The Race of Gentlemen (photodump)

"BeaterGT" (beatergt) 10/15/2020 at 21:37 • Filed to: Simpler Times

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In Wildwood, NJ there is a weekend event that takes place in early fall called The Race of Gentlemen. The race itself takes place on the beach, with vintage motorcycles and cars made from airplane parts. At first, it’s strange to think race conditions improve when the tide goes out but that’s just how things work out when racing next to the Atlantic Ocean.

There is a car/bike show portion of the event which is also a treat. People travel from all over, even overseas, to check it out. Many dress up and immerse themselves in the early years of automotives. For me, it was refreshing going to a car event where everyone isn’t crowding around the hottest new supercar in attendance.

If anyone can recommend an easy way to share clips on here, I might upload some of the videos. Otherwise, here is a photo dump from when I attended in 2019. All photos taken with Pixel 3, hope you enjoy.

And a friendly reminder to...

ranwhenparked > BeaterGT 10/15/2020 at 21:48

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An old friend of mine from Pennsylvania goes every year, I’ve never been, but it seems like the sort of car event I can get behind. No riced out Subarus street racing illegally, AND no old men sitting in lawn chairs next to their C4 Corvettes endlessly reciting the build sheet and model year production statistics from memory.

Kiltedpadre > BeaterGT 10/15/2020 at 21:49

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This is an event I need to see; tons of cool stuff.

Suddenly a wild King Midget appears.

BeaterGT > Kiltedpadre 10/15/2020 at 22:31

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Probably could have fit two in that parking spot!

Jim Spanfeller > BeaterGT 10/15/2020 at 23:04

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This is definitely a cool event, I first learned about it from my Hagerty magazine and I hope to attend someday. Preferably, with a twin-engined model T I can race with.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > BeaterGT 10/15/2020 at 23:07

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Tell me more about the cars made from airplane bits. Is it mostly race cars made from old drop tanks?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > BeaterGT 10/15/2020 at 23:16

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That looks like an absolutely incredible experience. Such wonderful rides turned up. And a whole lot of really sketchy roll bars and questionable safety equipment. It really feels like you've gone back in time 70 years or more. 

I had to double check that was 2019 though with all the blissful uncovered faces present. 

BeaterGT > BaconSandwich is tasty. 10/16/2020 at 00:14

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Here ya go, this article can explain it much better than me.

http://www.roadkill.com/whats-a-belly-tanker/

BeaterGT > Jim Spanfeller 10/16/2020 at 00:15

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You’d fit right in! There was all sorts of wild stuff there.

BeaterGT > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/16/2020 at 00:17

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Sketchy doesn’t even begin to describe it. Early motorcycles are hand- shifted which means these guys were racing on the sand with one hand on the bars.  You couldn’t pay me to do that.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > BeaterGT 10/16/2020 at 00:35

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Yeah I'll pass on that one. 

Jim Spanfeller > BeaterGT 10/16/2020 at 01:38

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I very much appreciate that yellow mid-engine Model T where the driver sits mostly under the hood... My own plan for a TRoG car involves a ~1927 Ford Model T roadster body with one Flathead V8 in the front where you would expect an engine to go, and a second engine where the driver and passenger seats would normally be. Then I would relocate the controls to the back and drive from the rumble seat!

Ideally, The steering wheel should be removable so I can still close the rumble seat cover and confuse everyone who sees it parked at a car show :P For cooling, I’d get rid of the grille in front and instead place two radiators in the cabin on either side of the engine, with holes cut in the firewall to let air through. Because off-the-shelf electric radiator fans were probably not available in the 1940s, I imagine I’ll have to fashion my own makeshift units from old electric motors and stuff, which should be interesting. Then just place a fuel cell up front so I’m not sitting on a potential bomb, and it should be good to go! Assuming I can get about 200 hp out of each Flathead V8, this would be at least a 400 hp vehicle built from 40s technology, which I imagine should be pretty darn fast/terrifying by TRoG standards! I call it... the “Twin Lizzie”.

BeaterGT > Jim Spanfeller 10/16/2020 at 01:49

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Wow, such an epic build! You’ve really given this some thought except for maybe one thing ...tires. No paddles or anything so traction is a fickle beast. Though n ot knowing how much you weigh, the weight distribution does seem even enough. 

Jim Spanfeller > BeaterGT 10/16/2020 at 02:02

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I’ll just do what people used to do in hillclimb races back in the day... Fit it with dualies! There’s one hot rod modification you don’t see much anymore... But if it worked then, it should work today.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > BeaterGT 10/16/2020 at 08:25

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GIB NAO!!!

Pickup_man > BeaterGT 10/16/2020 at 09:07

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This is a bucket list item for me, to drive my 1950 F3 from South Dakota, with an era appropriate bike in the bed. The truck is still a ways away from completion but the goal is to get it in a garage next summer and get going on it. Just need to find the bike now.