[faksta]

The major event of 1908, like the previous year, was the race between the two capitals, but this time from St.-Petersberg to Moscow. Among the organizers there were RAO, Avtomobil magazine and SPAK. The second try attracted 32 participants, 26 of them started. 9 companies have been presented by their factory drivers – Victor Demogeot for Darracq, Victor Hemery for Benz, Arthur Duray and Henry Rougier for Lorraine-Dietrich, Louis Wagner for Fiat, Eros for SPA, de Barres for La Buire, Nikolai Boutchin and Otto Hieronymus for Laurin-Klement, and also some works drivers for Sizaire-Naudin and Berliet, which are unknown for me*.
The cars this time were divided into five categories: I – 4-cyl., above 130mm bore; II – 4-cyl., 107-130mm, III – 4-cyl., 87-106mm, IV – 4-cyl., up to 86mm, V category was cancelled, as only two drivers entered it and both refused to start.

Starting list:

I Category:
#1. Victor Demogeot (F) Darracq
#2. Vincenzo Florio (I) FIAT
#3. Victor Hemery (F) Benz 55/150ps
#4. Arthur Duray (F) Lorraine-Dietrich
#5. Bosarde (I) FIAT
#6. Bichoff (R) Argus
#7. Henry Rougier (F) Lorraine-Dietrich
#8. Jean Porporato (F) Berliet
#9. Pope (GB) Itala
#10. Lescur (F) Mercedes
#11. Charles Jarrott (F) Lorraine-Dietrich

II Category:
#12. Alexander Vetchinine (R) Brasier
#13. Louis Wagner (F) FIAT
#14. G.Jemlitchka (R) Berliet
#15. Adalline (?) Berliet
#16. Eros (I) SPA 28/40hp
#17. Buchner (D) NAG
#18. Vadim Mikailoff (R) Berliet
#19. de Langhe (F) Darracq

III Category:
#20. de Barres (F) La Buire
#21. Schuster (R) Humber
#22. Rudolph-Robert Lundberg (R) Nagant
#23. Alexander Fokin (R) FIAT
#24. Tschoudoff (R) Berliet
#25. A.Primavesi (I) Diatto-Clement

IV Category:
#26. Albert Efron (R) Werner
#27. Boutchin (R) Laurin-Klement
#28. Schlicht (R) Loreley
#29. ? (?) Sizaire-Naudin
#30. Otto Hieronymus (A-H) Laurin-Klement

V Category:
#31. ? (?) Lyon (Lion-Peugeot?)
#32. ? (?) Lyon (Lion-Peugeot?)

The distance now equalled 643.5 versts (686.486 kilometers or 438.25 miles). Most part of the race Hemery was in the lead, couple of times changing positions with Demogeot. Duray tried to participate in the battle for leadership, too, but hit the horse and retired from the race. At 11:47 Hemery’s Benz arrived in Moscow after 8h33m48s of racing. The route was very tough for tyres, so most drivers suffered big problems with them. Only 10 cars of 26 have finished.

Results:
1. Victor Hemery 8:33’48
2. Victor Demogeot 8:44’00 (+0:10’12)
3. Louis Wagner 9:49’48 (+1:16’00)
4. Alexander Fokin 12:36’00 (+4:02’12)
5. Otto Hieronymus 13:03’00 (+4:29’12)
6. A.Primavesi 13:08’12 (+4:34’24)
7. Tschoudoff 13:17’48 (+4:44’00)
8. Pope 13:47’30 (+5:13’42)
9. Eros 14:29’00 (+5:55’12)
10. Buechner 16:01’12 (+7:27’24)

The entry list and results were found at AtlasF1 forums.

* I suppose Jean Porporato entered as a factory driver by Berliet, as he came 4th at 1908 Targa Florio driving Berliet.

Pictures:
1-3. Victor Hemery on his Benz.
4. Louis Wagner on his FIAT. Of what I have, it appears to be a 50hp model from 1908, which possibly ran that year’s Targa Florio. Scanned from Artem Kiselev's book.