1967-1990

Following the Weirs Beach riot of 1965 and its consequent,  “No Rally” year of 1966, the rally turned into a very scaled-down event. For the next 24 years, the rally was known simply as “Motorcycle Weekend” to locals. There was little to no promotion of the event, and it was attended by a very regional crowd. Hence, the reason for this webpage’s missing historical materials for many of those intervening years. There were very few printed materials or souvenirs produced.

The AMA’s monthly magazine, which covered and promoted the Laconia rally in every May and/or June issue from the late 1940s through the early 1960s, went mostly silent about Laconia, with Laconia coverage appearing only in the 1979 and 1983 issues, articles which are shown below. In 1970, the magazine was no longer American Motorcycling, it became the AMA  News. In September, 1977, the magazine was renamed once again. This time it was called American Motorcyclist, the name with which it has continued to the present day.

1969

An article from Motorcyclist magazine – not from the official guidebook

1970’s

Two color slides of the Lakeside Avenue action

1974

After the motorcycle races moved from the Belknap/Gunstock ski area to the new track in Loudon, bikers began to camp alongside Route 106, the road between Weirs Beach and the new track. Through the late 1960s and into the early 1970s, the camping activity grew ever larger, rally after rally.

A 1974, Laconia Citizen article reported: “Hairy” was the way Police Chief Earl Sweeney  described this year’s annual motorcycle weekend, which kept police hopping as a crowd of 50,000 to 60,000, more than double the average attendance in past years, camped along nearly every square foot of roadside on Route 106 from Loudon to Laconia. Sweeney estimated there were 15,000 cyclists camped along the road and staying at campgrounds and other accommodations in his town alone. By Saturday afternoon, traffic was so clogged along Route 106 by disorderly groups doing wheelies, horsing around in the breakdown lanes, and annoying residents along the road, it took nearly 30 minutes for cruisers to drive three miles.  Arrests ranged from streaking, intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, grand theft of an automobile, reckless operation, driving while intoxicated, possession of controlled drugs, shoplifting, motor vehicle violations, theft, the apprehension of a mental hospital escapee, and criminal threatening. The weekend was marred by three traffic fatalities and three serious injuries from shrapnel from a hand grenade.”

1974  was the last year camping was allowed on 106. As a result of all the issues, during the following year of 1975, the Loudon race was cancelled, roadside camping was permanently banned, and the Laconia rally did not officially occur. After this cooling-off period, the rally returned in 1976 for its 53rd edition. The June, 1979 article below gives more details about what had happened.

1976 – 1977

Program covers for the “Laconia Motorcycle Classic”

1978

An amateur photo of Lakeside Avenue. Lined up on the boardwalk are two clubs participating in the best dressed contest – the United Motorcycle Club of Woonsocket RI (2nd place) and the Broken Spokes Motorcycle Club of Rochester NH (1st place).

1979

1980

Governor’s message from the 1980 program.

1983

1988

A button

1989

A button

Belknap Cup/Race Tickets

1991-Present

After reaching a low point in the mid 1970’s, the rally gradually rebounded in the 1980’s as memories of the earlier troubles began to fade and the economy turned upward. But the rally was nowhere near its potential, perhaps due to the lack of an official organizer. In 1991, a new organized effort began, spearheaded by Charlie St. Clair, currently executive director of the Laconia Motorycycle Week Association.

The effort included several bold moves. Among them were restricting traffic and parking on Lakeside Avenue to Motorcycles only, which began in 1993; new traffic patterns to smooth the traffic flow; lengthening the rally from a weekend-only event back to a full week (the length the rally had been in the 1950’s); scheduling many new events; and reviving the publication of an official guidebook and widely increasing its distribution. The bold moves paid off, increasing rally attendance from around 50,000 Motorcyclists in 1990 to over 350,000 today.

What is the rule for determining future Motorcycle Week dates?

There is a popular misconception that Motorcycle Week always ends on Father’s Day weekend. While this is generally true, it is not always the case. Since the event became a two-weekend event, the actual rule for determining Motorcycle Week dates is as follows:

Motorcycle Week always begins on the second FULL weekend of June.

In years when June 1st lands on a Sunday, the weekend of May 31-June 1 is not a full weekend, but the weekend of June 7-8 is, so the event will start a week later than normal, resulting in Motorcycle Week beginning on Father’s Day weekend rather than ending with it. When June 1st lands on any day other than Sunday, Motorcycle Week will end on Father’s Day weekend, as usual.

In recent years, in 2008 and 2014, June 1st was on a Sunday, and the event started on Father’s Day weekend. (In 2003, June 1st was also on a Sunday, but the event ended on Father’s Day weekend. However, the event began so early in June there were complaints, so the new rule came into effect.)

1984-1990

(Gypsy Tour Patches). From 1984-1989, the Laconia Rally was still known as Motorcycle Weekend. These were the last years before the Rally resumed to a full week-long event.

1991

A 1991 pin notes that Laconia Motorcycle Week is the USA’s “Oldest Gypsy Tour”.

1992

1997

(National Gypsy Tours)

1998

(National Gypsy Tours)

This 75th anniversary buckle reads “LACONIA – Among America’s longest running motorcycle events, the Laconia Rally celebrates its 75th running in 1998. The original social gathering of Bay State MC riders and New Hampshire Motorcyclists in 1916 and their destination of Weir Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee near Laconia was complemented later by motorcycle racing at various nearby locations. Frizie Baer and the New Hampshire Motorcycle Dealers Association brought the racing to Belknap Recreation Area in 1938. In 1965 Bryar Motorsports Park, known today as New Hampshire Motor Speedway, hosted its first AMA Grand National Road Race. And that tradition continues today as Motorcyclists gather annually to take in the eclectic collage of AMA Superbike Series and the legendary Laconia rally, hosted by the AMA Chartered Lakeside Sharks Motorcycle Club.”

2000

(National Gypsy Tour)

2001

(National Gypsy Tour)

2002

(National Gypsy Tour)

2003

(National Gypsy Tour)

2004

(National Gypsy Tour)

2006

(National Gypsy Tour)

2007

(National Gypsy Tour)

2008

(National Gypsy Tour)

2009

(Gypsy Tours) The 1925 AMA fob continues to be a popular souvenir design. This is at least the third reproduction.

2010

(Gypsy Tour) A reproduction of the 1941/1948 AMA pin design

2011

(Gypsy Tour) A reproduction of the 1941/1948 AMA pin design

2020

A fire at the 1105 Union Avenue office of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association on Christmas morning, December 25, 2020, resulted in a loss of key souvenirs, vintage photographs and the organization’s beloved cat, Ashland. Many collectibles and souvenirs from the motorcycle rally’s 97-year run were destroyed, including photos, plaques, books and historical records that dated back 50 years. Also lost were the organization’s inventory of T-shirts that dated back 10 years. The inventory had continued to generate sales for the Association well past the orginal rally date. Plans to replace the 1700 sq ft, 1st floor office were not certain.

2022

This 2022 Gypsy Tour souvenir was a replica of the 1938 souvenir buckle.

2023

2024