To my knowledge there were seven editions from 1908 until 1914. The 1909 edition was a championship race.
Here are my findings on which I like to get some additions.
1st CACTUS DERBY 9 November 1908, Los Angeles, Cal. to Phoenix, Arix. 455 miles (732,25 km) desert road race, 1 F.C. Fenner White Steamer 30:28.00 2 A.J. Smith Elmore 32:52.00 3 Leon Shettler Kissel Kar 35:42.00 4 Ralph Hamlin Franklin finished Notes: 1. Source: LA Times, 10 November 1908 2. Albert Bochroch "American Automobile Racing" gives as winner 1. F.C. Fenner & H.D. Ryus in a time of 30:06.16. Distance 511 miles (822,4 km). 2nd CACTUS DERBY 6 November 1909, Los Angeles, Cal. to Phoenix, Arix. 480 miles (772,5 km) desert road race, 1 Joe Nikrent Buick 19:13:00 Louis Nikrent 2 Harold Stone Columbia 23:35:20 Charles Hillingworth 3 Bert Latham Studebaker/E. M. F. 24:56 Herbert LaCasse & Harry Lord 4 Harris Hanshue Kissel Kar 26:04:23 Charles Bigelow & Lee Gehricke 5 M. Poismans Isotta Out F.C. Fenner 6 Walter Vale Pennnsylvania Out J. C. Coberly 7 Ralph Hamlin Franklin Brkn axle housing Guy Irwin 8 D. B. Rose Elmore Out Clarence Smith 9 R. Harrison Dorris Wrecked, hit tree 10 C. Harris Ford Out Notes: 1. Sources: LA Times, 7-8 November 1909 & Motor Age 2. Albert Bochroch "American Automobile Racing" gives a winning time of 19:13.30. 3. Sanction Number: AAA # 104 4. Second named drivers considered as relief-drivers. 5. Limited to stock chassis. 3rd CACTUS DERBY 5-7 November 1910, Los Angeles, Cal. to Phoenix, Arix. 480 miles (772,5 km) desert road race, 1 Harvey Herrick & O.M. Kern Kisselkar 15:44.00 Notes: 1. source: Albert Bochroch "American Automobile Racing" 4th CACTUS DERBY 7 November 1911, Los Angeles, Cal. to Phoenix, Arix. 542 miles (872,25 km) desert road race, 1 Harvey Herrick National 20:22.00 Notes: 1. source: Albert Bochroch "American Automobile Racing" 5th CACTUS DERBY 28 October 1912, Los Angeles, Cal. to Phoenix, Arix. 511 miles (822,4 km) desert road race, 1 Ralph Hamlin Franklin 18:10.22 Notes: 1. source: Albert Bochroch "American Automobile Racing" 6th CACTUS DERBY 4 November 1913, Los Angeles, Cal. to Phoenix, Arix. 564 miles (907,66 km) desert road race, 1 Orin Davis Locomobile 18:50.00 Notes: 1. source: Albert Bochroch "American Automobile Racing" 7th CACTUS DERBY 10 November 1914, Los Angeles, Cal. to Phoenix, Arix. 671 miles (1079,9 km) desert road race, 1 Barney Oldfield Stutz 23:00.35 2 Louis Nikrent Paige 23:35.56 3 Beaudette Paige 25:05.23 4 R.C. Durant Chevrolet 26:01.00 5 Bramlett Cadillac 26:20.40 6 Ellis Buick 28:22.00 7 Burns Stutz 29:48.00 8 Du Bois Cole 31:56.00 Notes: 1. source: L'Historique de la Course Automobile (Edmond Cohin). 2: Albert Bochroch "American Automobile Racing" gives a winning time of: 23:01.00.
Gerrit Stevens