The 3rd Annual Race Of Gentlemen In Wildwood, NJ

"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst)
10/06/2014 at 15:39 • Filed to: Race of Gentlemen, Wildwood, CarCulture

The Oilers Car Club !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and made quick work of mayhem all over. It was 100% pure awesome in extremely high doses. The event is comprised of several days all put together, I was there Friday night, Saturday and left Sunday evening. While I missed being able to take pictures of some of these cars getting loaded onto their trailers, it was impressive nonetheless to see just how much goes into this event.

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Even Tom McParland was able to spot one of the masses of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , one parking lot at a time.

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Friday Night

We arrive to see Atlantic Ave blocked off by the Starlux Motel, with a ton of cars in the way. Now I've got to head over and look. There were tons of motorcyles, primarily Harley Davidsons, but a healthy mix of others as well. There was a gravel lot on the corner were drivers were talking to others, tending their cars and quickly wrapping them up in order to prevent them from getting soaked by the rain storm early Saturday morning.

There were cars and bikes, many of which were part of the races, but with probably an equal number there just for show. Totally worth not getting to bed anywhere near when I wanted to. The level of detail in many of these cars is incredible, especially considering that many of them get raced. These are not garage or trailer queened cars by any stretch of the imagination. They get trailered to Wildwood from all over the country to get raced and whipped around on the sand.

Many of the cars were either old Four Bangers or Flat Head V8 motors, with a couple straight sixes in the mix. There was no room for kit cars with this crowd. I'm sure they're appreciated for what they are, but these cars are all the real deal. Keeping true to the idea that keeping them on the road will keep them running.

Saturday Afternoon

Lacking a day pass tried my luck with going around to the end of their 1/8 mile drag strip to see what was going on. Unfortunately high tide was rolling in at the same time so I missed any racing, but luckily was let into the pit area to walk around and take pictures of the cars and watch some of them do donuts in the sand.

These are some of the most amazing cars. The Race of Gentlemen is an amazing thing in and of itself. They take cars that many people would be scared to drive, and they whip them around, get them filthy, and do it again, for a whole weekend. Many, if not all of the cars do actually get trailered into Wildwood, but once they're down there, for the length of time they stay, those cars are the kings. They get driven around, do burnouts, and cause mayhem, just as they should. They have fun, and that's exactly what car culture is about.

Several high profile magazines had come by, most notably was Hemmings and Hot Rod. I wasn't able to tell whether the cars were officially entered by the magazines, but the teams were very active with very interesting cars in the mix. It brings everyone back, and deep into the feeling of what these cars are all about.

This Chevy is among my favorites, simply because they're so uncommon. It was powered by a straight 6, and was one of the fastest cars on the sand. I didn't really take much of a look at the brackets and progress, but from seeing how well this car did on the sand during the races, it must have done well.

Sunday Morning

I finally got to buying a day pass which let me wander just about anywhere along the race as long as I didn't go to the other side of their fence. Walking back and forth the make shift drag strip is quite the workout, but incredibly rewarding when you consider what's going on just feet away from you.

The races are held at the edge of the water, with just a tide pool or two separating the cars from the ocean. The sand is pretty hard, and the cars do amazingly well. Last year there were a couple cars running pretty aggressive treads, but this year, it looked like everyone was sitting on street tires. How do they go on the sand so well? They turned up the fun to 11.

Up on the car is Mel. He's a huge part of this event. He's ridiculously funny, and a great guy all around. Nothing really goes on without him being involved, an awesome thing, considering how much has to go into organizing something like this.

Here's Mel riding down to the end of the strip to tell some beach goers that they need to clear the area, because they were right were many of the cars and motorcycles were doing their U-Turns to head back.

The above car was brought along by Hemmings, supported by a similar vintage wrecking truck.

With plenty of friendly competition between the drivers, the driver of the 117 car had exited the pits as I was walking along the road between the pits and the staging lanes. I overheard him yelling out to a couple of other people that another driver hadn't been beat yet, and he was going to head out to change that.

Most of the races were pretty close coming across the finish as long as everything went okay. That I know of, there were no accidents during the races, and things were really tame for such a big event this late in the season.

This was probably the closest race I saw all Sunday. Most people around me didn't even know how to call it, but luckily, I snapped the shot, and it was 232B by a wheel.

Over at the starting line, they were digging in a bit towards the end of the day, but it was still awesome. Some of these cars were close to their stock form, and some were hot rodded so far, you're left scratching your head wondering how they came up with it. Of all the cars, #117 is probably one of the most unique setups that was being driven all weekend.

Several members of The Oilers could be seen wearing a number of different styled shirts and jackets from throughout the history of their club.

This Chevy was driven by someone sporting a Hot Rod Hill Climb shirt and hat.

I'll keep adding photos to this flickr album as I get through them, and any more gifs will be added to the post directly.

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Most of the photos are wallpaper sized, so enjoy them in your rotations!

DISCUSSION (29)

505Turbeaux > JGrabowMSt
10/06/2014 at 15:44

awesome

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > JGrabowMSt
10/06/2014 at 15:45

This should go on the FP, great post and great pictures. Looks like a bunch of fun, I remember seeing the Hot Rod story about this event last year- I liked your coverage better.

JGrabowMSt > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
10/06/2014 at 15:52

I've hardly touched the surface of the pictures, but I figured I'd show you guys the choice photos first. Hopefully someone on the FP will click the share button!

The event actually goes from like, wednesday/thursday night through sunday, but neither I or my girlfriend could get that much time off work.

