 HP Aster engine)

[Alexey Rogachev]

Great, .ru!!! Go on like this - these dark pages of Russian motorsport history really need revealing!

[Pavel Lifintsev]

1900

II Cup of Society for Cycling
28.01.1900 (16.01.1900 according old russian calender)
69.342 km / 65 versts
Organizer: Society for Cycling
Route: Volkhonskoe road near St. Petersburg (Alexandrovskaya – Krasnoe Selo – Gatchina – Pulkovo – Alexandrovskaya)

Results:
1. Vadim Mikhailov (RUS) tricycle (1.75 HP) 2:17'00 = 30.369 kph
2. Stepanov (RUS) tricycle (1.75 HP) 2:50'00 (+0:33'00) = 24.474 kph
3. Fedor Tansky (RUS) tricycle (2.25 HP)
4. Samuel Suurmets (RUS) tricycle (2.25 HP)
Did not finish:
DNF Barbais (F) Mors 16 HP (car) (gave up)

5 starters, 4 finishers

Motor Race on Elagin Island
15.05.1900 (02.05.1900 according old russian calender)
Organizer: Blue Cross Society

Results:
1st prize for elegance: L. N. (?) Starley-Psycho (car)
1st prize for speed: L. N. (?) Starley-Psycho (car)

Luga – St. Petersburg Race
11.06.1900 (29.05.1900 according old russian calender)
138.684 km / 130 versts

Results:
Tricycle class
1. Hippolyte-Auguste Deschamps (F) De Dion-Bouton 2.25 HP 3:46'00 = 36.819 kph (overall winner)
Car class
1. Loginov (RUS)
Did not finish:
DNF Andrey Nagel (RUS) Starley-Psycho (tricycle) (punctured tyre)

II Moscow – St. Petersburg Race
08.07.1900 (25.06.1900 according old russian calender)
693.42 km / 650 versts

Results:
1. Hippolyte-Auguste Deschamps (F) De Dion-Bouton 2.25 HP (tricycle) 26:23'00 = 26.282 kph
Did not finish:
DNF Louis Mazy (F) Starley-Psycho 3.5 HP (voiturette)
DNF J. G. Genrik (F) Mors 4 HP (car)

3 starters, 1 finisher

Hill climb near Krasnoe Selo
15.07.1900 (02.07.1900 according old russian calender)

1. Pavel Belyaev (RUS) Vivinus (car)

Record run near St. Petersburg
?.?.1900 (summer)

New russian speed record: 74.143 kph
(set by Fedor Tansky (RUS) on tricycle)

Race for the prizes of ''Sport'' magazine
30.12.1900 (17.12.1900 according old russian calender)
41.605 km / 39 versts
Organizer: ''Sport'' magazine
Route: Volkhonskoe road near St. Petersburg (Alexandrovskaya railway station to Strelna city and back)

Results:
1. Samuel Suurmets (RUS) tricycle (4 HP) 1:46'24 = 23.461 kph
2. J. G. Genrik (F) Clement 3.5 HP (car) 2:34'00 (+0:47'36) = 16.21 kph
3. Barbais (F) / Vadim Mikhailov (RUS) Clement (car)

3 starters, 3 finishers

Notes:
1. Race was held by -28 C.
2. Initial distance 78 versts was reduced to 39 versts because of cold weather.

1901

III Cup of Society for Cycling
17.03.1901 (04.03.1901 according old russian calender)
69.342 km / 65 versts
Organizer: Society for Cycling
Route: Volkhonskoe road near St. Petersburg (Alexandrovskaya – Gatchina – Krasnoe Selo – Strelna – Alexandrovskaya)

Results:
1. Samuel Suurmets (RUS) tricycle 3:58'30 = 17.444 kph
2. J. G. Genrik (F) quadricycle
3. Barbais (F) Clement (voiturette)
Did not finish:
DNF Alekseev (RUS) tricycle

4 entrants, 4 starters, 3 finishers

Race St. Petersburg – Gatchina – St. Petersburg
24.04.1901 (11.04.1901 according old russian calender)
72.542 km / 68 versts

Results:
1. J. G. Genrik (F) Mors 6 HP (car) 2:37'00 = 27.723 kph

Record runs near St. Petersburg
26.05.1901 (13.05.1900 according old russian calender)
Route: Volkhonskoe road
1.066 km / 1 versta

Flying start:
Tricycle class
1. Boris Postnikov (RUS) Clement 1.75 HP (De Dion-Bouton engine) 1'17''8 = 56.644 kph
Voiturette class
1. Louis Mazy (F) Starley-Psycho 3.5 HP (De Dion-Bouton engine) 1'24''6 = 45.396 kph
Car class
1. Louis Mazy (F) Bardone 8 HP 1'37''8 = 39.269 kph

Dead start:
Tricycle class
1. Boris Postnikov (RUS) Clement 1.75 HP (De Dion-Bouton engine) 2'42''8 = 23.59 kph
Voiturette class
1. Louis Mazy (F) Starley-Psycho 3.5 HP (De Dion-Bouton engine) 2'44''2 = 23.389 kph
Car class
1. Louis Mazy (F) Bardone 8 HP 2'44''0 = 23.418 kph

II Luga – St. Petersburg Race
?.06.1901
138.684 km / 130 versts

Results:
1. Rene Millot (F) Perfecta 6.5 HP (car) 6:01'06''3 = 34.512 kph
? Emile Lidtke (RUS) Union 3 HP (car)
? Petr Puzanov (RUS) Bollee-Puzanov 3.5 HP (tricar)

III Moscow – St. Petersburg Race
17.07.1901 (04.07.1901 according old russian calender)
693.42 km / 650 versts

Results:
1. Louis Mazy (F) / Vadim Mikhailov (RUS) Starley-Bertrand 6.5 HP (car) 37:50'00 = 18.328 kph
Did not finish:
DNF Fedor Tansky (RUS) 3-seater
DNF Alekseev (RUS) 2-seater voiturette
DNF Samuel Suurmets (RUS) tricycle (accident)
Did not start:
DNS Peltzer (RUS) tricycle (mechanical problems)

5 entrants, 4 starters, 1 finisher

[DoubleFault]

Well done, .ru!

I only concern spelling of some names.

Samuel Suurmets often appeared in contemporary reports as 'Surmets', but he is of Estonian ancestry and right spelling of his surname is Suurmets.

As to names of French entrants , I have found them only in Russian, but I suppose that right variants are:

Hippolyte-Auguste Deschamps (or Dechamps), not Dechan
Barbais, not Barbay.

I am not sure 'Mazy' or 'Mazi'; 'Merl' or 'Merle'

Maybe french-speaking experts will clarify what is right.

Spelling of German names - von Lode, Lidtke, Farich, and even Schneiderov with Russian 'ov' at the end is obvious.

I wonder if the 1899 Troubetskoy is any relation to the 1940's Prince Igor?

John,

Troubetskoy is a branchy family of Russian noblemen, and I am quite sure that 1899 Troubetskoy and Prince Igor are from the same family but their exact relations are not known to me.

Genealogy of Troubetskoy family goes back to Gedeminovichi kin of Lithuanian Grand Dukes (XIII century).

Here you can trace the genealogy from Lithuanian Grand Dukes to Troubetskoy (but only in Russian): http://hronos.km.ru/...geanl_lt_1.html

Troubetskoy family coat of arms with description in Russian can be found here: http://library.tvers...oryane/0907.htm

[gdecarli]

Originally posted by DoubleFault
Troubetskoy is a branchy family of Russian noblemen

We go quite OT, but who have read War and Peace by Lev Tolstoj should recall Prince Boris Drubetskoy and his mother Princess Anna Mihalovna Drubetskoy (see i.e. War and Peace character list)

Ciao,
Guido

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Originally posted by DoubleFault
Samuel Suurmets often appeared in contemporary reports as 'Surmets', but he is of Estonian ancestry and right spelling of his surname is Suurmets.

As to names of French entrants , I have found them only in Russian, but I suppose that right variants are:

Hippolyte-Auguste Deschamps (or Dechamps), not Dechan
Barbais, not Barbay.

Thanks for your corrections, DF - as my French leaves much to be desired, I'm agree with your versions.

