Last June, the town of Laconia, New Hampshire, came alive to the sound of rolling thunder. Now this phenomenon wasn’t anything unusual for the folks who live here because this type of occurrence has been happening each summer for the past 80 years! Held from the 7th through the 15th, this rally is the oldest in existence and is one of the three big rallies on the east coast along with Daytona and Myrtle Beach! Located in the scenic White Mountains and alongside Lake Winnipesaukee, Laconia Bike Week is held in one of the most beautiful settings in the country, and with beautiful scenery there is always plenty of great riding.

Rally headquarters was held at Weirs Beach area and up and down the streets in that area one could find vendors who had just about everything imaginable for sale! There were also plenty of great places to eat and the seafood was always fresh. Other attractions for rallyists included boat cruises, and there was even an old-fashioned railroad ride if you wanted to climb out of the saddle for a while. Live music was heard throughout the streets and there was also a host of other entertainment such as “dyno drags,” a vintage motorcycle race, all types of contests, and demo rides; however, the main event itself was the never-ending parade of motorcycles that made their way through the streets of Laconia. And speaking of bikes and riding, Brian had a chance to visit with some of the rally participants about their motorcycles. First, Brian found John Baldwin and his sweet custom ride. This bike was built by Chopper Works of Derry, New Hampshire and features an S & S 124 cubic inch motor! Painted in yellow and featuring custom parts from Ness and Drag Specialties, this bike was a real head turner. John told Brian that he had about 1,000 miles on it and that he plans on riding it a lot! Next, Brian ran into Bob Topinka and his “Woody” Harley-Davidson! Bob told Brian that he had been refinishing a desk at home and the look of the finish was exactly what he wanted to do with his bike! Combined with a great shade of green, this bike looks vintage and oh so fine! What a fantastic paint job!

Many bikers offered their impressions of the week and one word that kept coming up was, “Exciting!” Going from one party to the next was a favorite past time and with places such as The Broken Spoke to wet one’s whistle, no one was disappointed. Finally, one rider summed it up best as he stated, “Everybody is guaranteed a good time if they come down here!” We couldn’t agree with him more. Dates for the 2004 rally have already been set and if you would like more information on this year’s event, or if you are looking forward to next year then visit them on the web at www.laconiamcweek.com. So, until our next ride remember, “Keep the shiny side up and Ride On!”

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