[faksta]

In March First Russian Automobile Club in Moscow imposes its first regulations statues.

1900 Luga - St.-Petersberg.

Held on June, 11 and organized by Samokat magazine Luga – St.-Petersberg 140-versts run was first time in Russia divided into two categories – tricycles and cars.
The favorite for the race was Hippolyte-Auguste Deschamps from France, who drove a 2.25hp DeDion-Bouton tricycle. The machine behaved good, so Deschamps became an overall winner and also took a win in tricycle class.
One of the participants was Andrei Nagel - founder and director of Automobile magazine in Russia, which was printed through 1902-1917 and founder of Sport magazine in 1900. Besides, he often entered racing events and was famous person. This competition was his first attempt. Driving a Starley-Psycho tricycle, he started very good and overtook a favorite – Deschamps, but after 7 versts a sharp stone punctured his tyre and the race was lost.
Participants were prepared well for the race. Fedor Tansky, director of Pobeda company, which sold cars and motorcycles in St.-Petersberg, ordered a special 4hp Sonsin engine, which he exhausted during the race. Louis Mazy entered a Starley car – he began to sell Starley’s after Clement cars and tricycles. The new car went fine, but French driver had to stop from time to time – the water leaked through the pipes. Nevertheless, he completed the distance in 6h 55m, but was beaten by Loginov (Russia). Loginov drove a two-seater car and spent 5h 06m.
Vadim Mihailov and Fomin (Russia, don’t know the first name), both on tricycles, suffered from sparking plugs – their stocks went empty soon, and Samuel Suurmets had some accident during the race.
Thus, in tricycle class the only one who finished was the winner – Deschamps –3h 46m 30s after he started in Luga. He lost his cap, glasses, keys, punctured a tyre, but nevertheless he won.

Race results:

Tricycles
1. Deschamps 3:46’30 (overall winner),
Ret. Suurmets,
Ret. Tansky,
Ret. Mihailov,
Ret. Nagel,
Ret. Fomin.

Cars
1. Loginov 5:06,
2. Mazy 6:55.

Picture:

Andrei Nagel.