Communication, good weather cooperate for safe start to Laconia Motorcycle Week

WEIRS BEACH — The 102nd Laconia Motorcycle Week has been relatively calm thus far, city and rally leaders said Tuesday. 

Laconia Motorcycle Week Executive Director Charlie St. Clair, Deputy Director Jennifer Anderson and Laconia Fire Chief Tim Joubert met with Mike and Nicholas Farnsworth at The NAWSA Resort for the first of three scheduled press events this week on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday brought rain to the Lakes Region, which has otherwise experienced great luck with weather over the opening days of the rally. 

“We extend our gracious thanks to the Makris family for hosting our press conferences today, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of the rally,” Anderson said. 

“The first weekend was really well organized, it looked like everybody had fun,” Joubert said. “As far as emergency services and first responders go, everybody was working great with both the police department and the fire department.”

On Saturday afternoon, police received a report of a motorcycle striking a pedestrian at Weirs Beach, Police Chief Matt Canfield told The Laconia Daily Sun on Monday. In responding to the scene, officers found both the driver and the pedestrian had left the area. That incident, plus a few minor crashes aside, the week’s been safe. 

“Traffic flowed pretty seamlessly throughout the weekend. No major accidents or events,” Joubert said. “We had three or four minor motorcycle crashes where everybody walked away, nobody was transported, so we’re pretty happy about that.”

Anyone who witnesses an emergency or who calls 911 should stick around until first responders arrive.

“If you happen to call 911 and if you see an accident, we’d really like you to stay on scene so we can identify where that took place,” Joubert said.

“It’s really important that we have a good reference of where that accident took place, so we can help provide those services.”

Running an event as large as Laconia Motorcycle Week takes significant cooperation between public and private parties. 

“I would like to say 'thank you' for security that are working at our establishments on Lakeside Avenue,” Joubert said. “They were well-prepared for the crowds. One of the biggest things for us is the amount of people that are in these establishments — we want to make sure that they’re maintained properly so it’s not overcrowded — and they were on the ball all weekend long, so that was pretty impressive to see.”

Anderson similarly noted the help organizers have received this week from the city’s public works department.

“Another very understated, but important, crew that was on the scene everywhere this weekend is our Laconia Public Works Department,” Anderson said. “They do a great job and they were all out there in spades, making sure that we have everything in place — the trash pickup alone is a job in and of itself.”

And some of the time-honored traditions of Motorcycle Week have already occurred, and went well, organizers said. There’s still a lot left to come. The Peter Makris memorial ride had upwards of 130 participants, led by officers of New Hampshire State Police. Afterward, participants partied at The NASWA. Another tradition, the Loudon Classic, which Anderson said is the oldest road race in the country, culminated in a $400,000 purse, a new record. 

“It’s really just something of a magnitude to see,” Anderson said. 

On Monday, Anderson and St. Clair joined officers from Laconia and the University of New Hampshire in leading the Mae West Memorial For the Love of Pets Ride. 

“That was an [absolutely] beautiful day, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d ridden around the lake, so it was great to be able to do that. There were a lot of riders doing the exact same thing as us, and we ended at the Notch Biergarten at Beans & Greens over in Gilford, kind of on the way to Gunstock, and got to chow down on some pizza,” Anderson said.

“On Saturday, there will be a Gypsy Tour down at the [New Hampshire Motor Speedway], they’re going to do the vintage races on the track, and those are always very popular,” St. Clair said.

The Tower Street Hill Climb happened Tuesday afternoon, and a cruise on the M/S Mount Washington was scheduled for Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning will be the fan-favorite Gunstock Hill Climb in Gilford. 

“Gates open at 8 [a.m.], race starts at 9 [a.m.],” Nicholas Farnsworth of Ridge Runner Promotions said.

Typically, 7,000 to 9,000 spectators come to watch, and this year there will be more than 30 vendors, as well as a beer garden. 

“Each year we try to step it up,” Mike Farnsworth, also of Ridge Runner Promotions, said. “This year, my son Nicholas has taken it over, and done a great job in adding these new things. If you’ve been there, you haven’t seen this year’s show, so come see us this year because we have some new stuff, we have some new classes.” 

“Food, drink and action,” Anderson said.