Night of Troglodytes Opens The Race of Gentlemen 2025
Photos and story by John McCartney
Once again, the picture-perfect seaside town of Wildwood, New Jersey, played host to the annual running of The Race of Gentlemen. The beloved event brings together a mix of pre-war hot rods and vintage motorcycles, both taking to the sand to battle it out along the Wildwood beach. While every year offers a killer lineup of early hot rods, this year seemed to belong to the motorcycles—roaring, skidding, and slicing through the sand just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean.
The weekend kicked off Thursday with a swap meet, but by Friday, the real rush had begun. Crowds poured into town, and the streets around the Jersey Girl—a local favorite for food and drinks—overflowed with cars, bikes, and excitement. Classic choppers dominated the scene, parked in every direction. With their wild paint jobs, original engines, and raked frames, these machines transported everyone straight back to the golden era of the chopper world.
A highlight of Friday night—and a true tradition of The Race of Gentlemen—is the Night of Troglodytes, a fixture of the event since its early days more than 13 years ago. The gathering found a new home last year at the Lazy Bass Bayside Bar & Grill in North Wildwood, just a short ride from the beach where the racing unfolds. As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, waves of choppers rumbled toward the Lazy Bass, setting the stage for a wild night of bikes, bands, and good vibes.
The place packed out fast. Inside the Lazy Bass, rows of vintage motorcycles gleamed under the fading light, while live music filled the air. You never quite know what kind of creations will roll through those gates—each one a unique, handcrafted piece of art. As the sun set over the bay, the glow off the chrome mixed with the colors of the sky, creating the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable night. Even long after dark, riders and fans kept rolling in, trading stories, snapping photos, and talking about the races still to come.
By the weekend, all eyes turned to the beach. Just like in the early days of drag racing, every heat kicked off with a flag start—three lovely ladies leaping high into the air to send the racers off. It’s a sight straight out of a bygone era: pre-war hot rods and stripped-down bikes tearing across the sand, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the classic Wildwood boardwalk rides on the other. This is where history, grease, and adrenaline meet—where the baddest of the bad face off for bragging rights and glory.
It’s a true spectacle, one you won’t soon forget. If you haven’t experienced it yet, make plans to catch The Race of Gentlemen and Night of Troglodytes when they roll back into Wildwood, New Jersey, in 2026.
One of my favorite events
One of my favorite events