[Pavel Lifintsev]

1902

25-versts record run near St. Petersburg
19.05.1902 (06.05.1902 according old russian calender)
Route: Volkhonskoe road
26.67 km / 25 versts

New russian speed record for this distance: 0:44'15''2 = 36.16 kph
(set by Andrey Nagel (RUS) on tricycle)

Record runs near St. Petersburg
?.05.1902
Route: Volkhonskoe road
1.066 km / 1 versta

1. Louis Mazy (F) car 1'24''4 = 45.503 kph

Strelna – Krasnoe Selo – Strelna Race
25.08.1902 (12.08.1902 according old russian calender)
29.87 km / 28 versts
Organizer: ''Samokat'' magazine
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. ?
2. Petr Puzanov (RUS) Bollee-Puzanov 3.5 HP (tricar)
Did not finish:
DNF P. Beckel (RUS) Gobron-Brillie 20 HP accident

Race of ''Avtomobil'' magazine
09.10.1902 (26.09.1902 according old russian calender)
64.008 km / 60 versts
Organizer: ''Avtomobil'' magazine
Route: Volkhonskoe road (Strelna – Krasnoe Selo – Gatchina)

Results
1. Samuel Suurmets (RUS) Georges Richard 10 HP 1:25'41 = 44.822 kph
2. Barbais (F) Georges Richard 10 HP
3. Alexander Korovin (RUS) Panhard-Levassor 24 HP
4. Konstantin Kapustin (RUS) Prunel 12 HP
5. Kraft (RUS) Gardner-Serpollet (steamer) 2:21'00 = 27.237 kph
Did not finish:
DNF Bruno Farich (RUS) Georges Richard 10 HP (accident)
DNF Vege (RUS) Georges Richard 10 HP (withdrew)
DNF Alexander Soldatenkov (RUS) Gardner-Serpollet (steamer) (withdrew)
Did not start:
DNS Petr Puzanov (RUS) Bollee-Puzanov 3.5 HP (tricar) (withdrew due to mechanical problems)
DNS Reiss (RUS) De Dion-Bouton 4.5 HP (withdrew)

10 entrants, 8 starters, 5 finishers

1903

Record runs near St. Petersburg
10.05.1903 (26.09.1903 according old russian calender)
Route: Volkhonskoe road
1.066 km / 1 versta

Flying start:
1. Alexander Korovin (RUS) Panhard-Levassor 24 HP 1'08''0 = 56.478 kph
2. Vadim Mikhailov (RUS) Prunel 12 HP 1'18''6 (+0'10''6) = 48.861 kph
3. Freze (RUS) De Dion-Bouton 6 HP 1'25''2 (+0'17''2) = 45.076 kph

Dead start:
1. Alexander Korovin (RUS) Panhard-Levassor 24 HP 1'19''4 = 48.369 kph
2. Vadim Mikhailov (RUS) Prunel 12 HP 1'24'4 (+0'05''0) = 45.503 kph
3. Freze (RUS) De Dion-Bouton 6 HP 1'42''0 (+0'22''6) = 37.652 kph

Gentleman Race of St. Petersburg Automobile Club
14.06.1903 (01.06.1903 according old russian calender)
24.536 km / 23 versts
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Albert Efron (RUS) FN 2 HP (motorcycle) 0:30'55 = 47.617 kph
2. Konstantin Kapustin (RUS) / Boris Postnikov (RUS) Richard-Brasier 12 HP (car) 0:31'15''2 (+ 0'20''2) = 47.104 kph

Note:
Only amateur drivers were eligible for the race.

Record runs near St. Petersburg
12.07.1903 (29.06.1903 according old russian calender)
Route: Volkhonskoe road
1.066 km / 1 versta

Flying start:
1. Bruno Farich (RUS) Richard 12 HP 1'10''0 = 54.864 kph

Dead start:
1. Bruno Farich (RUS) Richard 12 HP 1'23''6 = 45.939 kph

Hill climb near Krasnoe Selo
12.07.1903 (29.06.1903 according old russian calender)
2.133 km / 2 versts

25-versts race near St. Petersburg
25.07.1903 (12.07.1903 according old russian calender)
Route: Volkhonskoe road
26.67 km / 25 versts

[Pavel Lifintsev]

1904

Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna Race
30.05.1904 (17.05.1904 according old russian calender)
38.405 km / 36 versts
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Alexander Soldatenkov (RUS) Richard-Brasier 0:32'00 = 72.009 kph

Record runs near St. Petersburg
31.07.1904 (18.07.1904 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Alexander Soldatenkov (RUS) Georges Richard 50 HP 0'36''2 = 106.091 kph
(new russian speed record)
2. Sibiliot? (?) Gobron-Brillie 25 HP 72.1 kph
3. ? (?) Serpollet (steamer) 63 kph

First russian women's speed record: 1:58''0 = 32.546 kph
(Walton (RUS) Georges Richard 10 HP)

Luga – Gatchina – Krasnoe Selo – Strelna Race
28.08.1904 (15.08.1904 according old russian calender)
128.016 km / 120 versts
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Francois Donier (F) / Evgeny Kuzmin (RUS) 2:50'00 = 45.182 kph

1905

Record runs near St. Petersburg
30.07.1905 (17.07.1905 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

1. Pavel Belyaev (RUS) Richard-Brasier 16 HP 1'07''5 = 56.896 kph

Record runs near St. Petersburg
20.08.1905 (07.08.1905 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Route: Volkhonskoe road

1. Konstantin Kapustin (RUS) Richard-Brasier 12 HP 1'06''5 = 57.751 kph

I Belyaev Cup
28.08.1905 (15.08.1905 according old russian calender)
41.605 km / 39 versts
Route: Volkhonskoe road (Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna)

Results:
1. Konstantin Kapustin (RUS) Richard-Brasier 12 HP 0:49'07 = 50.824 kph

[Pavel Lifintsev]

1906

100-versts race for the prizes of ''Avtomobil'' magazine
15.07.1906 (02.07.1906 according old russian calender)
106.68 km / 100 versts
Organizer: ''Avtomobil'' magazine
Route: Volkhonskoe road (Tsarskoe Selo – Gatchina – Rozhdestveno – Gatchina – Tsarskoe Selo)

Results:
1. Bruno Farich (RUS) Brasier 15/24 CV 1:36'26 = 66.375 kph
Did not finish:
DNF Lyzhin (RUS) (out of fuel)

2 entrants, 2 starters, 1 finisher

II Belyaev Cup
28.08.1906 (15.08.1906 according old russian calender)
41.605 km / 39 versts
Route: Volkhonskoe road (Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna)

Results:
1. Konstantin Kapustin (RUS) Georges Richard 12 HP 0:49'09 = 50.789 kph

1907

International Race Moscow – St. Petersburg
07.06.1907 (25.05.1907 according old russian calender)
688.086 km / 645 versts
Organizers: Russian Automobile Society, ''Avtomobil'' magazine
Route:
1. Moscow – Klin (79 km)
2. Klin – Tver (82.5 km)
3. Tver – Vyshny Volochek (112.5 km)
4. Vyshny Volochek – Krestzy (143 km)
5. Krestzy – Novgorod (85.5 km)
6. Novgorod – Chudovo (75.5 km)
7. Chudovo – Tsarskoe Selo (110 km)

Entrants:
1st category (above 24 HP) – 7 entrants:
¹? Ryabushinsky (RUS) Mercedes
¹? Ryabushinsky (RUS) Mercedes
¹? Francois Donier (F) Brasier
¹? Bergman (RUS) FIAT 60 HP (entered by russian tyre company ''Provodnik'')
¹5 Landone (F) Mors 45 HP (works driver)
¹6 Arthur Duray (B/F) Lorraine-Dietrich 60 HP (works driver)
¹7 Champoisaux (F) Charron 30 HP (works driver)

2nd category (up to 24 HP) – 10 entrants:
¹29 Alexander Fokin (RUS) FIAT 16 HP
¹? Bruno Farich (RUS)
¹? Andrey Nagel (RUS)

Tourists category (out of classification) – 4 entrants:
¹? F. Zhemlichka (RUS)
¹? Grachev (RUS)
¹? Leshchinsky (RUS)
¹? Schlicht (RUS)

Results:
1. Arthur Duray 9:22'00 = 73.461 kph
2. Champoisaux 12:06'00 (+2:44'00) = 56.867 kph
3. Alexander Fokin 13:54'00 (+4:32'00) = 49.503 kph
4. Landone
Did not start:
DNS Bergman (withdrew)

30 entrants (incl. 13 motorcycles), 26 starters (incl. 10 motorcycles), 14 finishers (incl. 1 motorcycle)

III Belyaev Cup
?.09.1907
41.605 km / 39 versts
Route: Volkhonskoe road (Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna)

Results:
1. Konstantin Kapustin (RUS) Renault

2 starters

[VAR1016]

Originally posted by .ru
[b]¹6 Arthur Duray (B/F) Lorraine-Dietrich 60 HP (works driver)
¹7 Results:
1. Arthur Duray 9:22'00 = 73.461 kph
2. Champoisaux 12:06'00 (+2:44'00) = 56.867 kph
3. Alexander Fokin 13:54'00 (+4:32'00) = 49.503 kph
4. Landone
Did not start:
DNS Bergman (withdrew)

30

I am staggered by this fund of information.; well done Doublefault and .ru

I have quoted some of the message, because I am interested in Arthur Duray, a works driver on a mighty 60HP Lorraine-Dietrich.

Would he by chance be the father of Leon Duray who brought the Millers to Molsheim about 1929?

