[faksta]

Race for the prizes of Sport magazine.

The last of 1900 races in Russia, this one was dropped by Andrei Nagel, that time Sport magazine director. On December, 30 two 4-wheelers – Gladiator 3.5hp (Genrik at the wheel) and Clement (Barbais and Mihailov) – and Samuel Suurmets on 4hp tricycle were all ready to go…. Even though it was 27 below zero.
That day horse-race was declined because of the temperature – no horse could run in such conditions, while all the motors performed well even now and reached horses’ speed. Actually, some acts were taken – the distance was reduced from 80 to 40 versts and was the same as for the first race in 1898: Aleksandrovskaya station – Strelna – Aleksandrovskaya station.
The best of the best in that race – Suurmets – showed 1:46:24 with an average speed of 55,2 km/h, which was a worldwide record in such conditions. Genrik (whose mechanic, in fact, was ‘a little Russian boy’) needed 2:34 at av. Speed of 16,6 km/h. Barbais-Mihailov came even later, as they stopped to refuel (first pit-stop, eh? ).
What is interesting, all of 3 starters finished in that awful weather, even though both cars were… water-cooled.

Picture:

1. Gladiator 3.5hp (J.G.Genrik with his little mechanic).