[faksta]

May, 1899. 0,25-mile sprint.

In May, 1899 St.-Petersberg saw the first in Russian history 0.25-mile sprint on track. Kamennoostrovskyi velodrome was chosen as an arena for this event. Scheme of race was rather interesting – the best result was chosen of 53 laps on a track, thus defining a winner.
By completing a 0.25-mile lap in 26 seconds (55,7 km/h), Mazy won the race driving a 1.75hp tricycle (I suppose, Clement again). The whole 20-versts distance was better completed by Kumel on 2hp Aster-engined tricycle (24 minutes 56,8 seconds) at average speed 52,3 km/h.
As I understood from the sources I used, this event was a motorcycle race, but the fact that tricycles participated in it allows to consider it a part of automotive racing history.


I may work a bit slower sometimes - I have to pass the exams, yet three left.