PdeRL

[VAR1016]

Originally posted by kos
Ancient Russian measures of length (Values stated as they were from seventeen century up to begining of 20th century)

Name	  Value in Russian units	Value in Metric units

---------------------------------------------------------

Versta		  500 Sazhen'				  1.0668 km

Sazhen'		3 Arshin					 2.1336 m

Arshin		  4 Pjad'					  71.12 cm

Lokot'		  10 2/3 Vershok			   47.41 cm

Pjad'		   4 Vershok					17.78 cm

Vershok			 -						4.445 cm

Fascinating.

For those who have foolishly (in my view) signed up for the dreaded metric system, here are some English measures for lovers of what is obscure these days sadly.

1 League = 3 miles
1 Mile 8 Furlongs 1760 yards 5280 feet
1 Furlong 10 Chains 220 yards
1 Chain 4 Rods, poles or perches 22 yards (cricket pitch)
1 Rod 5 1/2 yards 16' 6"
1 yard 3 feet
1 Foot 12 inches

Underwater, a fathom = six feet

An acre is a square furlong = 4840 sq yds.

Once upon a time chains (i.e. of 22 yds length) were used by surveyors.

Yours in the past

PdeRL

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by VAR1016


I am staggered by this fund of information.; well done Doublefault and .ru

I have quoted some of the message, because I am interested in Arthur Duray, a works driver on a mighty 60HP Lorraine-Dietrich.

Would he by chance be the father of Leon Duray who brought the Millers to Molsheim about 1929?

PdeRL

Nope - no relation. Arthur Duray was born in the USA, of Belgian parents, and later assumed French citizenship. "Leon Duray" was a nom de course, chosen (IIRC) out of admiration for Arthur - his real name was the far more prosaic George Stewart.

[VAR1016]

Originally posted by Vitesse2


Nope - no relation. Arthur Duray was born in the USA, of Belgian parents, and later assumed French citizenship. "Leon Duray" was a nom de course, chosen (IIRC) out of admiration for Arthur - his real name was the far more prosaic George Stewart.

Thanks Vitesse2.

George Stewart, now then "Stewart" rings a bell.....

PdeRL

[Pavel Lifintsev]

1908

International Race St. Petersburg-Moscow
01.06.1908 (19.05.1908 according old russian calender)
686.486 km / 643.5 versts
Organizers: Russian Automobile Society, St. Petersburg Automobile Club, ''Avtomobil'' magazine
Route: St. Petersburg – Chudovo – Novgorod – Krestzy – Vyshny Volochek – Tver – Klin – Nikolskoe

Entrants:
I category (4-cylinder cars above 130 mm bore) – 11 entrants:
¹1 Victor Demogeot (F) Darracq (works driver)
¹2 Vincenzo Florio (I) FIAT
¹3 Victor Hemery (F) Benz 55/150 PS (works driver)
¹4 Arthur Duray (B/F) Lorraine-Dietrich (works driver)
¹5 Bossardet (F?) FIAT
¹6 Bishov (RUS) Argus
¹7 Henry Rougier (F) Lorraine-Dietrich (works driver)
¹8 Jean Porporato (F) Berliet
¹9 Pope (GB) Itala
¹10 Lescure (F) Mercedes
¹11 Charles Jarrott (F) Lorraine-Dietrich

II category (4-cylinder cars from 107 to 130 mm bore) – 8 entrants:
¹12 Alexander Vetchinin (RUS) Brasier
¹13 Louis Wagner (F) FIAT (works driver)
¹14 G. Zhemlichka (RUS) Berliet
¹15 Adaline (?) Berliet
¹16 Eros (I) SPA 28/40 HP (works driver)
¹17 Buechner (D) NAG
¹18 Vadim Mikhailov (RUS) Berliet
¹19 de Langhe (F) Darracq

III category (4-cylinder cars from 87 to 106 mm bore) – 6 entrants:
¹20 Debarres (F) La Buire (works driver)
¹21 Schuster (RUS) Humber
¹22 Rudolph-Robert Lundberg (RUS) Nagant
¹23 Alexander Fokin (RUS) FIAT 18/24 HP
¹24 Chudov (RUS) Berliet
¹25 A. Primavese (I) Diatto-Clement

IV category (4-cylinder cars up to 86 mm bore) – 5 entrants:
¹26 Albert Efron (RUS) Werner
¹27 Nikolay Buchin (RUS) Laurin & Klement Type FC 16 HP (works driver)
¹28 Schlicht (RUS) Loreley
¹29 ? (?) Sizaire-Naudin (works driver)
¹30 Otto Hieronymus (A-H) Laurin & Klement Type FC 16 HP (works driver)

V category (?) – 2 entrants (both withdrew, so the category was cancelled)
¹31 ? (?) Lyon
¹32 ? (?) Lyon

Results:
1. Victor Hemery 8:33'48 = 80.166 kph (overall winner and winner in I category)
2. Victor Demogeot 8:44'00 (+0:10'12) = 78.605 kph
3. Louis Wagner 9:49'48 (+1:16'00) = 69.836 kph (winner in II category)
4. Alexander Fokin 12:36'00 (+4:02'12) = 54.483 kph (winner in III category)
5. Otto Hieronymus 13:03'00 (+4:29'12) = 52.604 kph (winner in IV category)
6. A. Primavese 13:08'12 (+4:34'24) = 52.257 kph
7. Chudov 13:17'48 (+4:44'00) = 51.628 kph
8. Pope 13:47'30 (+5:13'42) = 49.775 kph
9. Eros 14:29'00 (+5:55'12) = 47.398 kph
10. Buechner 16:01'12 (+7:27'24) = 42.852 kph
The rest did not finish or did not start. Arthur Duray retired due to collision with horse.

32 entrants, 27 starters, 10 finishers

Races near Odessa
28.06.1908 (15.06.1908 according old russian calender) – races for motorcycles, tricycles and 11 to 23 HP cars
05.07.1908 (22.06.1908 according old russian calender) – races for 24 to 40 HP cars and more powerful cars

Record runs near St. Petersburg
12.07.1908 (29.06.1908 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Francois Donier (F) Mercedes 40 HP 0'43''5 = 88.287 kph

IV Belyaev Cup
28.08.1908 (15.08.1908 according old russian calender)
41.605 km / 39 versts
Route: Volkhonskoe road (Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna)

Results:
1. Fedor Tansky (RUS) Bianchi 0:37'47''2 = 66.063 kph

1909

Record runs near St. Petersburg
06.06.1909 (24.05.1909 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta
Organizers: ''Avtomobil'' magazine, St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Flying start
I category:
1. Alexander Mordvinov (RUS) Opel 120 HP 0'29''2 = 131.523 kph (new russian speed record)
2. Alexander Vetchinin (RUS) Brasier 120 HP 0'30''2 (+0'01''0) = 127.168 kph
II category:
1. Tornton (?) Itala 50 HP 0'45''4 = 84.592 kph
III category:
1. Francois Donier (F) Mercedes 32 HP 0'40''0 = 96.012 kph
IV category:
1. Albert Efron (RUS) Werner 12 HP 0'50''1 = 76.656 kph
2. Schpatz (?) Opel
3. A. Deringer (RUS) Humber

New russian women's speed record: N. (RUS) Brasier 24 HP 1'19''0 = 48.614 kph

Dead start
I category:
1. Alexander Mordvinov (RUS) Opel 120 HP 0'41''0 = 93.67 kph
2. Alexander Vetchinin (RUS) Brasier 120 HP 0'51''0 (+0'10''0) = 75.303 kph
II category:
1. ?
III category:
1. Francois Donier (F) Mercedes 32 HP 0'58''0 = 66.215 kph
IV category:
1. ?

Record runs near Moscow
12.06.1909 (30.05.1909 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: Moscow Club of Automobilists
Route: Peterburgskoe road

Record runs near Riga
29.08.1909 (16.08.1909 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)

Results:
1. F. Erle (F) Benz 150 HP 0'25''0 = 153.619 kph (new russian speed record)

[Pavel Lifintsev]

1910

Record runs near Orel
15.05.1910 (02.05.1910 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Route: Moskovskoe road

Results:
1. Burtsev (RUS) Germain 15 HP 0'47''0 = 81.712 kph
2. R. Vinkler (RUS) Darracq 16 HP 0'59''0 (+0'12''0) = 65.093 kph
3. Count Gerbert de Cornais (F) Neckarsulm 10 HP 1'12''0 (+0'25''0) = 53.34 kph

Record runs near Moscow
10.07.1910 (27.06.1910 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: Moscow Club of Automobilists
Route: Peterburgskoe road

1911

Record runs near St. Petersburg
04.06.1911 (22.05.1911 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Francois Donier (F) Mercedes 0'28''8 = 128.875 kph

100-km race of First Russian Automobile Club
02.07.1911 (19.06.1911 according old russian calender)
100 km
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club
Route: Peterburgskoe road near Moscow (Besborsovo – Nikolskoe)

