Outlaws

Trailing a banner behind an airplane flying over Weirs Beach, the Outlaws, an international motorcycle gang like their bitter rivals the Hells Angels, welcomed riders to the 81st running of the Laconia Motorcycle Rally last weekend. But, although a contingent of Outlaws, estimated by police at 60 to 70 strong, "took a ride, they didn't go anywhere near Weirs Beach," according to Trooper Chris Scott of the New Hampshire State Police.

Scott said the Outlaws, who have chapters in Raymond and Manchester, passed time at Shibley's At The Pier in Alton Bay, then rode north toward Laconia. He disclosed that New Hampshire State Police arrested one Outlaw, who was in illegal possession of a knife, near the Laconia bypass.

Belknap County Sheriff Dan Collis said that the Hells Angels treat Laconia and the Weirs as their preserve, and never more than during Bike Week. "The Outlaws were trying to make a statement," he said, adding that they rode as far as McIntyre Circle on the line between Laconia and Gilford. There, Collis said, "the situation was mediated" and the Outlaws left the area.

"Whenever you have two gangs at odds with each other there is a concern," Collis explained. "As a public safety official, when we look at the history of clashes, which have sometimes been violent, our job is to make sure these things don't happen. We do what we can within the parameters of the constitution to prevent these situations," he said.

Collis said that the Hells Angels put "Laconia, New Hampshire on the map when they held their World Run here last year. This year the World Run was in Rio de Janeiro while Bike Week was in Laconia," he continued. "The Outlaws are also a worldwide organization, so when they fly a banner and show their colors around here at this time, it sets off bells and whistles as far as I'm concerned. This was not a poker run for charity," Collis remarked.