This years East Coast Grand Nationals return to the “South Jersey Shore”, starting with a full track day at NJMP on Thursday, October 8th, then the remainder of the weekend taking us through The Wildwoods and Cape May areas of the Garden State.
The track day will be hosted on the Lightning track and will have multiple skill groups ranging from first time Touring drivers all the way up to an Advanced group. Activities planned for the Saturday through Sunday will revolve around a traditional vacation at the Shore theme and include accommodations a block or two from the Boardwalk, lighthouses, Cape May Zoo, whale watching, dinner under the wings of vintage aircraft in a hanger from 1942, car show by the ocean, miniature golf tournament, classic amusement pier, Octoberfest celebrations, BBQ dinner in Tiki Lounge atmosphere with beach access, and not only an ‘unofficial’ kick-off party, but an ‘unofficial’ wrap-up breakfast as well on Sunday morning.
So, you want the details????……
Thursday HPDE Track Day
Get up early as we own the track from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Cars on track from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. For those who haven’t tracked their car before, and want to stick a toe in the water to see how it feels, we are offering Touring Laps. These are lead and follow style laps, paced by experienced track drivers, who will show you the correct line around the track, paying particular attention to breaking points, apexes, and car placement. No helmets are required and passengers are allowed. Think of these as Parade Laps the way you wish they were always done. Based on the quantity and skill level of those registering for the HPDE portion of the day, we will have multiple run groups from Novice to Advanced. Maybe even something special for the more advanced drivers in the late afternoon. We are working on having instructors available for classroom critiques and in-car coaching. Gas will be available at the track, as well as rental helmets from the track Pro Shop (first come first served, so this should be your back-up plan). You can bring in your own food or visit the Finish Line Pub for lunch or dinner at the end of the day.
Unofficial Thursday night ECGN “Kick-off” party
MudHen Brewing Company is a massive, block-wide brewpub and restaurant in Wildwood, New Jersey, housed in a creatively transformed former motorcycle dealership. Named after the historic, late-19th-century passenger train that chugged through local marshlands, this lively destination is widely known for its exceptional house-brewed craft beers like the Ruff Life Lager and Wildwood Haze IPA. Guests can enjoy an expansive comfort-food menu featuring highlights like the signature Mudhen Burger, smoked wings, custom meat skillets, and hearty Mudhen Kebabs. Boasting three internal bars, an airy mezzanine, a massive outdoor biergarten equipped with lawn games and cozy fire pits, and regular live music performances, this will be a great place to start our event. This is ‘unofficial’ meaning you are on your own tab for drinks and dinner.
Friday Poker Run / Cruise
Our day begins at the Blue Palms Motel in Wildwood, where we will gather to review the stops on our tour, go over ‘rules of the road’, and let you draw your first playing card for the Poker Run portion of the drive.
The Blue Palms Motel, our host hotel for the weekend, is a quintessential staple of Wildwood, New Jersey’s mid-century hospitality history. It stands as a surviving example of the island’s famous “Doo-Wop” architecture boom. The property originally opened in 1967 during the tail end of the post-WWII Jersey Shore resort boom. During this era, more than 200 motels were constructed across the Wildwoods. Like many properties of its day, it featured a classic L-shaped layout, a bustling cocktail lounge, concrete block frames, and a centralized pool deck designed to lure families driving down from the newly built Garden State Parkway.
From The Blue Palms we head to the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. Located in North Wildwood, the lighthouse is a charming, Victorian-style building completed in 1874. Originally constructed to guide mariners through the dangerous, shifting sandbars of the inlet, it remains an active navigational aid today. Prior to its construction, the inlet was heavily used by whalers. Due to frequent shipwrecks, a U.S. Life-Saving Station was built here in 1849, later prompting the need for a permanent lighthouse. Congress funded the structure in 1872. It was designed by renowned Lighthouse Board architect Paul J. Pelz and officially began operation on May 11, 1874. Today, the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It operates as a museum and boasts award-winning Victorian cottage-style gardens that attract thousands of visitors annually.
