Russian motorsport history

[faksta]

Year 1905 began with revolutionary events in Russia, including the Bloody Sunday, when a 100000 crowd has been shot in St.-Petersberg. Nevertheless, St.-Petersberg Automobile-Club (SPAK) decided to organize some races in 1905.
On July, 30 Volhonskoe road greeted the participants of one verst record runs near St.-Petersberg, won by Paul Beljaeff on Richard-Brasier 16hp (1m07,5s at 56,896kmh). Donnier on his motorcycle completed a verst in 44 seconds (at more then 83 versts per hour).
The next race, also at Volhonka, was a fifth verst race. This time cars were divided in categories and Constantine Kapoustine on 12hp Richard-Brasier ran at 57,7 kmh. Motorcycle class winner was Sergei Koribut-Kubitovich on 3hp Minerva (69,8 kmh).
In August, 28 the last event took place – Beljaeff Cup. Remember, Paul Beljaeff was a winner of first Russian race in 1898. In 1902 he was one of the founders of St.-Petersberg Automobile-Club, in 1903 he was among the RAO establishers, and since 1904 he was a chairman of racing commission within RAO. The 1905 Beljaeff Cup was won by Constantine Kapoustine on Richard-Brasier 12hp, who finished a 39-verst race (Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna) in 49m07s at 50,824kmh.

[IRAO]

Evgeniy Kuzmin = Eugen Kousmine

Last time I have wroten new artikel - under others russian race-driver Alexander Vetchinine, he drive anno 1908 drive by GP de l'ACF as Sergey Dimitriewich. (Grand Prix de L’ACF, Dieppe 1908. L'Equipe «Renault».
N° 4 Ferenc Szisz, N° 21 Gustave Caillois, N° 37 Sergey Dimitriewich)

[IRAO]

My next report will under Alexander Mordwinoff, also great russian driver.

[dilettante]

Hi everyone!

(...) russian race-driver Alexander Vetchinine, he drive anno 1908 drive by GP de l'ACF as Sergey Dimitriewich. (...)

You mean that it's the same guy?... That could explain why the GP de l'A.C.F. was the only race "Dimitriewich" run.
Is it the same Vetchinine that run the St.Petersburg-Moscow race the same year?

@ "faksta": Thanks for the last two episodes of the Russian racing history.
(wrote Gobron-Brillié, Gustave Gobron and Eugène Brillié)

[faksta]

Thanks for the corrections

[Ferrer]

Thanks for the corrections

When will you continue?

[faksta]

When will you continue?

Won't promise anything, but will try tomorrow

[Revo]

Won't promise anything, but will try tomorrow

You can't continue at this rate, it will take something like 20 years before you'll finish.

[faksta]

You can't continue at this rate, it will take something like 20 years before you'll finish.

I thought about it That's why I've shortened the last two posts Soviet period will be shorter, I believe - there's not so much info about it.

[IRAO]

Hi everyone!

You mean that it's the same guy?... That could explain why the GP de l'A.C.F. was the only race "Dimitriewich" run.
Is it the same Vetchinine that run the St.Petersburg-Moscow race the same year?

@ "faksta": Thanks for the last two episodes of the Russian racing history.
(wrote Gobron-Brillié, Gustave Gobron and Eugène Brillié)

Yes! Hes rigth name was Alexander Alexandrowitch Vetchinine, he drive in race SPb-Moskau 1908 on a "Brasier 120HP". No finish, technical problem. In «Circuit Dieppe», 1908 hes foul name was Sergey Dimitriewich!

May 1909 in Wolchonka he was 2nd (1st A. Mordwinoff)
Juni 1809 for beginning 1-werst race near Moscow A. Vetchinine with was dead in training

first picture - Vetchinine sur Brasier in SPb (Wolchonka) 1909.
second picture - Vetchinine (under name S. Dimitrievitch) in Dieppe. 1908

[IRAO]

Benz 82/200 PS in IV International Automobil Exhibition in St- Petersburg.
On this car have maked german driver Franz Hörner anno 1913 in SPb european and russian speed-record 202 km/h

[dilettante]

Thanks "Irao" for informations and pictures.

[faksta]

OK, guys, sorry for such a long pause, here's the next part.

