[faksta]

In 1904 spring everyone was expecting of a great race – the run between St.-Petersberg and Kiev through Moscow should have been organized by Moscow Club of Automotive Enthusiasts (again I don’t know the proper English name) together with Russian Automotive Society. Drivers from Poland and France should have participate. The event, however, didn’t happen and 1904 was just as empty as 1903.
Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna race was won by Basil Soldatenkoff on his favourite ‘Lina’ car, which was a 50hp Richard-Brasier named in favour of Lina Cavalieri, Italian actress. He completed the 36-verst distance in a bit more then 32 minutes. To be said, he drove ‘Lina’on the roads, too. That’s what the ‘Lost Splendor’ book by Prince Felix Yussupov reads: “I spent a few days in Paris seeing my French friends, and then left for Russia with Basil Soldatenkoff who had offered to drive me in his racing car ‘Lina’. Basil always drove at full speed, and when I begged him to go a little slower he merely laughed and stepped on the accelerator.” Returning to the race, Bruno Fahrig driving a 16hp Richard-Brasier came second in 42 minutes. The same time was shown by Constantine Kapoustine on Sarolea 3hp motorcycle.
Next event, fourth Volhonka verst race, took place at July, 18. Soldatenkoff again took the first prize with his ‘Lina’ car and was very close to achieving 100 versts per hour that no one in Russia did before, though ran at 106,1 kmh (99,45 versts per hour) and completed one verst in 36,2 sec. Second place was taken by Sibilliot at Gobron-Brille 25hp with 72,1 kmh. Serpollet steam car was third with a result of 63 kmh. The first ladies record was set up at that event – madame Walton on 10hp Georges Richard completed a verst in 1 min 58 sec with a maximum speed of 32,5 kmh. Also a motorcycle record speed was shown – 76,2 kmh for Francois Donnier riding a 4,5hp Sarolea. This record was beaten only during a 1913 verst race.
The last event of that year, Luga – Gatchina – Krasnoe Selo – Strelna race, happened in a heavy rain on August, 28 instead of ‘classic’ Luga – St.-Petersberg. Francois Donnier, this time driving a car – 25hp Gobron-Brille – won the race 2h50m after the start together with Evgeniy Kuzmin. Kapoustine on 12hp car came second. The only motorcycle finished was Piskop (not sure in writing) on FN. The others – one car and two motorcycles – didn’t complete the distance.

The picture shows 'Lina' car. Taken from tsar-auto-club.spb.ru