Laconia Motorcycle Week facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laconia Motorcycle Week |
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Line-up of motorcycles at Weirs Beach during the 2007 event
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| Genre | Motorcycle rally |
| Dates | Historically 9 days in June, ending on Father's Day |
| Location(s) | Laconia, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Attendance | 375,000 (2004) c. 188,000 (2010) |
| Patron(s) | Laconia Motorcycle Rally and Race Association |
Laconia Motorcycle Week is a big yearly event where motorcycle riders gather in Laconia, New Hampshire, United States. It's one of the oldest and most famous motorcycle rallies in the country. People come from all over to enjoy riding, watch races, and celebrate their love for motorcycles.
The event started way back in 1916. At first, it was a "Gypsy Tour," which meant groups of motorcyclists would ride together to a fun destination. The New Hampshire Lakes Region was a popular spot for early riders from cities like New York, Boston, and Montreal. Over time, this gathering grew into a huge event. Its popularity even led to the creation of the Loudon Classic motorcycle race in 1934. This race became very important in American motorcycle racing. The rally usually lasts for nine days in June, ending on Father's Day. For many years, it was the biggest motorcycle gathering in North America.
Contents
History of Laconia Motorcycle Week
How the Rally Began
The Laconia rally started in June 1916. A few hundred motorcyclists met at Weirs Beach in Laconia. Seven years later, a group called the Federation of American Motorcyclists officially recognized the event. It became part of their "Gypsy Tour" series. During these tours, motorcyclists enjoyed races and hill climbs for a whole weekend. The Federation supported the event until 1960.
Growing Popularity and Challenges
More and more motorcyclists kept coming back to Laconia each year. Soon, people started arriving earlier in the week. This made the rally unofficially a week-long event. Local businesses really liked the rally because it helped kick off their busy tourist season.
However, Laconia's Bike Week faced some tough times. In the summer of 1965, there was a disturbance involving some motorcycle groups and local police. This event got a lot of attention from news channels across the country. After this, police and city officials started to see the rally as a problem. They made rules stricter, and the number of events during the week went down. The rally eventually became a shorter, three-day weekend event. This caused many participants to stop coming.
Bringing the Rally Back
It wasn't until the early 1990s that things started to change. Businesses in Laconia wanted to bring back more tourists. They asked the Federation of American Motorcyclists for help to make the rally a week-long event again. Eventually, these business owners teamed up with local motorcycle groups. They formed the Laconia Motorcycle Rally and Race Association. This group now organizes all the events for Motorcycle Week. They also promote the event across the country and give licenses to vendors. Today, Laconia Motorcycle Week is a nine-day event. It always starts or ends on Father's Day.
Safety at Motorcycle Week
Safety is very important at any large event, including Laconia Motorcycle Week. Sometimes, accidents can happen, especially with so many people riding motorcycles. It's important for all riders to be careful and follow traffic rules.
In New Hampshire, riders over 18 years old are not required by law to wear motorcycle helmets. Some people believe this rule attracts certain riders to events in the state. However, wearing a helmet is a very important way to stay safe while riding. Many riders who have been involved in accidents at Laconia Motorcycle Week were not wearing helmets. This is often mentioned in news reports. Wearing a helmet can help protect riders in case of an accident.
