Story and Photos John McCartney

All year the seaside town of Wildwood, New Jersey is filled with folks looking to spend a nice easy day on the beaches and boardwalks of this iconic town.

However one weekend a year that easy lifestyle is replaced with the speed and pace of all that take part in The Race of Gentlemen. For over ten years all sorts of cool pre war hot rods and motorcycles come to town to race on the beach just a stone throw aways from the rides, games and stores that can be found lining the Wildwood boardwalk.

 

Racing on the beach with the ocean waves behind all of the action makes for a postcard picture look and feel. This whole concept came from the mind of Mel Stultz. Stultz felt that having cars and bikes racing on the beach complete with girls flag starting each and every pair makes this event one real cool deal 

 

Racers come from all over the world to take part in this one of kind event. These very racers spend all year long building cars and motorcycles to see who has the baddest and quickest ride on the sandy beach. All of the cars and bikes that take place in the event are of the pre war eras and the drivers wear retro looking t-shirts, jackets, helmets, which completes the feel and vibe.

 

The entire weekend gets going with a swap meet which welcomes all to town. All of this takes place over the three days leading up to race day on the beach. The Palms hotel serves as the host hotel for the event and right across the street can be found the swap meet.

 

Along with the swap meet all of the cars and bikes that are entered in the event are on display. In addition to all of the race cars the streets and parking lots around the area are filled with all sorts of cool hot rods, customs, along with many other cool rides.

In addition a giant chopper show takes place at The Lazy Bass bar. This event drew all sorts of crazy choppers for folks to check out. Fans come down on Friday to have fun checking out all of the cars before everything gets moved to the beach for all of the racing action on Saturday and Sunday.

The racing got underway on the beach once the high tide went out allowing all of the racers to take over sandy track and get going with side by side racing.

Racers lined up all day long to take their shot at the track and just have fun seeing what their cars and bikes can do. In addition to all of the racing action on the beaches, fans could check out a great car show which took place on the boardwalk.

This car show was put together with help from Rob Ida of Ida Automotive fame. All sorts of cars could be found on display with this year featuring a great selection of Woody Wagons. Perhaps nothing says summer and hitting the beaches then a great collection of vintage Woody Wagons. All of these rides complete with surf boards, vintage surfing decals and that classic wood grain look and feel.

If you have had the chance to check out The Race of Gentlemen in the past you know what takes place on the beaches of Wildwood, New Jersey. You say you never got to see this unique event up close and in person you are missing out.

For there is nothing cooler than great hot rods and motorcycles racing up and down the beach. It is the sounds of the cars and the ocean waves along with the lovely trio of flag girls that start each and every pair of cars and bikes that roar down the sandy beach. So take time to check out The Race of Gentlemen when they race onto the beach near you, you will be in for a real great time.

For More of John’s Images from this great event, go to: