Laconia Motorcycle Week

Event Update for Laconia Motorcycle Week

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June 12th-20th, 2021 – New Hampshire – home to America’s Original Riding Rally This year’s Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week® promises to be bigger and better than last year’s pandemic-postponed event. The changing guidelines dictated by the response to COVID 19 and subsequent vaccines have made planning for this year’s rally a challenge but we’re proud to announce that all the popular events rally goers have experienced in the past will be back. In addition to the Hill Climb Expo up Tower Street on June 15th and the Gunstock Amateur Hill Climb on June 16th, the week will feature several rides and “gypsy tours,” a nod to the origins of the rally, when a group of riders, over 100 years ago, first made the trek to Laconia. The 15th Annual Peter Makris Memorial Ride to NHMS takes place on Saturday, June 12, featuring a police escorted ride around Lake Winnipesaukee and a return to the NASWA resort for lunch and entertainment. On Sunday, June 13th, the AMA Gypsy Tour to NHMS for USCRA Vintage Races begins at 10:30 AM on Lakeside Avenue. Participants will get a 50% discount on race tickets for the day and a free lap around the track at NH Motor Speedway. Monday, June 14th features the Mae-West Memorial Ride. Riders meet at 8:30 AM at Rally Headquarters for a scenic ride through local towns and ending at NH Motor Speedway. All proceeds benefit local animal shelters. The popular Covered Bridge Gypsy Tour leaves Weirs Beach at 10:30 AM for a 170 mile guided tour to at least 6 covered bridges throughout scenic New Hampshire. Three more rides originate from Laconia on Thursday, June 17th. The Ride to the Sky guided tour to the base of Mount Washington leaves (from Laconia Harley-Davidson) at 9 AM and the We […]

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Historical Perspective Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week

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June 12th-20th, 2021 – New Hampshire – home to America’s Original Riding Rally After a COVID-hobbled rally in 2020, Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week® returns to New Hampshire for its 98th year, June 12 – 20. Ninety-eight years is a long time, longer than most of us have been alive, so you can imagine there are stories to tell about the world’s oldest motorcycle rally. If you’re doing the math, you’ll have to take into account the 7 years the rally wasn’t held to come up with 1916. This was the year a few hundred motorcyclists, organized by central and southern New England motorcycle dealers, traveled north for a “gypsy tour” to Weirs Beach. Who would have known this would mark the beginnings of a tradition that would span a century? The tour was first sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists in 1917 and when the FAM disbanded in 1919, the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA) took over the sanction until 1924, when the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) was formed. Back then, the weekend event centered around races and hill climbs. The number of participants grew each year as did the event’s duration. Over time, the rally blossomed into a week-long event, eventually suffering in attendance and popularity after getting wrapped up in the upheavals of the 60’s. The rally reverted to a 3-day weekend and would remain so until 1991, when organizers revived the week-long event after seeing the success of Sturgis’ 50th Anniversary Rally in 1990. Laconia Motorcycle Week reclaimed the support of local businesses and the AMA as a week-long rally and the oldest gypsy tour in the country. Today, Laconia Motorcycle Week® is a much-expanded version of the early “gypsy tour” years, offering attendees lots of fun, food, music and, of course, countless miles of

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Update from Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week

