WILDWOOD Some owners of vintage cars and motorcycles find the opportunity to race their vehicles on the beach too juicy to pass up.

Thousands gathered Sunday afternoon on the beaches in Wildwood to watch the Race of Gentlemen, which was held here for the past five years after its inaugural year in 2012 in Allenhurst, Monmouth County.

The second and final racing day of the three-day event featured pre-1934 automobiles and pre-1947 motorcycles in exhibition-style drag races at the waters edge between Schellenger and Spicer avenues.

The antique cars were joined by racers and spectators wearing vintage clothing, and a live band playing a rockabilly style of rock n roll.

Verne Hammond, of Burbank, California, participated in the Race of Gentlemen for the first time.

Hammond, 52, is a member of of the Burbank Choppers Club. He appeared on Rides, an automotive reality TV show that aired on TLC during the past decade. He was seen building a Model-T hot rod, nicknamed Bad News.

Hammond, who has been to hundreds of car events over the years, said he thought the Race of Gentlemen was one of the best. He knows one of the organizers of the event, Melford Robbins.

Hes come up with a really neat thing here. Wildwood is lucky, and he is lucky to have Wildwood, Hammond said.

Scott Sheehan, 40, traveled of Bay City, Michigan, to compete and show off his 1930 Model A Ford Roadster.

Sheehan used to race circuit-track cars when he was younger. Eventually, his track closed down and he couldnt do anything with his car.

He developed his interest in vintage cars in the early 2000s.

I had to find something to do to fill that fix for the racing. I started building old cars. I started hanging out with the old timers, who showed me the ropes, Sheehan said.

He heard about the Race of Gentlemen after its first year.

Ive been coming to this for the last five years. Ive been racing for the last three, Sheehan said.

He raced five times Saturday. He won three, lost one and swears the other race was too close to call.

Matt Lanigan, 41, of Olney, Maryland, brought his 1929 Model A Ford Roadster to the beach race.

Lanigan attended the event as a spectator once and has been racing in it for the past three years.

I raced a Model T. Then, this car with a different engine in it last year. Then, I changed engines and raced it this year, said Lanigan, who estimated he went down the track 10 times Saturday, the first racing day. I was a little more serious about it this year. But its for fun, to be here with all the people, the atmosphere.

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