Moving on from the Lighthouse, we are going to spend a little time at one of the best, and often overlooked, destinations in the entire Southern New Jersey area, the Cape May County Park & Zoo. The zoo officially opened on May 6, 1978, within the 200-acre Park Central area. Starting with just 70 animals, it has grown into an acclaimed attraction spanning 172 acres and housing over 550 animals representing 250 species. The zoo has ranked as one of the best in the nation on TripAdvisor and features unique highlights, such as a flock of flamingos formerly owned by Michael Jackson that used to live at the Neverland Ranch….plus it has a cool Tiger and Red Pandas!
Lunchtime has us stopping to visit one of our newer friends in the area, Kindle Ford. When they heard we were going to be in South Jersey for our East Coast Grand Nationals, they wanted to meet the Team and invited us to swing by. We will have a premier parking area, vouchers for food trucks, their detail bay will be open and standing by if your car needs a quick ‘refresh’ during lunch, and whatever else they dream up. Don’t eat too much, as our next adventure is at sea.
The Cape May Whale Watcher was founded in 1993 by Captain Jeff Stewart and his wife, Mary. Spanning four generations of the Stewart family, it operates out of Cape May, New Jersey, and is known for running some of the largest and fastest super ships for eco-tourism on the East Coast. Captain Jeff Stewart began his maritime career in 1973 at the age of 18, working on head boats in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. In 1993, he and Mary launched the Cape May Whale Watcher business using a vessel originally from Port Clinton, Ohio, named the Arrow. Built in 1970, the Arrow was historically significant as the first aluminum passenger-carrying vessel in service on the East Coast, with a capacity for 300 passengers. We will take a three hour tour (no Gilligan’s Island jokes please), and I’m told October is a prime time to see whales off of the South Jersey coast.
You can’t take a tour of the Southern New Jersey shore and just see one lighthouse! We will return to a favorite stop from our previous Poker Run or a few years ago and head to The Cape May Lighthouse. Completed in 1859, the Cape May Lighthouse is one of the country’s oldest operational lighthouses. Standing 157 feet tall, it replaced two earlier, short-lived towers that were lost to coastal erosion. To create a permanent structure, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction on the current lighthouse in 1857 at a cost of $40,000. It was designed by U.S. Army engineer William F. Raynolds. The structure features double brick walls—an exterior conical wall and an interior circular wall—built to withstand hurricane-force winds. When it was first lit, Keepers had to haul oil up the tower every night to power the flame. The tower remains an active aid to navigation with a beam visible for 24 nautical miles.
We have saved a very special stop for last on our Poker Run / Cruise, and it is also where we will be having dinner (which is included if you have purchased the full weekend package option, or can be added Ala Carte if you are only participating in select portions of the weekend)…….
Friday Dinner and Evening Program at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum
- Last Poker Run Stop (does not include photo-op with aircraft)
- Friday Dinner & Evening Program (if you have purchased the full weekend package or an Ala Carte Dinner ticket this does include photo-op with aircraft)
Our last stop will be the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. If staying for dinner you will park in a private area on the flight line behind the museum and tour the collection in Hanger #1. When arriving and parking, please pay attention to the directions given by the folks directing you where to go and be sure to stay close to the hanger as you park. We are on an active flight line, and we don’t want someone driving out onto a runway by mistake. If you are not having dinner with us, you will park in the museums front parking lot, and enter front the main front entrance to tour the collection.
Listed on both the state and national registers of historic places, Hangar #1 is an exhibit in and of itself. Following the outbreak of World War II, this all-wood double wide aircraft hangar was assembled by the U.S. Navy in 1942 from a kit delivered via railroad. Between 1943 and 1945, the building served as part of Naval Air Station Wildwood, a training facility for dive bomber squadrons that would go on to fight in the Pacific. In the decades following World War II, Hangar #1 was owned and operated by multiple companies – including two different airlines. However, the hangar was eventually abandoned, and it fell into disrepair. Since 1997, Hangar #1 has been run by the NASW Foundation, a nonprofit organization that was established to restore the building and preserve its history.
For those who stay for the dinner and evening program, we will be eating in the historic hanger under the wings and beside the aircraft in their collection. This is the first time we are trying a BYOB format for any ‘adult beverages’ you may like to bring to accompany your dinner. You must be 21 years of age or older to partake, and please drink responsibly. The museum is moving one of their aircraft outside for us, and there will be the opportunity to take photos of the aircraft with your cars as you arrive and park.
Please note that the Ala Carte pricing for this dinner is higher than we usually charge, but given the venue, the close up access to the aircraft, the dinner itself, accompanying evening program, AND the opportunity to get a photo of your car in front of one of their aircraft (which would be a $50.00 cost by itself), I hope you will join us.
Saturday Morning Car Show
Open to all makes/models of Ford Performance and Shelby related vehicles. Awards will be given in multiple classes (year/make/model) with both spectator and judged voting. The show will take place in a private parking lot across from The Blue Palms and Jersey Girl Restaurant in Wildwood, NJ.
We are using a “hybrid method”, which has been used very successfully in local and regional shows. It recognizes the best in a total of 25 different classes for all years and models of Shelby’s and High Performance Fords, plus an additional “Top 25” popular vote ballot, and special/VIP picks.
All show entrants will be given a window card with a specific car number listed on it, and a QR code to be used to access the show balloting system. The window card goes under your windshield wiper, so your car number is clearly visible. Then the entrants will walk the show field to select their favorite cars. When ready to place your votes, simply scan the QR code on any of the window cards, and you will be linked to the ballot to check off the numbers of the cars you have chosen, thereby creating the Top 25 award winning group.
Separately, a panel of judges from Team Shelby will walk the field and select the first-place car for each of the 24 classes. If a car wins both a Top 25 and a first place, the car will only be awarded the first place, which allows for more winners overall. No car can win two awards. Likewise, if a car wins a “special/VIP award” (TS Pick, People’s Choice, etc.) it is also removed from the top 25 and the first-place competition. The goal is to give out all the awards and give more cars the chance of winning and being recognized.
Another aspect of the show, which we hope will make it enjoyable, will be the relaxing of the rigid class structure. We will still group by classic and modern Shelby, real Cobras, etc, but not try to make the show field a rigid parking puzzle. If you are with a bunch of friends, this also allows you to park together and enjoy the show with each other.
Saturday Miniature Golf Tournament
StarLux Mini Golf in Wildwood, NJ, features 27 holes across three unique 9-hole courses: Beach, Ocean, and Boardwalk. Highlights include the world’s largest artificial sand dune and an enormous sand castle on the Beach Course, giant sea creatures and fountains on the Ocean Course, and Wildwood trivia on the elevated Boardwalk Course. The award-winning, two-story attraction (located at 4800 Ocean Avenue) provides a fun and challenging experience for all ages. Recognized as a top putt-putt destination, it ranked 6th overall in Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Mini Golf & Putt Putt Courses.
Saturday Dinner and Evening on Morey’s Pier
PigDog Beach BBQ serves up the ultimate barefoot, bohemian-beach backyard vibe right on the Wildwood sand, blending a gritty surf-culture edge with a colorful, family-friendly oasis. The decor captures a rustic, open-air charm with sprawling decks made of distressed driftwood and private tiki-style cabanas topped with authentic thatched roofs. Do you have a favorite Hawaiian shirt? Be sure to wear it tonight! Vibrant pops of teal, orange, and lime green seating contrast beautifully against the white sand, where oversized, custom PigDog beanbags and swaying hammocks invite guests to kick off their shoes and relax. It is an ultra-laid-back community hub where the smell of daily-smoked brisket mixes with the salty ocean breeze, and the soundtrack of live acoustic reggae blends with the neighboring amusement pier, and speaking of the pier…….
