The Lost Championship of 1905

Few people know it, but the first national championship awarded by a points system occurred in 1905. The AAA sanctioned a national championship for track racing and announced it in May. The prime contenders were Barney Oldfield, Louis Chevrolet and Webb Jay. The schedule included tracks at Empire City (New York), Charter Oak (Hartford, Connecticut), Brunots Island (Pennsylvania), Morris Park (New Jersey), Glenville (Ohio), Kennilworth (Buffalo, NY), Readville (Boston, MA), Providence (Rhode Island) and Poughkeepsie (New York). Oldfield, Jay and Winton Bullet II driver Earl Kiser were injured in spectacular accidents. Kiser and Jay were hurt badly enough that their careers were curtailed. Oldfield recovered to win the championship after Chevrolet inexplicably dropped out. The 1905 racing season provided one of the most interesting years of early American auto racing. Legendary names like Chevrolet and Oldfield played huge roles, the first points awarded championship played out and serious accidents to three of the sport's biggest stars threatened the cancellation of auto racing in general.

Empire City: Chevrolet vs. Oldfield

This clip from the June 29, 1905 edition of Motor Age has two articles, one on the announcement of the course for the upcoming Vanderbilt Cup Race and another on the AAA national championship meet at Empire City on June 26. The Empire City article gives special focus to a match race between Louis Chevrolet (Fiat) and Barney Oldfield (Peerless Green Dragon). It reflects the fondness American race fans had for Oldfield as it explains the 30 HP handicap he forfeited to Chevrolet's Fiat.
Racing Notes, June 1905

This content was originally published in the June 21, 1905 issue of Horseless Age. These are brief items on various happenings in auto racing and the automobile industry in general. Among the most imporant are:
 
Major Charles Miller

A peculiar figure in auto racing history, Major Charles Miller was a bit of a flash in the pan, his greatest single contribution was providing Louis Chevrolet with his first race driving opportunity at the Morris Park, New York race track in May 1905.
Oldfield Wins 1905 Championship!

This material has been prepared by First Super Speedway contributor and auto racing history researcher Ken Parrotte. It includes an article first published in the November 1, 1905 Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal.
Oldfield's Medal - 1905 Points Championship

Few people know it, but the first national championship awarded by a points system occurred in 1905. The American Automobile Association (AAA) sanctioned a national championship for track racing and announced it in May. The prime contenders were Barney Oldfield, Louis Chevrolet, and Webb Jay.