Results:
1. Alexander Konshin (RUS) Opel 0:54'05''2 = 110.933 kph
2. V. Karyakin (RUS) 1:01'21''0 (+0:07'15''8) = 97.8 kph
3. Laskin (RUS) (entered by A. Folman) 1:06'56''0 (+0:12'50''8) = 91 kph
4. Klein (D) Mercedes (entered by F. Gartung) 1:07'16''0 (+0:13'10''8) = 89.2 kph
5. Perekrestov (RUS) (entered by N. Nosov) 1:07'29''5 (+0:13'24''3) = 88.9 kph
6. R. Vinkler (RUS) 1:09'22''0 (+0:15'16''8) = 86.5 kph
7. Janotka (?) (entered by G. Tomshi) 1:14'32''0 (+0:20'26''8) = 80.5 kph
8. I. Chudov (RUS) (entered by F. Zhemlichka) 1:16'43''5 (+0:22'38''3) = 78.2 kph
9. A. Girot (RUS) 1:17'49''2 (+0:23'44''0) = 77.1 kph
10. Korolev (RUS) (entered by S. Ryabushinsky) 1:18'13''5 (+0:24'08''3) = 76.7 kph
11. Rene Nothombe (F) 1:21'31''2 (+0:27'26''0) = 73.6 kph
12. Francois Donier (F) 1:22'18''2 (+0:28'13''0) = 72.9 kph
13. Burtsev (RUS) (entered by A. Krasilnikov) 1:35'23''5 (+0:41'18''3) = 62.9 kph
14. A. Rappoport (RUS) 1:37'53''0 (+0:43'47''8) = 61.3 kph
15. A. Filippov (RUS) 1:50'17''5 (+0:56'12''3) = 54.4 kph
16. Willy Schoell (D) Benz (entered by Gustav List) 1:54'04''0 (+0:59'58''8) = 52.6 kph
17. Voronov (RUS) 1:57'52''5 (+1:03'47''3) = 50.9 kph
18. V. Isaev (RUS) 2:04'44''5 (+1:10'39''3) = 48.1 kph
19. Teuerkauf (D) Mercedes (entered by Baron N. von Mekk) 2:07'36''0 (+1:13'30''8) = 46.9 kph
20. Toporov (RUS) 2:14'32''0 (+1:20'26''8) = 44.6 kph
Did not finish:
DNF F. Zhemlichka (RUS)
DNF Kravchenko (RUS)
DNF V. Prokhorov (RUS)

23 starters, 20 finishers

Record runs near Riga
?.?.1911 (summer)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)

Results:
1. ?
...
8. R. Vinkler (RUS) Laurin & Klement 14 HP 0'47''0 = 81.712 kph
? Julien Potterat (B) Russo-Baltique S24/55 Series III (works driver)

[Pavel Lifintsev]

1912

Record runs near St. Petersburg
19.05.1912 (06.05.1912 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club

Results:
1. K. Meller (RUS) Opel 0'28''8 = 133.35 kph
? Kotovich (RUS) Ford 1'01''2 = 62.753 kph

Record runs near Simferopol
09.06.1912 (27.05.1912 according old russian calender)
2.133 km / 2 versts (flying start)

Results:
1. Sychev (RUS) Laurin & Klement 28/32 HP 1'43''0 = 74.572 kph

Record runs near St. Petersburg
30.06.1912 (17.06.1912 according old russian calender)
1 km
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Alexander Soldatenkov (RUS) Renault Type A-K 35 CV 0'26''2 = 137.405 kph
2. Alexander Konshin (RUS) Opel 0'26''625 (+0'00''425) = 135.211 kph
...
5. Ivan Ivanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique S24/55 (works driver)
? Kendall (GB) Austin 0'28''0 (+0'01''8) = 128.571 kph
? Francois Donier (F) Mercedes Prince Heinrich
? A. Slupsky (RUS) Excelsior

16 starters

Record runs near Riga
04.07.1912 (21.06.1912 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)

Results:
1. Kendall (GB) Austin 0'32''3 = 118.9 kph
? A. Kalabin (RUS) Russo-Baltique K12/20 (works driver)

Record runs near Warsaw
07.07.1912 (24.06.1912 according old russian calender)
1 km (flying start)

Results:
1. Kendall (GB) Austin 0'32''3 = 118.9 kph

Record runs near Kiev
10.07.1912 (27.06.1912 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)

Results:
1. Kendall (GB) Austin 0'34''3 = 111.967 kph

Record runs near Moscow
15.07.1912 (02.07.1912 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Route: Jaroslavskoe road

Results:
1. Alexander Konshin (RUS) Opel 0'25''6 = 150.019 kph
2. Vladimir Soldatenkov (RUS) Renault Type A-K 35 CV 0'27''6 (+0'02''0) = 139.148 kph
? Petit (?) Bedford 0'35''2 (+0'09''6) = 109.104 kph

100-km race of First Russian Automobile Club
22.09.1912 (09.09.1912 according old russian calender)
100 km
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club
Route: Peterburgskoe road near Moscow (Elenino – Klin – Elenino)

Results:
1. Paul Schpaman (D) Benz (entered by Gustav List) 0:59'24''0 = 101.01 kph
2. Kravchenko (RUS) Opel (entered by N. Pavlov) 1:02'53''5 (+0:03'29''5) = 95.402 kph
3. Klein (D) Germain 12 HP 1:04'39''2 (+0:05'15''2) = 92.803 kph
4. N. Baklanov (RUS) Excelsior 1:07'57''0 (+0:08'33''0) = 88.3 kph
5. R. Vinkler (RUS) Laurin & Klement 1:08'03''0 (+0:08'39''0) = 88.171 kph
6. Pavlovich (RUS) La Buire 1:23'45''0 (+0:24'21''0) = 71.5 kph
7. Drevitsky (RUS) Sperber 1:49'57''0 (+0:50'33''0) = 54.603 kph
Did not finish:
DNF Alexander Konshin (RUS) Opel (fatal accident)
DNF K. Meller (RUS) Mercedes (withdrew)
DNF Koltyshev (RUS) Hupmobile
DNF Samarin (RUS) Berliet
DNF Munshak (?) Lancia

13 entrants, 12 starters, 7 finishers

1913

I St. Petersburg – Kronstadt – St. Petersburg Winter Race
23.02.1913 (10.02.1913 according old russian calender)
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club

Results:
1. Vigel (?) Vauxhall

11 starters, 5 finishers

Note:
Race was held on ice of Finnish bay.

Record runs near St. Petersburg
27.05.1913 (14.05.1913 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Franz Haerner (D) Benz 80/120 PS 0'19''0 = 202.13 kph (new russian speed record)
2. Francois Donier (F) Mercedes 0'26''8 (+0'07''8) = 143.301 kph
3. Ivan Ivanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique S24/58 (works driver) 0'29''5 (+0'10''5) = 130.186 kph
? Albert Efron (RUS) Vauxhall Prince Henry
? V. Girot (RUS) Rochet-Schneider (accident)
? Darya Rimskaya-Korsakova (RUS) Vauxhall 12 HP 0'34''6 (+0'15''6) = 110.996 kph (1st prize in IV category and new russian women's speed record)

25 starters

Circuit de St. Petersburg
07.06.1913 (26.05.1913 according old russian calender)
7 laps (30.404 km / 28.5 versts each) = 212.827 km / 199.5 versts
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Krasnoe Selo – Ligovo – Alexandrovskaya railway station

Results:
1. G. Suvorin (RUS) Benz 29/60 PS 2:23'54''6 = 88.733 kph
2. Ivan Ivanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique S24/58 (works driver) 2:26'51''0 (+0:02'56''4) = 86.973 kph
3. Rene Nothombe (F) Metallurgique 27/80 CV 2:29'19''0 (+0:05'24''4) = 85.52 kph
4. Arthur Duray (B/F) Metallurgique 15/20 CV 2:50'16''4 (+0:26'21''8) = 74.995 kph
5. Albert Efron (RUS) Vauxhall A 3:05'10''0 (+0:41'15''4) = 68.963 kph
6. A. Shishkin (RUS) Stoewer B4 19/45 PS 3:17'35''0 (+0:53'40''4) = 64.629 kph
Did not finish:
DNF A. Slupsky (RUS) Excelsior 100 HP (engine)
DNF Francois Donier (F) Opel (engine)
DNF Hollowell (GB) Vauxhall (accident)
DNF Pluim (?) Hupmobile (accident)
DNF S. Ovsyannikov (RUS) Vauxhall (engine)
DNF Kolyar (?) Wanderer (magneto)
DNF Ghisser (RUS) Benz (rear wheel)
DNF Oganesov (RUS) Bianchi (engine)
DNF ? (?) Berliet (entered by Rychkov) (engine)

Fastest lap:
Ivan Ivanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique S24/58 14'30''6 = 125.722 kph

21 entrants, 19 starters, 9 finishers

Record runs near Moscow
31.08.1913 (18.08.1913 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club
Route: Peterburgskoe road