After Dinner….Morey’s Amusement Pier and Octoberfest
Morey’s Piers Oktoberfest is an annual, month-long celebration featuring Bavarian brews, authentic German fare, rides, and live entertainment. Hosted on Morey’s Mariner’s Pier the festival takes place on weekends from mid-September to mid-October, and we will be there for the final weekend.
Highlights of the event include traditional Bavarian pretzels, bratwurst, and large steins of beer served in an open-air biergarten. Live bands perform on the Coca-Cola Stage all weekend long, accompanied by roaming “Oompah Delics” musicians and festive strolling entertainment. All of the amusement park rides, games, and pier attractions remain open and accessible to Team Shelby and guests who have purchased the weekend package and have a wristband. Ala Carte dinner guests will be able to pay for rides and amusements by purchasing tickets on the pier.
Unofficial Sunday Morning “Wrap-up” Breakfast
Sunday breakfast at Jersey Girl Kitchen and Bar is the ultimate way to wrap up a weekend in Wildwood, blending an energetic boardwalk-adjacent vibe with an exceptional morning menu. Served from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the restaurant fills with the sound of morning live music while diners feast on savory favorites like the Go-Go Hash and Eggs Bowl, Breakfast Burritos, and thick-cut bacon. The standout feature of any Sunday morning table is undoubtedly their famous Mimosa Tree—a striking, multi-tiered display of refreshing mimosas that pairs perfectly with a round of custom breakfast cocktails or a morning mojito. With its lively open-air seating and friendly beachside hospitality, it is a highly sought-after weekend tradition that regularly draws crowds. Being ‘unofficial’ you are on your own tab for breakfast.
After breakfast/brunch, stay as long as you like and enjoy the Wildwood Boardwalk, get some fudge or salt-water taffy, maybe one last ice cream, then head home and anticipate what we have in store for you next!
EVENT COSTING & REGISTRATION
Track Day at NJMP – $375.00/$185.00
- Full HPDE (Novice, Intermediate, or Advanced) – $375.00
- Touring Laps – $185.00/car
- Event door “meatballs”- $55.00 (All HPDE cars must have numbers, but they are not required to be event ‘meatballs’)
- NOTE: HPDE and Touring laps include lunchtime parade laps and the on track group photo opportunity
Full Wildwood/Cape May Weekend Package – $350.00/person
- All access event credentials (lanyard and ID badge)
- If staying at the host hotel/motel (The Blue Palms) a weekend wristband for admission to Morey’s Amusement Piers and rides is included when you make your hotel/motel reservations
- Welcome gift
- Invitation to ‘unofficial’ kick-off party
- Poker Run entrance
- Dinner and evening program at Wildwood Naval Air Station Museum
- Photo-op with aircraft at Naval Air Station Museum
- Entrance to Saturday car show
- Participation in 27 hole mini-golf tournament on 3 different courses
- Relaxed ‘Hawaiian Shirt’ dinner in private Tiki Bar area on Morey’s Pier (features beach access)
- Access to Octoberfest activities and all amusement rides on Morey’s Pier
- Invitation to ‘unofficial’ Sunday breakfast/brunch
Ala Carte Options – See individual pricing below
- NOTE: There is a mandatory $20.00 per person administration and registration fee on Ala Carte orders. Please be sure to select this and add it to your cart when checking out.
- Poker Run – $90.00/person (Note: This DOES NOT include the aircraft photo-op, but does include admission to the museum. Photo is only available with the Full Weekend Package above or Ala Carte dinner below)
- Dinner at Wildwood Naval Air Station Museum – $150.00/person (Note: This DOES include the aircraft photo-op)
- Saturday Car Show – $30.00/car
- Saturday mini-golf tournament – $30.00/person
- Saturday ‘Hawaiian Shirt’ dinner at PigDog – $85.00/person
Other Items – See individual pricing below
- Event door “meatballs”- $55.00/set of two decals
