[faksta]

SPAK International circuit race

This significant event happened on May 26, 1913 and became known as a first ever circuit race in Russian Empire. St.-Petersberg Automobile Club (SPAK) wanted to organize a Russian Grand Prix, but it was decided not to hurry and to assess the possibility of a GP race. The track was made on public roads near St.-Petersberg between Krasnoe Selo, Ligovo, Pulkovo and Alexandrovskaya. Circuit length has not been measured, but was stated to be 30,5 km. It was planned that a seven lap race should last about 4-5 hours. Every 1.5 verst a controller officer has been standing – an alternative to what we call a race marshall today.
21 cars attended the first circuit race. The starting list looked like this:

#1 – Muller (D?) Mercedes 4 cyl.
#2 – Slubsky (R) Excelsior 6 cyl.
#3 – Rychkov (R) Berliet 4 cyl. (the car was driven by two Rychkov’s drivers)
#4 – Oganesov (R) Bianchi 4 cyl.
#5 – Suvorin (R) Benz 29/60PS 4 cyl.
#6 – Ghisser (R) Benz 4 cyl.
#7 – Shishkin (R) Stoewer B4 19/45PS 4 cyl.
#8 – Nothombe (F) Metallurgique 27/80 4 cyl.
#9 – Ivanov (R) Russo-Baltique C24/58 4 cyl.
#10 – Birkigt (CH) Hispano-Suiza 4 cyl.
#11 – Rietti (I) Lancia 4 cyl.
#12 – Novikov (R) Vauxhall 4 cyl.
#13 – Effron (R) Vauxhall A 4 cyl.
#14 – Hollowell (GB) Vauxhall 4 cyl.
#15 – Jossa (?) Excelsior 4 cyl.
#16 – Ovsiannikoff (R) Vauxhall 4 cyl.
#17 – Pluim (R) Hupmobile R 32hp 4 cyl.
#18 – Duray (F) Metallurgique 15/20 4 cyl.
#19 – Donier (F) Opel 4 cyl.
#20 – Grebenschikoff (R) Hupmobile R 22hp 4 cyl.
#21 – Koliar (?) Wanderer 2 cyl.

Muller, Novikov and Jossa did not start, so only 18 entrants took start at 11.30 every minute. The novelty of this type of racing caused some funny situations. Thus, two Rychkov’s drivers stopped on a finish line after the very first lap, but fortunately remained in the race, thanks to controller officers and public. During a second lap of the race heavy rain has begun, which caused many problems to drivers on the smallest automobiles. Many drivers retired during the seven laps, others have had some problems. Within Krasnoe Selo it was decided to impose a 10-minute time neutralization to avoid speeding in a settlement. As any car arrived to Krasone Selo, controller officer gave the driver a switched on stopwatch. On the exit from Krasnoe Selo driver had to wait until 10 minutes pass and only then could continue the race. When Ivanov, who was among the leaders, arrived to the village, controller gave him a switched off stopwatch, which has been noticed only four or five minutes later, so the driver had to stop on the exit and wait until the stopwatch showed 10 minutes. Pissed off, he started to risk - set a best lap time twice, showed an average speed of 126,1 km/h on a wet road and drove to a second place, three minutes behind the winner – Suvorin. The same thing with timing happened to Effron and Shishkin.
Only 8 competitors finished that race. The results were following:

1. Suvorin (2:23.54,6)
2. Ivanov (+2.56,4)
3. Nothombe (+5.24,4)
4. Duray (+26.21,8)
5. Effron (+41.15,4)
6. Shishkin (+53.40,4)
7. Birkigt (+1:04.25,0)
8. Grebenschikoff (+1:27.47,2)
DNF Rychkov (7L)
DNF Oganesov (7L)
DNF Slubsky (5L)
DNF Ghisser (4L)
DNF Pluim (4L)
DNF Ovsiannikoff (3L)
DNF Donier (2L)
DNF Koliar (2L)
DNF Hollowell (1L)

Beside from common classification two more criteria have been imposed – average speed on each lap (won by Grebenschikoff, then Duray and Rietti) and engine, which was based on such indicators as car weight, average speed, number of cylinders, bore and stroke (won by Duray, then Ivanov and Nothombe).
In the end I’d like to say something about two cars competing in a SPAK International race which had a connection with Russian automotive industry. First of all, the winner’s car – Benz 29/60PS. This car had a Russian lightweight body installed on an original German chassis – it was a body made by either a St.-Petersberg Benz department or Russo-Baltique technical center in St.-Petersberg – historians mention both versions.
The second interesting car was a Russo-Baltique C24/58. It was nothing but a car which took part in Monte Carlo rally a year ago. It’s current owner, Ivan Ivanov, has modified an engine and replaced an old touring body with a new racing one, painted green, which was the reason why the car has been nicknamed Ogurets (‘cucumber’ in Russian). Driving the C24/58 Ivanov has set an absolute speed record for a Russian car on May 14, 1913 – 143,4 km/h on one verst distance, although it was significantly less than a new absolute Russian record set by Franz Hoerner in the same year on his mighty Benz – 202,1 km/h. His record remained unbeaten until 1952.

Pictures:

1. Track scheme (I have it only in this scale).
2. The winners - Suvorin and his Benz with a special body.
3. Arthur Duray (right) with his almost production Metallurgique.
4. Grebenschikoff and his Hupmobile.
5. Nothombe in a Metallurgique 27/80.
6. Ivanov's Russo-Baltique C24/58.