Year by year it seemed Russian motorsport was slowly dying out. Year 1906 didn’t change the situation – only two races couldn’t state the renaissance of motor racing. Even more upsetting it was having in mind that in June, 1906 in France the first ever Grand Prix event took place – Grand Prix de l’Automobile Club de France. Russian clubs kept silence…
The first race in 1906 was organized by Avtomobil magazine, the founder of which, Andrei Nagel, was a huge fan of motor racing. Maybe the authority of the magazine wasn’t yet so high or the odds didn’t favor the Russian motorsport, but only two drivers on cars attended the race on July, 15 – both Bruno Fahrig and Lyzhin entered their own Brasier motors. The outcome of the race was very simple – Lyzhin’s mechanic forgot to fill the tank with fuel, so Fahrig drove his Brasier 15/24CV to the finish and won showing the time of 1 hour 36 minutes and 26 seconds at 100-verst distance. Interesting that both teams had drivers’ wives as mechanics, and after the race both ladies were favoured with memorable presents.
The same year, on August, 28 the second Beljaeff Cup took place. The distance of 39 versts (Strelna – Alexandrovskaya – Strelna) was completed the best by Constantine Kapoustine on 12hp Georges Richard – 49 minutes, 9 seconds.

Pictures:
1. Fahrig's Brasier 15/24CV with his family.
2. Lyzhin's (seemingly left) and Fahrig's (right) cars before the trip to Saint-Petersberg for Avtomobil magazine race.
Both pictures are taken from the article about Bruno Fahrig and, I guess, should belong to our IRAO member. Thus, the question to IRAO: can I use the pictures here?

Note: Some sources state that Lyzhin drove a 16hp Decauville car.

[faksta]

In 1906 French newspaper, L’Auto, wrote to Avtomobil magazine with a proposal to organize the first automotive exhibition in Russia. But since the magazines couldn’t arrange for the event themselves, they’ve involved RAO. In May, 1907 the exhibition in St.-Petersberg opened its doors for public. France, which considered Russian market a great piece of cake, presented 30 makes. To compare, their biggest rival on Russian automotive market – Germany – showed only 13 manufacturers. Among the others, some domestic companies showed their production – Lessner, Frese and Treugolnik (‘Triangle’). The latter has produced automotive tyres. After the exhibition was closed, the race from Moscow to St.-Petersberg have started…
That race, first international motorsport event in Russia for a long, long time had a great success, thanks to protection of count Sergei Mihailovich. Yet before the exhibition the run for cheap cars between Paris and St.-Petersberg was dropped. Russian equipage - Albert Efron and Eugen Kousmine – completed a 3200km distance in 73 hours. That race from France to Russia had a great influence on a further success of the first Moscow-St.-Petersberg international race, too. On May, 25 old style (June, 7) 26 drivers on cars and motorcycles were ready to start in Moscow. That day first works drivers arrived to compete in Russia – ‘Landon’ for Mors, driving a Mors 45hp with starting #5, Champoiseaux (#7) for Charron with Fernand Charron himself as a mechanic on a 30hp Charron Lim car and Arthur Duray for Lorraine-Dietrich driving a 60hp car (#6).
The cars were divided into three categories – the first category contained motors with more than 24hp, the second – less than 24hp and finally the last category, ‘Tourist’, was running out of classification and had 4 drivers registered – Zhemlichka, Grachev, Leschinskiy and Schlicht, all from Russia.
In a first category, besides three works drivers from France, three Russian and one more French teams were taking start – two Mercedes’es were entered by Riabushinskie brothers – rich entrepreneurs from Moscow, Provodnik tyre company was present by Bergman on 60hp Fiat, and French Francois Donnier arrived on a Brasier. The second category was also rather filled and contained six competitors: Alexander Fokin with his driver Slubskiy on a 16hp Fiat (#29), Bruno Fahrig (drove his Brasier, I suppose), Andrei Nagel and three other drivers.
In 2.10 at night the first driver started – Jurgens on Wanderer motorcycle. Since every 2 minutes the others went to the distance, except for Bergman, who finally refused to race.
645 versts in general (688 kilometers), with time neutralization in some major cities, were done in 9 hours 22 minutes… When the visitors came to finish in St.-Petersberg, it appeared that the winner has already finished. It was Duray, who showed an average speed of 73.461 km/h. ‘The road? Yes, it’s not bad. Though, I’ve been driving slowly.’ The second finisher, Champoiseaux, was 2 hours and 44 minutes slower… And the third, before the last works driver, Landon on Mors, arrived the Russian equipage on Fiat from second category – Fokin-Slubskiy (4h32m after Duray). The only finished motorcycle was driven by Jurgens and didn’t complete the distance in 24 hours, so it wasn’t classified.
After this race the III Beljaeff cup, happened in September, where again only two cars took the start, seemed to be a complete failure. Kapoustine on Renault finished first on the same distance as for the previous year.

Picture: Fokin-Slubskiy on their Fiat 16hp.

[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.