Vintage Harleys Invade Beach for Race of Gentlemen
Present day Wilwood, New Jersey, felt and looked a lot like the 1940s when the Oilers Car and Motorcycle Club came to town.
If you’re a fan of 1940s hot rod and vintage car/motorcycle culture, you have to attend The Race of Gentlemen. And even if you don’t walk around in a white t-shirt with slicked back hair all the time, you’ll appreciate the premise of the event, which is simply to celebrate our American racing heritage. Oh, and you get to check out lots of awesome vintage Harleys too.
This year’s event drew, as usual, scores of folks to the beaches of Wilwood, New Jersey, on June 9-11, not to mention scores of vintage cars and motorcycles. And they all spent three days competing against each other in various races on the sand. There were even more vehicles set up for display in the surrounding area.
The shindig was once again hosted by the Oilers Car and Motorcycle Club, an avid group of hot rodders that first came together back in 1947. Those folks have roots that go all the way back to the birth of drag racing and the NHRA. Today, members keep that legacy alive with vintage races and unforgettable events.
For those that want to participate in one of The Race of Gentlemen events, requirements are fairly simple. TROG requires rides to be “period correct.” That theme carries over to everything present at the event – banners, signing, and all must emulate late 40’s to early 50’s beach racing. For motorcycles, that means they must be bobbed and stripped down for racing. No headlights or full fenders. And for Harleys, mostly pre-1947 models with few exceptions.
If that sounds like your kind of shindig, TROG has another event coming up at an undetermined date in Pismo. Follow the Oilers on Facebook for updates, and get your hair grease ready!