Results:
1. Willy Schoell (D) Benz 150 PS (entered by Gustav List) 0'23''7 = 162.046 kph
? Jerns (?) Opel 0'27''0 (+0'03''3) = 142.24 kph
? M. Sychev (RUS) Lorraine-Dietrich
? Mueller (?)
? Kaptsov (RUS) Opel 25 HP
? Francois Donier (F)

16 starters

Record runs near Kharkov
12.09.1913 (30.08.1913 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta
Route: Belgorodskoe road

2-versts trial near Moscow
12.10.1913 (29.09.1913 according old russian calender)
2 versts / 2.134 km
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club
Route: dirt-track near Verkhnie Kotly village

Results:
1. Teffersfeld (?) Ford 12 HP 4'42''0 = 27.237 kph
2. I. Shvetsov (RUS) Mercedes 14 HP 4'49''0 (+0'07''0) = 26.578 kph
3. Nikolay von Mekk (RUS) Mercedes 18 HP 4'59''0 (+0'17''0) = 25.689 kph
4. Kaptsov (RUS) Opel 25 HP 5'01''0 (+0'19''0) = 25.518 kph
5. Bykov (RUS) Minerva 28 HP 5'04''0 (+0'22''0) = 25.266 kph
6. Koenigsberg (?) Hupmobile 12 HP 5'27''0 (+0'45''0) = 23.489 kph
7. Drevitsky (RUS) Sperber 7 HP 5'28''0 (+0'46''0) = 21.418 kph
8. Fride (?) Ford 6'22''0 (+1'40''0) = 20.107 kph
9. V. Girot (RUS) Rochet-Schneider 6'35''0 (+1'53''0) = 19.445 kph
10. Elena Samsonova (RUS) Hupmobile 8'13''0 (+3'31''0) = 15.58 kph
Did not finish:
DNF Vladimirov (RUS) Hupmobile (withdrew)

14 starters, 10 finishers

1914

II St. Petersburg – Kronstadt – St. Petersburg Winter Race
28.02.1914 (15.02.1914 according old russian calender)
52.273 km / 49 versts
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club

Results:
1. A. Wern (RUS) Hupmobile
? Suvorina (RUS) Opel 1:07'24''0 = 46.534 kph
Did not finish:
DNF Orlova (RUS)

15 starters

Record runs near St. Petersburg
24.05.1914 (11.05.1914 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Willy Schoell (D) Benz 55/150 PS (entered by Gustav List) 0'26''0 = 147.711 kph
...
8. Ivan Ivanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique S24/58 (works driver)
9. I. Stepanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique K12/24 (works driver)
...
11. S. Levitan (RUS) Russo-Baltique K12-24 (works driver)
? Elena Samsonova (US) Hupmobile 0'53''4 (+0'27''4) = 71.919 kph
? Suvorina (RUS) Excelsior
? Dieny? (?) Peugeot (fatal accident)

Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de St. Petersburg
31.05.1914 (18.05.1914 according old russian calender)
7 laps (32.004 km / 30 versts each) = 224.028 km / 210 versts
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club

Entrants:
¹1 Willy Schoell (D) Benz 55/150 PS (entered by Gustav List)
¹2 A. Slupsky (RUS) Excelsior 100 HP
¹3 Ghisser (RUS) Benz
¹4 Ivan Ivanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique S24/58 (works driver)
¹5 S. Ovsyannikov (RUS) Vauxhall
¹6 Sadyker (RUS) Sunbeam
¹7 Beria d'Argentine (I) Aquila Italiana (works driver)
¹8 Elena Samsonova (RUS) Hupmobile
¹9 F. Boboshko (RUS) Hupmobile
¹10 A. Wern (RUS) Hupmobile
¹11 A. Rashevsky (RUS) Vauxhall
¹12 Neugebauer (?) Schneider
¹13 A. Grebenschikov (RUS) Buick
¹14 Sokolov (RUS) Argill
¹15 Zhamoida (RUS) NAG

Results:
1. Willy Schoell 1:48'32''2 = 123.845 kph
2. S. Ovsyannikov 1:59'03''8 (+0:10'31''6) = 112.895 kph
3. Beria d'Argentine 2:01'40''8 (+0:13'8''6) = 110.467 kph
4. A. Slupsky 2:17'10''2 (+0:28'38''0) = 97.993 kph
5. A. Rashevsky 2:29'32''0 (+0:40'58''0) = 89.891 kph
6. F. Boboshko 2:58'57''0 (+1:10'24''8) = 75.114 kph
7. Sokolov (finished after official timing was closed)
Did not start:
DNS Ghisser
DNS Neugebauer
DNS Zhamoida
Did not finish:
DNF Ivan Ivanov (engine)
DNF Sadyker
DNF Elena Samsonova (wheel)
DNF A. Grebenschikov (piston)
DNF A. Wern (axle)

15 entrants, 12 starters, 7 finishers

Record runs near Moscow
14.06.1914 (01.06.1914 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club
Route: Vladimirskoe road

[Geoff E]

Originally posted by VAR1016
An acre is a square furlong = 4840 sq yds.

*cough* No! An acre is a furlong x a chain = 220 x 22 = 4840 sq yds.

[robert dick]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by .ru
1912

[b]100-km race of First Russian Automobile Club
22.09.1912 (09.09.1912 according old russian calender)
100 km
Organizer: First Russian Automobile Club
Route: Peterburgskoe road near Moscow (Elenino – Klin – Elenino)

Results:
1. Karl Schpaman (D) Benz (entered by Gustav List) 0:59'24''0 = 101.01 kph

[b]1913

[b]Record runs near St. Petersburg
27.05.1913 (14.05.1913 according old russian calender)
1.066 km / 1 versta (flying start)
Organizer: St. Petersburg Automobile Club
Route: Volkhonskoe road

Results:
1. Fritz Herner (D) Benz 80/120 PS 0'19''0 = 202.13 kph (new russian speed record)


Most probably it should be
Paul Spamann = occasional Benz works driver since 1907,
and Franz Hörner = well-known Benz sprint and hillclimb specialist.

Soldatenkov :
A driver named Soldatenkov (the French press quoted Soldatenkow and described him as attaché of the Russian embassy in Paris) drove a Brasier (alledgedly the Brasier on which Théry won the 1905 Bennett Cup) in the 1913 Grand Prix de France at Le Mans.
Alexander or Vladimir?
Were they related?

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by robert dick
A driver named Soldatenkov (the French press quoted Soldatenkow and described him as attaché of the Russian embassy in Paris) drove a Brasier (alledgedly the Brasier on which Théry won the 1905 Bennett Cup) in the 1913 Grand Prix de France at Le Mans.
Alexander or Vladimir?
Were they related?

Your answer appears to be in Post 1 (near the bottom)
Or were there three of them?

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Originally posted by robert dick
Most probably it should be
Paul Spamann = occasional Benz works driver since 1907,
and Franz Hörner = well-known Benz sprint and hillclimb specialist.

Could be so - modern sources often confuse the names, so I guess my data still contain many such errors. Anyway, Robert, thank you for these corrections.

Originally posted by robert dick
Soldatenkov :
A driver named Soldatenkov (the French press quoted Soldatenkow and described him as attaché of the Russian embassy in Paris) drove a Brasier (alledgedly the Brasier on which Théry won the 1905 Bennett Cup) in the 1913 Grand Prix de France at Le Mans.
Alexander or Vladimir?
Were they related?

Soldatenkov, Soldatenkow, Soldatenkoff - can you hear many differences between these names spelling them? I believe Alexander Soldatenkov and Basil (Basilo, Basilio) Soldatenkoff is the same man. But why Basil (Vasily in Russian)? It's a mystery for me. I can only assume Basil was his racing pseudonym (very widespread phenomenon in russian motor racing before WW I).

Alexander and Vladimir were probably brothers.

[Alexey Rogachev]

2. Ivan Ivanov (RUS) Russo-Baltique S24/58 (works driver) 2:26'51''0 (+0:02'56''4) = 86.973 kph

.ru, the exact name of Russian cars was 'Russo-Balt'!

[anjakub]

In year 1912 five record runs in St. Petersburg (June 30), Riga (July 4), Warsaw (July 7), Kiev (July 10) and Moscow (July 15) were sport trials in Rally St. Petersburg – Rewel (Tallin) - Riga - Warsaw – Kiev – Moscow for Emperors Prize.
Near Warsaw record runs was organized on distance 1 km not 1 versta (1 km with 500 metres running start). Start this event was on seventh versts outside Jablonna (direction Zegrze). In event took part Warsaw drivers (of course out of classification).

