Chance to ride up ski jump keeps bikers coming back to Gunstock Hill Climb

GILFORD — Amateur bikers from all over were eager to compete for the quickest time up Gunstock Mountain on Wednesday, during the annual Gunstock Hill Climb. Thousands of onlookers poured in to view their attempts. After a full day of racing, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the quickest climb time was by James Green, of Charlton, Massachusetts, on his GSXR, at 7.26 seconds in the open class.

This year, close to 8,000 attendees came to the mountain to watch riders take on the hill climb, beating out Laconia Motorcycle Week's 100th anniversary year, in 2023, which had 7,100 in attendance.

Gary Krenzul has been making the trip up to Motorcycle Week for the past 20 years. The Gunstock Hill Climb is the only event he attends. He stays in a big, old, grey pickup truck in a campsite at the base of the mountain, spending a couple nights sleeping in the bed of his truck under the stars.

Krenzul rides himself, but ditches his own bike back in Massachusetts, coming back every year with a few bikes in tow, sponsoring kids from the Quaboag Riders Motorcycle Club, out of Monson, Massachusetts, who want to compete in the hill climb. Krenzul sits on the board of directors for the club, and enjoys coming up every year. He is especially pleased this year as his mini junior rider, Roman Nuzzolilli, wearing number 915, tore up the hill in his Yamaha with a winning time of 12.403 seconds. His younger rider, in the micro mini event, Hudson Nuzzolilli, wearing number 256, placed first on his Cobra reaching a winning distance of 231 feet.

When Krenzul originally decided to attend the event his son was an avid hill climber, until he outgrew it. Now, Krenzul spreads the love of motorcycles and hill climbing with the children of the Quaboag Riders Motorcycle Club.

The Quaboag Riders Motorcycle Club was founded in 1944, and is one of the oldest motorcycle clubs in the country, according to its website.

The excitement and entertainment bring Krenzul back every year, along with the community.

“It’s a great family. Just little kids running around,” said Krenzul, looking out at the campsite, small children riding their bikes, dust and dirt trailing them. “They don’t let them run around their own town, but here, with people from all different places — it’s a community.”

The event sees riders attempt to bike up the historic, 70-meter Torger Tokle Memorial Ski Jump hill at Gunstock Mountain Resort every year during the country's oldest motorcycle rally.

Many spectators keep coming back for the hill climb of course, and also point to its diverse and vibrant community feel.

Ryan Morton makes the trip every year to Gunstock from Little Compton, Rhode Island. Morton was born and raised around motorcycles, and can’t remember a time when they were not a prominent part of his life. This year, one of his close friends, Ryan Thibault, competed in the hill climb on his KTM, placing third in the 450cc event and fourth in the 4-stroke event.

“It’s the best community you can be around. Usually we meet up, hang out with these guys,” Morton said smiling, gesturing to his friends at the tent behind him. “We spend the day, head back home, and go back to work. It’s a good family event. Good time to come out and just have a good time — and a good excuse to get out of work.”

Roman Farnsworth also takes time off from work for the hill climb, but his version of enjoying the event is working it.

Farnsworth is a part of the hill crew up on the mountain, catching bikes at the top and listening to them rip through the dirt past him. He has been working the event every Motorcycle Week since he was 16 years old.

“This is my favorite event every year, it’s the best event every year. I take time off from work for it every single year,” said Farnsworth. “It’s like Christmas to me.”

Farnsworth also used to ride back in the day, now sometimes dabbling in exhibition races. But being in the atmosphere and community at Gunstock every year keeps him connected to motorcycles and the entire community that comes along with it.