Drag Racing Action Online

Photos and story by John McCartney

When one drives over the bridge and you see the sign that says welcome to Wildwood New Jersey one thing is for sure. It is time to take a trip in the way back machine and enter a historic town along the Jersey Shore. However, if you are a lover of pre war hot rods and motorcycle it means so much more. For those fans they know they will be in store for a great weekend of racing on the famed Wildwood beaches.

Racers prepare to race down the beaches with the Atlantic Ocean on their left side and wall of racing fans on their right. All this just a stone’s throw from the historic boardwalk with all the great rides and arcades all which make for the perfect backdrop. For this is The Race of Gentlemen an event which has found its home along the Jersey Shore for well over 13 years. Mel Stutz and his staff work hard to put on the best racing event that can be seen anywhere around the world. No where can you see a bigger, better group of pre war hot rods and motorcycles racing on a beach. Racers and fans come from all over the world to check out the action of The Race of Gentlemen simply know as TROG.

From the TV show American Pickers were represented by Robbie Wolfe behind the wheel of the number 22 hot rod. 

The action all gets underway on Thursday and Friday with a swap meet right across from the Jersey Girl restaurant and The Palms the host hotel of the event. Folks come out on Thursday to see what cool treasures they might find in the swap meet. This treasure hunt continues as the swap meet moves into day two on Friday. However it is on Friday when the streets all around the Jersey Girl and The Palms fill up with all sorts of hot rods, customs, muscle cars, choppers and vintage motorcycles.

The streets of Wildwood are filled with all sorts of cars during the running of the Race of Gentlemen. Some which included cool hot rods of all styles along with kinds of gassers as well

The swap meet is held right in an area which houses all the cars and motorcycles that will take part in the running of the event. A new part of Friday this year found the Customs by the Sea fill up the Morey’s Pier parking lot with all types of great rides for folks to check out and enjoy. All day cars would come in and out which included so many customs and off course cool surf wagons. Friday night concluded with the annual Night of Troglodytes which once again was held in now it’s permeant home at the Lazy Bass Bayside Bar & Grill located a few minutes away in North Wildwood. For here all sorts of wild choppers were on display along with many other old time Harley’s. This is a event all fans make a point to attend to further kick off their racing weekend.

English Rich of the Dead Man’s Curve Car Club had his 33 on display as part of the Customs by the Sea

When Saturday rolls around all the attention turns to the Wildwood beaches as the racers drive their cars and bikes up to the sand. Once on the beach racers take turns racing side by side to see how they stack up against everyone else. There are no time slips handed out it is mostly the chance to have fun with their fellow racers. Women and men of all ages do that seeing how their creations do. This year the tide gods granted everyone a full day of racing as high tide was early and late in the day allowing the Atlantic Ocean to stay in the ocean and not much on the race course.

Sunday marks the race day where everyone is paired into several brackets and classes to allow everyone to race against similar powered cars. Great side by side racing took place throughout the day. All the racing action are flag started by a trio of lovely ladies who jump high in the air getting each and every race underway with the wave of a checked flag. Once again even more of a throwback to the early days of drag racing and hot rodding.

Then the day ended with many happy winners taking home the wins in all the hot rod and motorcycle classes. However in the end it is not all about the wins or loses it is having a great weekend racing on the beaches in the warm sunny New Jersey skies. Once again make plans to travel to Wildwood, New Jersey the first week of October 2026 to check out The Race of Gentlemen as it will once again to do battle on the sandy beaches you will have the time of your life for sure at this one of a kind event.

Sometimes the racers win but when the ocean says racing action it is over the ocean has the strongest horsepower

Who had the baddest bike at the Race of Gentlemen it may have well been Craig Roberts no doubt enjoyed playing the fast cat wearing his trademark black cowboy hat

This wild dragster out of the Hondo’s Garage is one wild creation and really moves down the beach

Once again The Night of Trogydtes served as a kick off party at the Lazy Bass Bayside Bar & Grill. This year’s edition featured wild bikes and folks dressed in that 70’s vibe a great way to get everything underway. 

Race of Gentlemen founder Mel Stutz checks out the racing action on the Wildwood, New Jersey beaches.