Everyone thought Hollywood was showing his pride and paying tribute to the Oilers club– “Kinda funny story about this pic… Someone yelled out to me that a flag flew out of a car and was in the middle of the track. As usual I wasn’t paying attention to the races. I rode out, grabbed it and held it up so it wouldn’t flap around and hit me in the face– had no idea it was an Oilers’ flag until I got to the finish line to return it!” ~Hollywood AKA @knucklebuster1939 of the Oilers CC / MC. Photo (c) by Bryan helm

Moon Equipment Co. Transporter– 1938 Ford COE, originally an old Coca Cola truck, yellow was their color before red said Mel Stultz himself! — TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

“Sun, cloud, rain, and fog– lots of different weather at this years TRoG. The one constant was the excitement and happy mood of the racers and crowd during the race day. Vintage hot rods, bikes, and the hundreds of collective years of racing experience and mechanical knowledge is a pretty good formula to keep everyone entertained.

1934 or older American Made Hotrods, and 1947 or older American Motorcycles are the required race specs for this years race. The addition of the Belly tanks, drag class, and even some Harley-Davidson Servi-Cars added more flavor to TRoG’s character. Cars and bikes battling it out on the beach trying to best each other and their own times. Fish tailing hotrods and carefully dialed in race bikes charge down the beach.

Some races are neck and neck, some races are blow outs. A missed shift, a bad start, or even taking a bad line on the course– all contributing factors. Race day motors on with the crowd cheering, liquor flowing, and people perfecting their suntans and sunburns.

Near the end of the day the one constant race is now with the encroaching high tide. The width of the course is shrinking as the relentless tide lumbers in to claim its daily territory. Everyone hoping to get one more heat in before it’s too late. Race day ultimately comes to and end with everyone satisfied. Ocean air, gasoline, and motor oil may be the best aphrodisiac around.

TRoG doesn’t come without the element of danger, a couple riders got a little banged up hitting some ruts in the mix of soft and harder packed sand. Jeremiah and Sushi are back on the mend and we wish them a speedy recovery. Knowing their love and passion for racing they’ll be back in the saddle as soon as possible. Safe travels and I’ll look forward to seeing everyone at the next race.” ~Bryan Helm

Josh Kohn’s wicked H-D, TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen, 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Josh Kohn at TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen, 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Oilers CC/MC = TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Battling Indian motorcycles Sam Polys vs. Chris Price– TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Jeremy Baye, Oilers CC– TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Oilers CC/MC = TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Gene Winfield, TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Sushi (Atsushi Yasui, Freewheelers Co.) Oilers CC/MC– TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

TRoG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

TRoG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Ken Booth on his Harley-Davidson Servi-Car– TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Girard Fox on his 1922 Hendersen Deluxe motorcycle, TRoG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Oilers CC/MC = TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Billy Lane on his Harley-Davidson 45 Flathead, TROG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Jeremiah (Love Motorcycles) on his Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, TROG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

John Conforth, TROG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Matt Walksler races through the mist at TRoG, The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Andrew Kohler, TRoG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Daniel Sladovnick, TRoG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

TRoG– The Race of Gentlemen 2018– Photography (c) by Bryan Helm

Bryan Helm is a New York-based photographer.

His site: BRYANHELM.COM

Fine Art Site: HELMGALLERY.COM

Words and photos by Bryan Helm