In 1978, best friends, Ed Coogan and Michael Wild “decided to invent an event and maybe have another drink,” Greg Coogan recalled.

The event became Tivoli Day, the newest town party in the glorious history of Oak Bluffs. The tradition continues, with this year’s Tivoli Day taking place on Saturday, Sept. 20.

To get things started in those early days, the dynamic duo of Ed and Mike’s energy was infectious. They cajoled, they convinced, they were relentless in their quest to make Tivoli Day a success, which they did, with help from a very supportive Oak Bluffs police chief Peter Williamson and an encouraging business association.

Ed’s wife Liza has vivid memories of those days.

Cyclists came from all over the country.

Ken Goldberg

Cyclists came from all over the country.

Ken Goldberg

“Ed and Mike Wild were like twins with their fervor for Tivoli Day, anything to have a party with the locals who championed their communities and loved celebrating the sea,” she recalled.

Tivoli Day went far beyond the blessing of the fleet. The highlight that first year and for many years after was the 100-kilometer (62.5 miles) bicycle race around the Island. Professionals from all over the United States eventually made this race part of their national tour.

The intricate race details were wonderfully handled by Margaret and Bill Stafursky.

“Bill and I met in 1978, got married in 1979 and celebrated by getting involved in Tivoli Day,” Margaret said. “Ed Coogan called us to say he’s going to law school, so you will handle the race. The first year, many of the cyclists had no place to stay. The next year, Wesley House owner Paul Chase donated the hotel to the riders. The first race had 42 professionals, by our final year we had 450 registered riders with a waiting list.”

She chuckled and continued: “They all had to register by calling me on my kitchen phone at home. So many times, I’d have to say, hold on, the water’s boiling or I have to take the food out of the oven.”

A busy day on Circuit avenue.

Richie Giordano

A busy day on Circuit avenue.

Richie Giordano

Margaret later became a United States licensed official and only one of five American cycling officials at the International Special Olympics. Margaret was also a special education teacher at the high school.

The beginning of the 1979 race created quite a stir. Richie Giordano still remembers it well.

“My father (Wilfred Giordano) was the starter,” he said. “As a boy he sold hot dogs on the beach out of his 54-year-old brass steamer. Standing in front of Giordano’s, he sang his 54-year-old song, ‘Get ‘em while they’re hot, mustard in the middle, pickle on the top.’ And the race was on.”

For the 1979 race, Ed and Mike asked me to be the emcee and provide play-by-play of the big race. Perched atop the Flying Horses building, I called the race. Truthfully, I saw only the beginning and the end of the race as for nearly two hours the riders zipped around the Vineyard. With a microphone in one hand and the CB radio in the other, I blabbed to a huge crowd about a race that no one could see.

According to the Vineyard Gazette: “Mr. Goldberg announced events such as a unicycle race restricted to those weighing over 425 pounds. Spectators searched in vain.”

Go get 'em, says Wilfred Giordano.

Courtesy Jason Giordano

Go get 'em, says Wilfred Giordano.

Courtesy Jason Giordano

Jack O’Callaghan led the way in the pace car, trying to help guide the bicyclists.

“Bill Stafursky somehow got me hooked into driving the pace car around the whole Island,” he said. “There was a police car at the very front, lights flashing and siren as needed. Next was the pace car, then all the riders. Calling it a pace car was a bit of a misnomer as they weren’t interested in me setting the pace. Several times they started getting pretty close to me. It was a hoot pressuring the police car with me by blowing my horn and flashing my lights to get him to speed up.”

Around the Island they raced. Nancy (Cimeno) Applebaum recalled: “I drove the van that followed the bike race around the whole Island, had medical supplies and back up wheels for the racers. My code name was Nurse Nancy.”

Nancy’s brother John was probably the finest rider that the Vineyard ever produced. He might have been an amateur but he more than held his own against the professionals. Nancy told me, “John was actually leading the pack heading down Beach Road in Oak Bluffs near the Island Inn when two guys squeezed into him to cause the crash.”

Tena Davies had a view from Circuit avenue. “I was bartending at the Ritz the first Tivoli Day,” she said. “Michael Wild came in and convinced Lanky (Arthur Pachico, Ritz owner) to give all the riders a beer after the races. I’m sure Lanky was thinking pitchers of draft beers, but every single one of them came in and asked for the most expensive bottle we had at the time: Heineken. You should have seen the look on Lanky’s face. Priceless.”

While the professionals faced the Island-wide challenge, local races brought out our Island characters. Jim Pringle was one who answered the call.

“I entered one of the early ones,” he said. “Five times around Ocean Park. When I was done Lorraine (Pringle) had to help me walk to the Ritz. That ended my racing career.”

Fortunately, I was able to locate one of the top amateur riders, Andre Bonnell. When asked how he trained for Tivoli, Andre was quite succinct.

“I dead lifted a case of Schlitz,” he said.

Julie and Eddie BenDavid organized the harbor festival. Many boats were gaily decorated. The Vineyard secessionist seagull flag hung high on the topmast of the Temehegan.

Tivoli Day could not be complete without the sophistication of croquet. Under the deft organization provided by Duncan Ross, novice “croquetters” showed off their skills in Ocean Park. The competition was a musical treat as the local band “PAX” played Beatles songs during the event. Duncan, who played as a kid chuckled, telling me: “It was a fun event, no cutthroat croquet today.”

Mr. Ross was very modest. With partner David Boston, they won the team division.

Over the years, a kids tricycle race around the Flying Horses was added. There was also talk of tricycle race among the three selectmen, but cooler heads prevailed.

Times have changed. The exciting days of cycling races and classy croquet are fond memories. I’ll always remember Michael Wild blowing his whistle and energizing the crowd, and Ed Coogan’s calm demeanor getting things done.

Still, the present-day Tivoli Day event continues to be an autumn highlight. The button says it all. On Tivoli Day, Oak Bluffs is the place to be.

Ken Goldberg is frequent contributor to the Vineyard Gazette. He lives in Edgartown.