Accident Ends Webb Jay's Career

This is a nice collection of articles concerning Webb Jay's August 18, 1905 career ending accident at the Kennilworth track in Buffalo. The first is from The Automobile published August 24. It goes into great detail about the spectacular accident where Jay's "Whistling Billy" White Sewing Machine Company steam engine racer crashed through a wood fence and plunged into a pond created by excavation work to use earth to build up banking on the track's turns. This accident was the final straw for the press, which immediately called for a ban on track automobile racing. Motor Age also offered excellent coverage of Jay's accident and the events of the race meet. Barney Oldfield won the national championship race associated with the meet. Finally, there is a follow-up on Jay's recovery in an October issue of Motor Age. Jay, who suffered a severe concussion did recover, but never felt up to the risks of auto racing again.