The history of Russian motorsport is full of unknown pages, although some names of drivers have still remained in memory. One of the most famous was Alexander Alexandrovich Vetchinin, whose fame spread even beyond the borders of Russia. He started as an amateur, but gradually improved his skills and by 1908 became a multiple winner of various competitions. Vetchinin owned the fastest car in Russia at that time, a Brazier with 120 horsepower, which gave him a significant advantage over his rivals. However, he also faced setbacks: during the St. Petersburg-Moscow rally, he withdrew from the race due to a breakdown.

Despite this, Vetchinin was invited to the Renault team in France. In July 1908, major automobile competitions under the new "Formula" rules were held near Dieppe on a circuit track, where the best drivers, including representatives from Renault, gathered. They were to cover a distance of 76 kilometers. Vetchinin confidently held his place among the top five, but on the second-to-last lap, he began to lose positions and finished eighth. The victory went to a German driver from the Mercedes team. Nevertheless, in the Russian Empire, Vetchinin's result was perceived as a true success.

Later, Alexander Alexandrovich participated in the "Speed Cup" races, repeatedly becoming a prizewinner and setting several records. For example, on the Volkhov highway, he accelerated to 127 km/h. In June 1909, he planned to participate in the Moscow Distance Races, but it was there that his life tragically came to an end. Eyewitnesses described how he sped past spectators at around 130 versts per hour, not noticing the turn onto the bridge. The car crashed into a column, broke apart, and fell into the river. This became the first tragedy in the history of Russian motorsport. Alexander Vetchinin was only 26 years old.