Record runs in Jablonna near Warsaw
07.07.1912 (24.06.1912 according old russian calender)
1 km (flying start)

Results:

II category (engine capacity 4500 cc - 6500 cc) :
1. Kendall (GB) #1 Austin - 0'32''3 = 118.801 kph
2. Petit #4 Bedford - 0'33"4 = 107.764 kph
3. Lancia (I) #3 Lancia - 0'35"6 = 101.123 kph
4. Peniston #7 Case - 0'42"8 = 84.112 kph

III category (engine capacity 3000 cc - 4500 cc) :
1. Lucke (D) #9 Komnick - 0'35"8 = 100,558 kph
2. Ovsyannikov (RUS) #8 Vauxhall - 0'36"8 = 97.826 kph
3. Weinert #11 Komnick - 0'36"8 = 97.826 kph
4. Kienast #10 Komnick - 0'37"6 = 95.744 kph
5. Valentin (RUS) #15 Hispano-Suiza - 0'38"4 = 93.750 kph
6. Efron (RUS) #13 Lancia - 0'40"2 = 89.552 kph
7. Makarenko (RUS) #12 Laurin & Klement - 41"4 = 86.956 kph
8. Fomin (RUS) #14 Darracq - 0'46"4 = 77.586 kph
9. Richard #6 Rex Simplex - 0'53"4 = 67.415 kph

IV category (engine capacity - under 3000 cc) :
1. F. Shorygin (RUS) #18 Loreley 8/24 0'47"6 = 75.630 kph

Out of competition (not regularly entered) :
1. Möller (without start number) Mercedes - 0'26"4 = 136.363 kph
2. Kurielis (from Riga/without start number) Russo-Balt - 0'43"8 = 82.191 kph

Warsaw drivers:
1. René #a Lorraine Dietrich - 0'36"8 = 97,826 kph
2. Czeslaw Raczynski #d Mercedes Knight - 16/45 0'38"4 = 93,750 kph
3. Pawel Bitschan #c Minerva - 0'40"6 = 88,670 kph
4. Bystrycki #f Gregoire - 0'49"0 = 73,469 kph
5. S. Szymanski #b Benz 29/60 (entered by G. Liefeldt) - 0'49"4 = 72,874 kph
6. Stanislaw Berson #e Austro-Daimler 9/20 - 0'53"4 = 67,415 kph
7. Kazimierz Witkowski #g Delage - 1'12"8 = 49,451 kph

[fines]

Originally posted by .ru
* Difference between Gregorian (modern) and Julian (old) calender has been 12 days in XIXth century and 13 days in XXth century.

You're quite right with this observation, but for the first two months of the 20th century, i.e. up until the "offending" day (Feb 29 in 1900), which only exists in Julian Calendar (and, it has to be said, in the fertile imagination of the Microsoft Excel programmers! ...). Thus,

Originally posted by .ru
1900

II Cup of Society for Cycling
29.01.1900 (16.01.1900 according old russian calender)

should actually make it Jan 28, which would be a Sunday - most of these Russian races seem to have happened on Sundays, so that looks good to me. Other opinions?

This same race also yields pretty very different data from anjakub

Originally posted by anjakub
II Kubok Obschestva velosipednoy ezdy
9.03.1900 (28.02.1900 in Russian calendar) St.Petersburg (RUS) would be Mar 12, then
65 verts = 69 km
1 Vadim Mikhailov 2h17m
2. Stepanov
3. Tan'sky
4. Surmets
NC (after time limit - 4 hours
Bludau (tricycle) 4h21m
Krynsky 4h41m
DNF: Orlovsky

Note:
Start at 1-minute intervals

and .ru

Originally posted by .ru
II Cup of Society for Cycling
29.01.1900 (16.01.1900 according old russian calender)
69.342 km / 65 versts
Organizer: Society for Cycling
Route: Volkhonskoe road near St. Petersburg (Alexandrovskaya – Krasnoe Selo – Gatchina – Pulkovo – Alexandrovskaya)

Results:
1. Vadim Mikhailov (RUS) tricycle (1.75 HP) 2:17'00 = 30.369 kph
2. Stepanov (RUS) tricycle (1.75 HP) 2:50'00 (+0:33'00) = 24.474 kph
3. Fedor Tansky (RUS) tricycle (2.25 HP)
4. Samuel Suurmets (RUS) tricycle (2.25 HP)
Did not finish:
DNF Barbais (F) Mors 16 HP (car) (gave up)

5 starters, 4 finishers

on the non-finishers, any chance to get that straight?

Another date discrepancy I have is

Originally posted by .ru
1908

International Race St. Petersburg-Moscow
02.06.1908 (20.05.1908 according old russian calender)

which is Jun 1/May 19 in my data, according to two different sources (one is Gerald Rose, the other I forgot...). Could it be that this race was in two stages, starting on Jun1/May 19, and finishing on Jun 2/May 20? The first date is a Monday, btw, and the second a Tuesday.

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Originally posted by fines
Thus,

II Cup of Society for Cycling
29.01.1900 (16.01.1900 according old russian calender)

should actually make it Jan 28, which would be a Sunday - most of these Russian races seem to have happened on Sundays, so that looks good to me. Other opinions?

Agree.

Originally posted by fines
II Cup of Society for Cycling
29.01.1900 (16.01.1900 according old russian calender)
...
Did not finish:
DNF Barbais (F) Mors 16 HP (car) (gave up)

...on the non-finishers, any chance to get that straight?

I checked my sources one more time and still assume my data is correct. Barbais started with two passengers - J. Genrik and F. Geiman - and gave up near Strelna (approximately on the middle of distance) because of snow drifts.

Originally posted by fines
Another date discrepancy I have is

International Race St. Petersburg-Moscow
02.06.1908 (20.05.1908 according old russian calender)

which is Jun 1/May 19 in my data, according to two different sources (one is Gerald Rose, the other I forgot...). Could it be that this race was in two stages, starting on Jun1/May 19, and finishing on Jun 2/May 20? The first date is a Monday, btw, and the second a Tuesday.

The race was in one stage, starting (Oops! That was really my error! ) on June 1/May 19 at 2.10 a.m. with 2-minutes intervals.

[Henk]

From this thread I learned that Minerva cars were entered in 1912 and 1913 events.
Is there anything known about the two drivers and their cars:

- Pawel Bitschan (Warsaw driver, Jablonna runs, 1912)
- Bykov (2-versts trial near Moscow, 1913)

Without further details, it is claimed in Minerva literature that the marque was particularly active in 1911, with successful results in:

- Emperor’s Rally St. Petersburg – Sevastopol
- Emperor’s Prize of Honour (organized by the Moscow Automobile Club)
- 100-km race (1st place, 92 km/h)
- Moscow – Tarslov (June 1911; but where is/was Tarslov )

Is there any information on these events and the performance of Minervas?

[anjakub]

Posted by Henk
Is there anything known about the two drivers and their cars:

- Pawel Bitschan (Warsaw driver, Jablonna runs, 1912)
- Bykov (2-versts trial near Moscow, 1913)

Pawel Bitschan (born ? - died 20.12.1929), one of the best polish rally and racing driver in 20's. Member of the Elite of the Polish Automobile Drivers (only 11 members). In 20's dealer of the Overland Whippet cars. In rally and races took part on Minerva, Peugeot and Stutz.
I don't know what model of Minerva he drove at Jablonna. I know only that - engine capacity 6300 cc, 4 cylinders, bore 124 mm, stroke 130 mm.

Other starts Minerva in Poland:

Race near Warsaw (17.05.1925)
Tourist category, class over 3000 cc :
Marceli Ciechanowicz - 2 place, Józef Radonski - 3 place.

Race near Lodz (20.05.1928)
Sport category, class 8000 cc :
Stefan Osser (Minerva AF) - 2 place.

Puchar Baltyku (Baltic Cup) (2.08.1931)
Sport category, class 2500-3500 cc :
Boleslaw Kozlowski (Minerva AE) - 10 place.

Minerva cars took part also in rallies in Poland.

[Henk]

anjakub – Many thanks for your information

Specifications indicate that Bitschan’s Minerva was a 38 HP SS.
This was Minerva’s first model with a sleeve-valve engine made under the Knight patents.

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Originally posted by Henk
Without further details, it is claimed in Minerva literature that the marque was particularly active in 1911, with successful results in:

- Emperor’s Rally St. Petersburg – Sevastopol

Henk, the 2nd International Rally for Emperor’s Prize (St. Petersburg – Sevastopol, 07-16.09.1911 according old russian calender) was not a race in usual understanding, rather a kind of reliability trial, and the winner was not a driver, but the team of the First Russian Automobile Club:
- I. Filippov (RUS) Mercedes
- N. Mironov (RUS) Berliet
- O. Folman (RUS) Minerva

Originally posted by Henk
- Moscow – Tarslov (June 1911)

Never heard about this town and this event...

