The Race of Gentlemen 2018: A weekend of vintage racing on the beach

In June of this year I had the opportunity to travel back in time and witness a weekend of racing on the beach in Wildwood New Jersey at The Race of Gentlemen (and women) otherwise known as TROG.

From June 8th to the 10th, the streets and beaches at Wildwood, New Jersey are filled with the sounds of Hot Rods and vintage motorcycles (mostly American with a sprinkling of British here and there).

TROG harkens back to the early days of racing before racing became a big money affair with sponsors, crews and R&D budgets, to where it started; with drivers pitting their personally modified cars against others just to see who had the fastest machine.

Burning Man for wrenchers and vintage car and motorcycle kooks

During the races, period correct cars and motorcycles compete for glory in what can only be described as the most interesting history lesson I have ever had, while at the same time serving as an unforgettable automotive carnival weekend - a sort of Burning Man for wrenchers and vintage car and motorcycle kooks. To qualify, cars must have been produced before 1935 and cannot include any parts made after 1953, while motorcycles must predate 1947 and have a tank shifter and period correct motors, wheels and accessories. All contestants wear period clothing, while the staging boss wears a tuxedo and top hat.

The weekend's events

The weekend did not disappoint and for most of if I felt like a kid in a candy store. The festivities started out on Friday afternoon in front of the Starlight Motel in Wildwood where the cars and bikes that would be racing “checked in” and had their machines inspected to verify that they qualified .

Friday night - or the more aptly named “Night of the Troglodytes” - included a Chopper party with live music and motorcycles and custom choppers galore on the grounds of the Binns Motor Inn. I did manage to attend the party for a bit at the end of the evening, I must confess that I missed most of the action as I arrived “late to the party”. Suffice to say that it looked like a good time was had by all.

Saturday was the main attraction in which the racers, paired off in informal “grudge matches”, line up two-by-two and their turn to go head-to-head on the one-eighth-mile long beach track. Winners earn bragging rights; losers are reassured that that they get back in line and race another racer. The day was filled with smiles and light hearted camaraderie.

Sunday was more formal with bracket races for the winning title.

The Racing and the Flag Girl!

On Saturday and Sunday, all eyes are on the flag girl, Sara Francello, (as much as they are on the bikes and cars), barefooted in the sand with blonde hair wearing white Harley-Davidson service hot pants overalls, she's star in her own right, waving the checkered flag in her hand to signal the start of the race. The engines roar as the tension on the beach rises. Then the flag girl jumps a good two feet into the air, and with incredible energy, lowers the flag and the cars and bikes are off! It’s an amazing spectacle and it didn’t get old for the full two days.

I will definitely be back next year and am already scheming to build a Harley racer for future years.