Having gone two years in a row, I fully anticipate making sure I go every year now. It's held the same weekend as the Wildwood Seafood Festival, so I have plenty of reason to go down, as my girlfriends parents go down for that every year (though they cancelled this year, despite only seeing rain early in the morning).

505Turbeaux > JGrabowMSt
10/06/2014 at 17:13

I shared it out to oppoblog, maybe that will distance it. 48 views? Fuck that shit. This is too good a post.

JGrabowMSt > 505Turbeaux
10/06/2014 at 17:17

Yeah, I dunno, mercury is in retrograde, so shit's screwy all over. I'll bump it in the morning maybe, I think the night crew will still find it.

It also gives me a chance to get the flickr album together after pulling my valve cover after work.

I'm so scared the motor in the HEMI Wagon is toast...my budget for exhaust, coilovers and a wavetrac is gone. I'll be lucky to get it running by the end of the week again.

505Turbeaux > JGrabowMSt
10/06/2014 at 17:20

I need to be introduced to what this hemi wagon is...cannot believe it doesnt ring a bell

JGrabowMSt > 505Turbeaux
10/06/2014 at 17:25

http://kinja.com/tag/hemi-wagon

Tom McParland > JGrabowMSt
10/06/2014 at 22:21

excellent photos...great write-up! It was great meeting you.

Tom McParland > JGrabowMSt
10/06/2014 at 22:28

just a tip make a unique post just talking about the race/event or move the personal/Magnum stuff to a different post. And make one of those really dynamic photos your lead image. Try those changes drop me a line, and I'll personally put a word in with the big shots.

JGrabowMSt > Tom McParland
10/06/2014 at 22:31

Will do! Thanks!

quarterlifecrisis > JGrabowMSt
10/07/2014 at 08:20

I'd just heard about this the other day, a friend went to check it out. Seems way cool.

Great shots as well!

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > JGrabowMSt
10/07/2014 at 13:00

What Tom said. This is worth a serious write up. This is good stuff my dude. I would personally love to know more about it. keith.motorhead-at-gmail.com

JGrabowMSt > Tom McParland
10/07/2014 at 16:01

I've gotten things a lot neater, but I'm having a kinja moment with the flickr embed...partly because I'm distracted at work...

For Sweden > JGrabowMSt
10/07/2014 at 16:41

Stef just shared this Oppo post to Oppo. #oppoception

Stef Schrader > For Sweden
10/07/2014 at 16:42

Kinja'd. Fixed now.

(Seriously, nice work on the pics.)

Tom McParland > JGrabowMSt
10/07/2014 at 18:01

It looks great..Stef just shared it to BlackFlag our new motorsports sub-blog and we will try to find a way to get it FP'd tonight or tomorrow.

texas-geek > JGrabowMSt
10/07/2014 at 18:04

Wow, great documentation of the weekend, thanks for posting it up!!

C-5M Load Smasher > JGrabowMSt
10/08/2014 at 11:00

I live an hour from Wildwood and I missed this. DAMNIT!!!!!!!

JGrabowMSt > C-5M Load Smasher
10/08/2014 at 11:06

No way, what town? I come down from Morris County to see this. First year was Asbury Park, but I guess they weren't a big fan, or Wildwood was a better location. Regardless, I now make a point of making sure I can go to this event.

I don't have the money for one just yet, but one of these years, we should create vintage style Oppo team jumpers and shirts, and get a vintage car to race in this. Has to be original though, no Factory Five 33 Hot Rod. Flat head V8 or vintage 4 banger, it doesn't matter. We need this to be a thing.

C-5M Load Smasher > JGrabowMSt
10/08/2014 at 11:09

I live in Marlton. I've been accumulating parts for years. I have a flathead that needs rebuilt, no body, but I have a good solid frame with all the underpinnings. Just don't have the dough to spend on a clean body, or re-pop. :(

JGrabowMSt > C-5M Load Smasher
10/08/2014 at 11:11

Clean body? Dude, look at these cars.

Kinja'd!!!

It just needs to hold itself together for 1/8 mile at a time.

C-5M Load Smasher > JGrabowMSt
10/08/2014 at 11:12

Okay I would want do more than just race mine. I want to be able to drive it to events and to work, 28mi from my house.

JGrabowMSt > C-5M Load Smasher
10/08/2014 at 11:16

haha, well, better take a road trip with a trailer across the country, and just just bring a shovel and a winch. There are plenty of old bodies off Route 66 and other highways just begging to be pulled out of the ground. There's a 5 window sedan my dad got a picture of earlier this summer. Anything Pre-1946 is kosher for the races, as far as I know.

This isn't it, but the body looks like this:

Kinja'd!!!

C-5M Load Smasher > JGrabowMSt
10/08/2014 at 11:18

My frame is from a 34' roadster as far as I know. I wanna stick with that vintage vibe. It's currently laying on it's side in my storage unit. Sadness

JGrabowMSt > C-5M Load Smasher
10/08/2014 at 11:46

If I find or see a body for sale for a reasonable chunk of change, if I can buy it on the spot, you'll be the first to know.

C-5M Load Smasher > JGrabowMSt
10/08/2014 at 12:18

Sounds good. My budget at the moment is going to putting a better radio in my truck and track prepping my motorcycle. I got bumped into Advanced last track day and I have to safety wire and get full race fairings. Problem with going fast is it costs more money!

BeaterGT > C-5M Load Smasher
10/06/2015 at 17:13

Woah I live in Marlton too!

TheStraightSixKid > JGrabowMSt
10/07/2015 at 02:00

I wish they would allow up to 1964. ;(

C-5M Load Smasher > BeaterGT
10/07/2015 at 14:34

I’m in Mt Laurel now, still really close though.