[faksta]

The first automotive competition in Russian Empire, 1898.

First automotive race ever held in Russia was initiated by Louis Mazy - French driver, who opened a shop in St.-Petersberg called 'Bicycles and motors' to deal with Clement, Gladiator and Phebus companies. Before it opened there were only about 12 cars (almost all were Benz cars, except one Delahaye, which, in turn, was a copy of German car) and several motorcycles (Hildebrandt and Wolfmuller) in St.-Petersberg. The race was planned to be an advertisement for his production and for horseless transport in general. Mazy's companions in case of competition organization were members of Society for Cycling in Russia.

However, the start, aimed on October 4, 1898, was rescheduled. The reason was a poor condition of the roads, which had to take the event - Volhonskoye highway was completely unready for racing. Mazy had to take it himself, and till October, 11 the roads were repaired. But the same day a snowfall happened in St.-Petersberg, and the roads were covered with a huge amount of snow. Frightened, Mazy tried to drive those roads himself, but nothing came out of this. But since the meeting was dropped, the race couldn't already be cancelled. Moreover, he had to prove that horseless carriages were more convenient than the traditional ones.

14 drivers were willing to participate, but only seven of them were actually present: two French racers - Louis Mazy himself and Alfonce Merl, and five Russians - Pavel Belyaev, Stepanov, Schneiderov, V.I. von Lode and Lavrentiev (couldn't find first names of last four). The race distance was 39 versts (old Russian measure of distance, 1 verst = 1,0668 kilometers) long. The start was held up near Alexandrovskaya railroad station, then the drivers had to hit Volhonskoye highway to Strel'na and head back to start. Six of seven participants drove the same Clement tricycles equipped with De-Dion engines with air cooling and 1,75hp output. Lavrentiev had the only four-wheeler - 6,5hp Benz Velo, but his result was not to be counted, as the weight of his Benz was 52 poods (1 pood = 16,3804815 kg), whereas maximum weight allowed was 6 poods.

Starting order:

10:08 - von Lode,
10:13 - Schneiderov,
10:15 - Stepanov,
10:17 - Belyaev,
10:19 - Mazy,
10:21 - Merl,
10:25 - Lavrentiev.

Very soon after start von Lode hit the horse carriage (frightened horse turned it across the road) and turns upside down. One wheel was damaged, so there was no chance to run further. 45 minutes after start Mazy returned - his engine broke at about 12th verst. The first actual competitor finished at 11:50.

Finishing order (finish time):

1. Belyaev (11:50), av.speed 27,3 km/h,
2. Stepanov (12:04),
3. Merl (12:06),
4. Schneiderov (12:17),

5. Lavrentiev (after the timing was closed), not counted.

But race results differed from the upper list, as they depended on a time spent to complete the distance. Thus, the results list was following:

Race results:

1. Belyaev (1:33:36),
2. Merl (1:45:36),
3. Stepanov (1:49:24),
4. Schneiderov (2:04),

5. Lavrentiev (2:11), not counted.

As Belyaev told later, it was very hard to run such snowy roads (as some joke about Russian roads, Russia has directions, not roads) and going up the hills he had to help with his feet.

Pictures:

1. Pavel Belyaev on his Clement tricycle, 1898 (earlier that year). Source: tsar-auto-club.spb.ru.
2. Benz Velo - not Lavrentiev's example, and not in Russia.