The Race of Gentlemen

June 2018 | Wildwood, NJ

By Kimberly Maroon

At 2018 and 7 years strong The Race of Gentlemen has become a household name, a right of passage for hotrod and vintage bike enthusiasts. The beach drag race has gotten bigger and better with each year drawing thrill seekers from all over the country and abroad to be part of the action. From days on the boardwalk as a kid filled with rides and games to watching Model Ts and ratty motorcycles race around on the sand, Wildwood has taken on an entirely new meaning. Today, I welcome the latter as it blends the spirit of wild youth with a grown up appreciation for the heritage of American racing and the days of self-made machines.

Metal and brawn perched in the sand beside the Atlantic, the smell of gasoline on a sea breeze, and the rumble of engines over amusement park rides keeps me coming back.

The People Behind the Machines

Beyond the engines and wheels at TROG is a cast of characters with a passion for all things classic and a willingness to embrace anyone curious.

You will find they are driven by both the thrill of speed and bringing American beach racing history to life. Old machines are more like people than pieces of metal, mechanics, and parts. They have character, a past filled with stories, and their keepers are part of their life journey pushing limits together.

First timer, Shaina Pugner with her Ford Model T built by hand by her fiance Steve Pugner.

Jen Sheets, Sheets Racing. Her husband Jason raced her Harley this year.

Dave Bocchiaro with his rare Harley race bike

A Racing Family

Lisa + Eli English | Traditional Speed + Custom of Pittsfield, NH

Lisa and Eli English of Traditional Speed & Custom in New Hampshire have been making the haul to Wildwood for almost as long as the Race of Gentlemen has existed. This year was particularly exciting as Eli brought his latest Survivor Car, a 1932 Ford Coupe, the first time in 50 years the Coupe is running on its own. Over the winter I visited the shop and documented part of the build process. Seeing the coupe brought back to life was incredible*. The process was filled with trial and error, getting creative with parts, making things by hand, and incorporating pieces saved over the years.

Discovering the coupe's early days as a drag racer in Connecticut, Eli knew it was meant for speed. He made it a personal goal to hustle to finish the restoration in time for TROG. Left in a storage locker in 1968 and revived at Eli's shop, the coupe was one of the standouts on Wildwood's streets and sand.

As with tradition, Eli and Lisa race each other on the first run of the day. Lisa is always tough to beat in her V8 roadster. I guess you could say Eli got lucky that Lisa hit a soft patch of sand right as she was about to gun it for the finish.

*Stayed tuned for a closer look inside the build.

Waiting in the Lineup

Racers anxiously await their chance for a run down the beach track.

Cars and bikes scramble to get into position approaching the starting line. One side of the grid a mix of rat rods, Model T's, roadsters and coupes, the other a mob of ratty motorcycles, the long standing rivalry between Indians and Harleys in the air. However, it is less about the machines and more about brotherhood, camaraderie, and the spirit of friendly competition. I watch racers sit quietly or roam the lineup to exchange stories and laughs with old friends.

I felt lucky to be invited into conversations within such a tight knit group. I forget that it is rare to see a woman climbing into a pack of motorcycles breathing hot air and heavy exhaust. My grey mechanic suit worked in my favor making it easier for me to introduce myself.