TROG 2026: OLD IRON, WILD RIDES & WICKED WEATHER

Wildwood, New Jersey | Story & Photography by Jack McIntyre | House of Choppers Nation

OLD MACHINES, REAL PEOPLE & A WHOLE LOT OF ATTITUDE

Every year, The Race of Gentlemen (TROG) rolls into Wildwood, New Jersey, bringing together some of the coolest vintage motorcycles, traditional choppers, and old-school hot rods you’ll find anywhere. It’s a weekend where horsepower, history, and a little insanity meet on the sand.

For me, it’s also one of my favorite events to photograph. There’s nothing quite like watching these old machines come alive, surrounded by people who appreciate the way motorcycles and hot rods were built long before computers took over.

Last, keep your eyes open for Easyriders issue #606 coming soon. My TROG coverage will be in print as it was last year. Easyriders does a KILLER JOB when presenting my work during events, and this is a great one!

FRIDAY: LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Friday morning kicks things off in central Wildwood, where racers arrive with their vintage machines, dressed in period clothing that makes the entire scene look like something straight out of the 1940s.

Motorcycles, hot rods, leather helmets, racing sweaters, and plenty of characters make this a photographer’s dream.

The massive swap meet is another highlight, packed with old parts, vintage treasures, and just about anything a garage builder could want. It’s the perfect place to wander, talk motorcycles, and discover something you didn’t know you needed.

FRIDAY NIGHT: CHOPPER HEAVEN AT THE LAZY BASS

Friday evening, the party moves to the Lazy Bass on the bay side of Wildwood for TROG’s traditional Chopper Show.

Now we’re talking!

Forget those expensive trailer queens with flawless paint and chrome. These are the real deal. Long front ends, skinny tires, peanut tanks, handmade parts, and plenty of old-school personality.

These are the kinds of choppers your grandfather might have built in his garage with a welding torch, a handful of tools, and a few cold beers.

For House of Choppers Nation, this gathering represents exactly what we love about motorcycle culture. Real bikes, real builders, and people who live for the lifestyle.

SATURDAY: BEACH RACING & MOTHER NATURE

Saturday morning brought the action everyone came to see. Vintage motorcycles and hot rods lined up on the beach, engines roaring, sand flying, and racers preparing to unleash decades-old machinery down the shoreline.

But this year’s TROG had a serious challenge.

Just one week earlier, a massive nor’easter hammered the Jersey Shore, leaving Wildwood flooded and raising questions about whether the event could even happen.

Fortunately, the town bounced back, and Saturday morning’s racing got underway.

I grabbed my Nikon cameras and started shooting everything I could. The racers, the machines, the crowds, and all those incredible moments that make TROG special.

Unfortunately, by Saturday afternoon, Mother Nature decided we’d had enough fun.

The rain returned and continued through the remainder of the weekend. I kept shooting as long as possible, but eventually even my Nikon equipment needed a break from the soaking.

THE SPIRIT OF TROG LIVES ON

Despite the weather, TROG once again reminded everyone why this event is so special.

It’s not about fancy equipment, expensive motorcycles, or winning trophies. It’s about keeping an incredible part of American motorcycle and hot rod history alive.