[robert dick]

Originally posted by .ru
1908

International Race St. Petersburg-Moscow
02.06.1908 (20.05.1908 according old russian calender)
686.486 km / 643.5 versts

The results of the Petersburg-Moscow race published in the French newspaper L'Auto/Paris/1908 (I didn't add or change anything) :

The race Petersburg-Moscow (31 mai 1908) :
The great event Petersburg-Moscow has just been run over a distance of 606 km and was a big success. The starts have been given at half past one in the morning at two minute intervals in the following order :

first category :
1) Darracq (Demogeot), four cylinder of 180 mm (= bore);
3) Benz (Hémery), four cylinder of 155 mm;
4) Lorraine-Dietrich (Duray), four cylinder of 155 mm;
5) Fiat (Bossardet), four cylinder of 180 mm;
6) Argus (Bishof), four cylinder of 140 mm;
7) Lorraine-Dietrich (Rougier), four cylinder of 146 mm;
8) Berliet (Porporato), four cylinder of 150 mm;
9) Itala (Pope), four cylinder of 180 mm;
10) Mercedes (Lescure), four cylinder of 175 mm;
11) Lorraine-Dietrich (Jarrott), four cylinder of 180 mm.

second category :
12) Brasier (Vestchimne), four cylinder of 125 mm;
13) Fiat (Wagner), four cylinder of 130 mm;
15) Berliet (Adaline), four cylinder of 130 mm;
16) SPA (Eros), four cylinder of 130 mm;
17) NAG (Büchner), four cylinder of 130 mm;
18) Berliet (Michaeloff), four cylinder of 120 mm;
19) Darracq (de Langhe), four cylinder of 120 mm.

third category :
20) La Buire (Debarres), four cylinder of 98 mm;
21) Humber (Schulster), four cylinder of 100 mm;
22) Nagant (Provodwick), four cylinder of 106 mm;
23) Fiat (Folkin), four cylinder of 105 mm;
24) Berliet (Tchoudoff), four cylinder of 106 mm;
25) Diatto-Clément (Primavese), four cylinder of 106 mm.

fourth category :
26) Werner (Effront), four cylinder of 86 mm;
27) Laurin-Klement (Boutchkine), four cylinder of 85 mm;
28) Loreley (Schlicht), four cylinder of 75 mm;
30) Laurin-Klement (Hieronimus), four cylinder of 85 mm.

Did not start :
Florio (Fiat), Nemlistchka (Berliet), Sizaire-Naudin, Yourassof (Lion) and Péan (Lion). 27 starters.

Result :
first category :
1) Hémery (Benz) in 8 h 30' 48" (record of 1907 : Duray (Lorraine-Dietrich) in 9 h 22')
2) Demogeot (Darracq) in 8 h 42' 12"
3) Pope (Itala) in 13 h 47' 30"

second category :
1) Wagner (Fiat) in 8 h 49' 48"
2) Eros (SPA) in 14 h 4' 18"

third category :
1) Folkin (Fiat), Dunlop tyres, in 12 h 36'
2) Primavese (Diatto-Clément) in 13 h 8' 12"
3) Tschoudoff (Berliet) in 13 h 17' 48"

fourth category :
1) Hieronimus (Laurin-Klement), Persan tyres, in 13 h 3'

The great winner is Hémery. It is a consolation for our ego that the event has been won by a French driver.

[TonyKaye]

What a wonderful thread. So much new information, which has never before been seen outside Russia. Thank you .RU, Double Fault and everyone else who has made a contribution to sharing these ‘new’ events. Hopefully the thread has not ended and that you will continue to post more information whenever you find it. Perhaps the following leads will get you digging deep again. All of them seem to have eluded your very detailed research.

1910. The Fiat company claims that one of their cars won the ‘100 Verste Cup’ on 20 May 1910. They don’t state if this was a race, but the distance rather suggests it.

1914. The same source states that Nadiedjin placed first in Category IV of what they describe as the ‘Corsa in Salita Moscow’. The Italian word ‘corsa’ suggest that this was also a race.

1910. The St. Petersburg – Moscow – St. Petersburg reliability trial is outside the scope of speed events……except for one aspect. When the cars arrived at Moscow there was a dead heat with few (none?) of the cars receiving penalties. Moreover it looked as if they would arrive back at St. Petersburg similarly unpenalised. In order to break the tie, competitors were offered the option of continuing in the trial as planned or attempting to reach Moscow in a single day. Only one entrant decided to accept this speed challenge, Wilbur Gunn in the works Lagonda 16/80. He succeeded in either 12 or 14 hours (depending on source) and effectively stole all the publicity. It wasn’t until several days later that the other competitors arrived at the finish. All this is described in detail in the December 1961 issue of Car & Driver and in the Lagonda book by Davey and May.

1911. Otto Hieronymus in a Lauren & Klement was first in class in the St. Petersburg – Sevastopol event. But was this a race or a trial?

1913. An event took place from Brussells to St. Petersburg. “Fastest time of any of the competitors was made by Josef Christiaens on a 36 h.p. six-cylinder Excelsior car. He took 62 hrs. for the journey, but it is necessary to deduct 25 hrs. for stops, in order to get at the running time (37 hrs.) which gives the very exceptional average of a trifle more than 50 m.p.h.” He definitely had competitors in the event, but was it an organized race?

1908. The October 20th 1933 issue of The Autocar contained a long account of the 1908 St. Petersburg to Moscow race. It was written by Arthur Bray who was Charles Jarrott’s riding mechanic in the event. As a first-hand account of their ordeal, it may well be the best English-language description of a pre-WW1 Russian race. The article also contains a splendid drawing by Gordon Crosby of Jarrott’s de Dietrich thundering along towards Moscow. Just as a sample of its contents, Jarrott supplied Bray with small pebbles to be thrown at the mechanic of a rival’s car to alert them that they were about to be overtaken. (Maybe modern F1 drivers should be so equipped.) This article makes a fine addendum to Jarrott’s book “Ten Years of Motors and Motor Racing”, which ends at the close of the 1906 season.

1908. H.R. Pope who came eighth in the same race responded with a reader’s letter adding further details of the race. Unlike Jarrott, Pope had fitted Russian-made springs to his car. It’s probably not mere coincidence that Pope finished the race and Jarrott didn’t.

1914. In the St. Petersburg Grand Prix Scholl made fastest lap at 138 kph. Car number 14 driven by Sokolov is listed as an Argill. Is this a typo for ‘Argyll’? For what it’s worth,
Ovsyannikov’s Vauxhall was a 30/98.

1912. Kendall’s times and speeds in the Riga and Warsaw speed events look fishy. They are identical for both events, yet one was a kilometer, the other was a verst. If the times are correct, the speeds must be different.

Some other oddments: Erle’s first name was Fritz and he should be (G), not (F). Likewise Jarrott should be (GB), not (F). In 1912 Kendall who won all those speed events, was Harold Kendall and his Austin was a 40 HP model I believe.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by TonyKaye
...1914. The same source states that Nadiedjin placed first in Category IV of what they describe as the ‘Corsa in Salita Moscow’. The Italian word ‘corsa’ suggest that this was also a race...

'Corsa in Salita' is Italian for 'hill climb' or 'hillclimb' for Brits.
It’s truly nice to hear from someone I thought had for ever vanished. Welcome back, Tony!

[Pavel Lifintsev]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
What a wonderful thread. So much new information, which has never before been seen outside Russia.[/QUOTE]
Even if I risk to seem very self-confident I would say so much info about those early races has never been available and is not available in Russia too. So at the moment TNF is the only place in the world where all this statistics can be found.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
Thank you .RU, Double Fault and everyone else who has made a contribution to sharing these 'new' events. ... Perhaps the following leads will get you digging deep again. All of them seem to have eluded your very detailed research.[/QUOTE]
Thank you Tony for spending your time to add this thread with new fascinating data. Being at work now and therefore far from my archives I can only rely on my memory so my comments are not especially detailed. OK, let's start.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
1910. The Fiat company claims that one of their cars won the '100 Verste Cup' on 20 May 1910. They don't state if this was a race, but the distance rather suggests it.[/QUOTE]
Sadly I don't have any info about this event, but my collection of contemporary race reports is far from to be complete. Recently I visited the Russian State Library in Moscow which owns hundreds of magazines of that period but they are out of access at the moment so I can not say if this race really was held and provide you with more details.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
1914. The same source states that Nadiedjin placed first in Category IV of what they describe as the 'Corsa in Salita Moscow'. The Italian word 'corsa' suggest that this was also a race.[/QUOTE]
'Nadiedjin' is most probably 'Nadezhdin'. I always wondered how foreign sources confuse Russian names as well as Russian magazines do the same with foreigners. Just compare the names of Russian drivers appearing in my account of the 1908 St. Petersburg - Moscow race and in the L'Auto results kindly provided by Robert Dick:

name in L'Auto - correct name
Vestchmne - Vetchinin
Michaeloff - Mikhailov
Folkin - Fokin
Effront - Efron
Boutchkine - Buchin
Nemlistchka - Zhemlichka

Even making allowance that the names given in L'Auto are French versions and I translated them from Cyrillic into Roman alphabet using English orthographic rules, in any case spellings are quite different.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
1910. The St. Petersburg – Moscow – St. Petersburg reliability trial is outside the scope of speed events……except for one aspect. When the cars arrived at Moscow there was a dead heat with few (none?) of the cars receiving penalties. Moreover it looked as if they would arrive back at St. Petersburg similarly unpenalised. In order to break the tie, competitors were offered the option of continuing in the trial as planned or attempting to reach Moscow in a single day. Only one entrant decided to accept this speed challenge, Wilbur Gunn in the works Lagonda 16/80. He succeeded in either 12 or 14 hours (depending on source) and effectively stole all the publicity. It wasn’t until several days later that the other competitors arrived at the finish. All this is described in detail in the December 1961 issue of Car & Driver and in the Lagonda book by Davey and May.

