[faksta]

The race for IRAO prize (‘La Coupe du Tsar’, 'Kaiser Nicolaus Turenfahrt').

On December 19, 1909 Russian Automotive Society (RAO) has officially received a highest approval and was renamed to Emperor’s Russian Automotive Society (IRAO). That fact has changed many things, but first of all, the organization of automotive events now became much more simple, as IRAO has received some power levers. This can be easily noticed while speaking about the biggest race of 1910 in Russia – the 3200 kilometer run from Saint-Petersberg and back through Kiev and Moscow. Beside from IRAO, three ministries were involved in preparations. Many roads and bridges were fixed, free meals and beds were provided for participants, even military orchestras were mobilized to play on parkings. IRAO member L.Nobel has even provided a free oil and fuel of his own ‘Nobel’ company for every entrant.
Among 46 equipages in general, 24 were foreign ones or consisted of foreigners living in Russia. Two categories were announced, depending on engine displacement. The route was following: St.-Petersberg – Pskov – Vitebsk – Gomel – Kiev – Gomel – Roslavl – Moscow – Vyshnyi Volochek – St.-Petersberg, and was hit through June 16-30. Also two special stages were arranged – in Moscow and Kiev. The two stages were the only places where drivers could exceed a set maximum speed of 70 kph.
This first rally for an Emperor’s prize was leaded by foreign drivers, mostly factory ones. Thus, the first prize was won by a Mercedes driver Willi Poege. That car was specially built for a rally for Prince Heinrich of Prussia prize and had a 4514cc engine with an output of 120hp. Together with a special body weighing 978kg it allowed the car to reach 120kph. Of course, two production Russo-Baltique C24/30 cars (4501cc, 30hp) couldn’t compete with it in speed. One of them, driven by N.Galle, did not finish the race, while another C24/30, with Andrei Nagel at the wheel, has completed the whole run without penalty points and received IRAO prize. Also one woman took a part in a competition – Sofia Dolgorukaya, who drove her own Delaunay Belleville 18CV. The car has ended up with a hole in a radiator near Vyshnyi Volochek, when one of the participants casually hit Sofia’s car on a parking. Among the retired were also Albert Effron with a broken leaf spring on his Fiat and the founder of Lagonda factory, Wilbur Gunn with B.Hammond on a 12/18 model, who hit a tree.

Pictures:

1. Main trophy of the race - Emperor's prize.
2. Participants of 1910 race for IRAO prize.
3-4. Willi Poege on his Mercedes.
5-6. Russo-Baltique C24/30 with N.Galle at the wheel.