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Come Ride in NH – Laconia Motorcycle Week, June 12th-20th, 2021 – New Hampshire – home to America’s Original Riding Rally® https://laconiamcweek.com/ Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week® returns to the Lakes Region this June 12-20 for its 98th year. Over a quarter of a million riders are expected to attend this year after a pandemic-induced postponement to last year’s rally. The event is host to a full week of music, vendor exhibits, racing and, of course, riding. Although Motorcycle Week centers around Weirs Beach, you’ll find riders in every corner of the state, from the seacoast to the White Mountains. That’s because New Hampshire’s scenery, fresh air and accessibility are unmatched. Riders can cruise through the mountains, the state’s famed covered bridges, iconic lakes and along the seacoast, all within a matter of hours. Try that anywhere else! And unlike other events that draw such large crowds, and with that- traffic, residents and businesses embrace this uniquely New Hampshire tradition. By conservative estimates, the week-long event brings over 100 million dollars to the state’s economy each year. Restaurants, hotels, fuel & liquor sales across the state see a huge boost. It is a catalyst for countless tourism dollars, especially helpful because it occurs during the spring season, before the bustle of summer kicks in. Whether you’re a Motorcycle Week veteran or a first-time attendee, Laconia Motorcycle Week® invites you to experience the thrill of the world’s oldest motorcycle rally®. Come see history in the making as we count down to 100. Come ride in New Hampshire! Laconia Motorcycle Week® gives great appreciation to all of our sponsors, especially our Presenting Sponsors: Progressive, AMSOIL and Team Motorcycle, as well as the State of New Hampshire for their large financial support of our rally each year. For more information about visiting the state

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Laconia Motorcycle Week Back in the Saddle

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June 12th-20th, 2021 – New Hampshire – home to America’s Original Riding Rally After a pandemic-postponed 2020, Laconia Motorcycle Week®, the world’s oldest motorcycle rally®, returns to New Hampshire for its 98th year in its traditional mid-June time slot. For many motorcycle enthusiasts and local businesses, the news comes as a sign at least, that life is returning to normal. “I’ve lived in the area for a very long time,” says Meghan Doptis of Laconia, “Motorcycle Week is a big part of our lives. Whether you attended or not, there was no escaping the excitement, sound of rumbling motorcycles and increased activity all over the state. For us, it signifies the start of summer. Not experiencing that last June, was kind of surreal. Really sad.” While last year’s event did eventually take place in August, it lacked most of its signature events and, of course, ‘normal’ attendance. “We estimate last year’s rally had about one third of the people we normally see,” estimates Charlie St. Clair, Director for the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association. “Many people, for good reason, were reluctant to travel and those who wanted to come, had difficulty finding lodging because they were competing with summer vacationers. This year will be a lot different. You can already feel it.” With the state’s robust vaccination program and safety guidelines changing weekly, a lot of the details for this year’s event are still being worked on, but one thing is certain: The 98th Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week will be happening June 12-20, 2021. Expect some restrictions such as mask wearing whenever social distancing cannot be maintained, limited live entertainment and attendance limitations at some establishments. The popular Tower Street Hill Climb Expo occurs on Tuesday, June 15th from Lakeside Avenue and is a perfect lead-in to the legendary Gunstock AMATEUR

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Laconia Motorcycle Week gets approval for parking and traffic

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from https://www.wmur.com Laconia City Council approves 100% parking, traffic capacity for Motorcycle Week Council considers lifting all COVID-19 restrictions on vendors, beer tents. Pre-pandemic parking approved for Laconia Motorcycle Week. The Laconia City Council voted Monday night to return to pre-pandemic parking and traffic flow for this summer’s Motorcycle Week. LACONIA, N.H. — The Laconia City Council voted Monday night to return to pre-pandemic parking and traffic flow for this summer’s Motorcycle Week. Last year, the event was scaled down and pushed to August. There were no vendor tents or big scheduled events as organizers and state officials hoped to cut down on the potential spread of COVID-19. With Monday night’s vote, the council opened the door to having full capacity at this year’s event, which is scheduled for June 12-20. Some council members also want to do away with COVID-19 restrictions when it comes to vendors and beer tents. “Everything is going 100% — restaurants, bars — everything,” said Councilor Tony Felch. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t open things up for this event.” Others argued there should be some restrictions to limit risk as the pandemic continues. “We’re really asking people here who have health concerns to be totally not considered, and I do think we have some responsibility,” said Councilor Henry Lipman. “Above all else is safety.” Motorcycle Week organizers plan to revisit the issue at a special meeting in the next week or two.

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