...

1908. The October 20th 1933 issue of The Autocar contained a long account of the 1908 St. Petersburg to Moscow race. It was written by Arthur Bray who was Charles Jarrott’s riding mechanic in the event. As a first-hand account of their ordeal, it may well be the best English-language description of a pre-WW1 Russian race. The article also contains a splendid drawing by Gordon Crosby of Jarrott’s de Dietrich thundering along towards Moscow. Just as a sample of its contents, Jarrott supplied Bray with small pebbles to be thrown at the mechanic of a rival’s car to alert them that they were about to be overtaken. (Maybe modern F1 drivers should be so equipped.) This article makes a fine addendum to Jarrott’s book “Ten Years of Motors and Motor Racing”, which ends at the close of the 1906 season.

1908. H.R. Pope who came eighth in the same race responded with a reader’s letter adding further details of the race. Unlike Jarrott, Pope had fitted Russian-made springs to his car. It’s probably not mere coincidence that Pope finished the race and Jarrott didn’t.[/QUOTE]
MUST SEE THEM ALL! Any chance to make a scan?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
1911. Otto Hieronymus in a Lauren & Klement was first in class in the St. Petersburg – Sevastopol event. But was this a race or a trial?[/QUOTE]
I posted this a bit earlier:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by .ru
Henk, the 2nd International Rally for Emperor's Prize (St. Petersburg – Sevastopol, 07-16.09.1911 according old russian calender) was not a race in usual understanding, rather a kind of reliability trial, and the winner was not a driver, but the team of the First Russian Automobile Club:
- I. Filippov (RUS) Mercedes
- N. Mironov (RUS) Berliet
- O. Folman (RUS) Minerva[/QUOTE]
IIRC I have quite detailed report of this event, but as you have already mentioned before reliability trials are outside my review. And it was Laurin & Klement, not Lauren & Klement surely.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
1913. An event took place from Brussells to St. Petersburg. ''Fastest time of any of the competitors was made by Josef Christiaens on a 36 h.p. six-cylinder Excelsior car. He took 62 hrs. for the journey, but it is necessary to deduct 25 hrs. for stops, in order to get at the running time (37 hrs.) which gives the very exceptional average of a trifle more than 50 m.p.h.'' He definitely had competitors in the event, but was it an organized race?[/QUOTE]
As far as I remember he was alone in his attempt so I didn't count this for a race. Maybe there were earlier voyages with the same route?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
1914. In the St. Petersburg Grand Prix Scholl made fastest lap at 138 kph. Car number 14 driven by Sokolov is listed as an Argill. Is this a typo for 'Argyll'? For what it’s worth,
Ovsyannikov's Vauxhall was a 30/98.[/QUOTE]
Very valuable addendum! 'Argill' is a typo of course.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
1912. Kendall’s times and speeds in the Riga and Warsaw speed events look fishy. They are identical for both events, yet one was a kilometer, the other was a verst. If the times are correct, the speeds must be different.[/QUOTE]
See earlier anjakub's post in this thread.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
Some other oddments: Erle's first name was Fritz and he should be (G), not (F). Likewise Jarrott should be (GB), not (F). In 1912 Kendall who won all those speed events, was Harold Kendall and his Austin was a 40 HP model I believe.[/QUOTE]
One more time thank you. But which country is mentioned with (G)?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TonyKaye
Hopefully the thread has not ended and that you will continue to post more information whenever you find it.[/QUOTE]
Later this year after I become university graduate I'm going to create a webpage (in Russian and English) about motor racing in Russia during 1898-1914. Not only with statistics but also with detailed race reports and hundreds of photos. And... As my English is far from perfection will be someone kind enough to help me with translation?

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by .ru
But which country is mentioned with (G)?

Erle was from Germany, which is usually expressed (D)

[TonyKaye]

.RU, we can’t wait for you to graduate. Forget your degree course and get to work on your website…..NOW!

Was Wilbur Gunn taking part in a race when he accepted the challenge to drive back to St. Petersburg in a day? True he was the only one to do it, but it was open to all the other contestants in the trial. The rest preferred to stick with the 30 kph maximum of the previous days. I doubt whether he drove less hard because there was no competition – he was still running against the clock. My feeling is that as a notable speed feat it belongs in your fine record: it would be a shame to ‘lose’ it just because it happened within a reliability trial. In a similar vein, I wonder if there was only one car at some of the lesser speed runs. All of these achievements and the men who accomplished them deserve their place in a Russian speed history.

An interesting aside about Gunn’s Lagonda is that he went to a lot of trouble to produce what we might, today, call a pearlescent finish. It was arguably the first car in the world to have a metallic paint job. As the boss of Lagonda he saw Russia as a great sales opportunity for two reasons, first the presence of an aristocracy (for which read ‘money’) and secondly no indigenous motor industry. Good thinking….well until 1917!

Regarding the Brussells – St. Petersburg affair. My brief report says “ …fastest time of any of the competitors.” Those words hardly suggest that it was a solo run, but whether it was a race as such is another matter.

(G) for Deutschland! O me miserum!

.RU, I would be happy to scan the Bray article and anything else, but I don’t have a scanner. Let me have your address and I will snail mail some photocopies to you. I’m at limerocker@hotmail.com.

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Try pavel.lifintsev@allianz.ru (this mailbox is not limited by space). Thank you in advance.

Originally posted by TonyKaye
.RU, we can’t wait for you to graduate. Forget your degree course and get to work on your website... ..NOW!

Actually the problem is in purchasing a new computer (my actual one is just a scrap heap). As soon as I buy a new one I will start working on my website.

Originally posted by TonyKaye
Regarding the Brussells – St. Petersburg affair. My brief report says ''...fastest time of any of the competitors.'' Those words hardly suggest that it was a solo run, but whether it was a race as such is another matter.

Yes, I got it. My thought was that there could be earlier attempts to cover the distance from Brussels to St. Petersburg as quickly as possible and Christiaens was fastest of all.

[st59cz]

What delight to read Tony is back after so long time

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Originally posted by David McKinney
Erle was from Germany, which is usually expressed (D)

At this webpage can be found the list of country codes recognized by the United Nations (incl. past and unofficial codes).

[Pavel Lifintsev]

One more point to Josef Christiaens. The car that he drove from Brussels to St. Petersburg shortly after that was sold to Russian amateur driver A. Slupsky, who was great Excelsior fan. He then raced it in the 1913 Circuit de St. Petersburg (retired) and in the 1914 Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de St. Petersburg (4th). Picture below shows him at first event:



(Hopefully in Don's opinion thumbnails can be compared to links and he will not delete my post, especially as I don't imagine who could possess copyright to this ancient photo).

I believe Christiaens also raced this car in the 1912 Grand Prix de l'A.C.F., in which he managed to take 6th place. I am curious why Tony's source gives his Excelsior only 36 hp whereas contemporary Russian magazines claim it had no less than 100 hp. IMHO second figure fits better to a 1912 Grand Prix car.

[robert dick]

Excelsior :
ex-1912 GP de l'ACF/Dieppe Excelsior - 6-cylinder, 110/160 mm = 9.1 litres, L-head. It was based on a stock chassis which, in many contemporary reports, was quoted as 36 HP = tax HP. The output of the engine prepared for the GP was around 125 HP at 2000/min.

[Vitesse2]

Christiaens' 1912 GP Excelsior is pictured in Mathieson's French GP book: looks like the same car. 6 cylinders, 9.138 litres - so more likely 100hp than 36!

According to the Georgano Encyclopaedia, the car used in the Brussels-St Petersburg was a "touring 6-cylinder", but a speed of over 50mph on a standard road car sounds a bit unlikely ....

edit/
DUH! Why didn't I think of tax horsepower It's often the answer!

[Pavel Lifintsev]

Thanks Robert and Richard! Thought of tax horsepower had flashed across my mind but somewise escaped while posting.

[Alexey Rogachev]

1914 St. Petersburg - Kronshtadt - St. Petersburg winter race

I remember that this race had been mentioned here by .ru. Here is some extra information:

1. Winner's avg. speed: 61.4 km/h

2. Russian driver Levitan at the wheel of Russo-Balt was 2nd or 3rd.

[Pavel Lifintsev]

From Shugurov - Kurdzinauskas book surely?

[Alexey Rogachev]

No, from the one of 1971 'Za Rulem' issues ;)