By AARON HOWARD

Staff Sports Writer

GILFORD — Motorcycle week is official under way.

Gunstock’s Vintage Weekend will kick off the motorcycle mania with two days of festivities on Saturday and Sunday. Gunstock will play host to the Belknap Vintage Bike Show, a swapmeet and time trials on Saturday and on Sunday it will hold the Belknap Vintage Classic Races.

"This is very different from any other event that goes on during bike week," said Gunstock Director of Marketing Debbie Irwin. "This is sort of the kickoff of motorcycle week. Before motorcycle week used to only really be a three-day event. Now there’s plenty of different activities to choose from throughout the area and this is one of them."

Gunstock has been at the center of motorcycle activities since the first Laconia Classic was run at the Gilford resort in 1938. Now in its 80th season, bike week continues to focus on the Gilford resort as it will draw approximately 5,000 motorcyclists for its Belknap Classic Vintage Race.

"This is the original course that was first raced on," said Irwin. "There’s going to be a lot of history and heritage here on display this week."

It starts on Saturday in Gilford with the vintage swapmeet which attracts bike and restoration aficionados.

The swapmeet shares the Saturday billing with the Belknap Vintage Bike Show and observed trials. The trials are a test of motorcycling skill over the most rugged terrain imaginable including logs, stumps, boulders and stream beds. The vintage trials have international sanctioning and competitors from Europe are expected. Admission for the Saturday event is only $10 and gates open at 8 a.m..

"A lot of the bikes you’ll see are works of art," Irwin pointed out. "They are very different motorcycles than the ones that are made today."

On Sunday, the mountains around Gunstock will ring with the sound of motorcycles — dating as far back as the 1930s — racing around the old Laconia Classic road course as the AMA/USCRA sanctioned Belknap Classic Vintage Race gets underway.

Featuring the classic marquees of the era including Harleys, Indians, Ducattis, Triumphs, Nortons and others, the intense racing action makes for an exciting day at the track. Another spectator favorite is the sidecar races that feature a two-person team, the driver and the passenger, as they use their weight to negotiate the curvy track.

General adult admission is $20 and a special weekend ticket is $20. Kids 10 and under get in for free with a paying adult. The gates open on Sunday at 8 a.m., practice starts at 10 and racing action begins at 1.

"Vintage weekend is shaping up well," said Irwin. "The weather looks like it’s going to hold out for us and that’s the key thing. It’s a great family event and it’s a great event for people who love motorcycles."

If anyone’s looking to quench their need for speed, Lee USA Speedway is the place to be tonight. The 350 Super Modifieds return to the .38-mile track along with its regular divisions. General adult admission cost is $12, children (11-15) is $6 and kids under the age of 10 are free. Gates are set to open at 2:30 with the first heat set to take off at 6:45.

The Camaro-Firebird Challenge will keep things rolling along at New England Dragway on Saturday. There will also be a Camaro and Firebird Car Show from 9 a.m. through 5. The day will also feature the Jr. Dragsters and the Dan Page Race Cars Quick Rod series. Drivers will also have a chance to test out their machines with an open test session.

The high speed racing excitement in Epping will conclude on Sunday with the Sunoco Race Fuels ET Series/New England Dragway bracket racing program. The Dan Page Race Cars Quick Rod Series will also be racing on Sunday. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., time trials begin at 9, eliminations are scheduled to begin around 1.

This Saturday, Star Speedway will be showing its patriotic side. Star will host U.S. Army Night, featuring the NEMA Midget Special plus NASCAR Pro Stocks, 350 Supers, Streets, Strictlys and Roadrunners. Gates are slated to swing open at 3 p.m., hot laps start at 4, autographs begin at 5:30 and racing gets underway at 6.

A colossal night of racing is planned for White Mountain Motorsports Park as the American Canadian Tour heads into North Woodstock for a 100-lap main event on Saturday.

Also on the card will be the Late Models, Super Streets, Strictly Streets, Strictly Mini’s and the Mini-Cup Cars. Gates open at 1 p.m., practice begins at 2, and post time is at 5.

If anyone’s looking for a prelude to next weekend’s 80th Loudon Classic — New Hampshire International Speedway is the place to be this weekend. The Loudon Road Racing Series rolls onto the Magic Mile on Saturday and Sunday.

Some of the best amateur series drivers will take their motorcycles to the newly renovated track. The Loudon Road Racing Series is a seven weekend series with riders from around the country. There are nine races and the gates open at 8 a.m. There is a $10 general admission charge for fans wishing to attend with an extra charge if you plan on going in the pit area.

There’s more awesome asphalt racing this weekend at Canaan Fair Speedway.

Canaan keeps the pedal to the medal on Saturday as it hosts its five weekly racing divisions plus the Senior Tour of Auto Racers. General admission for the grandstands is $9 and the enclosed grandstands are $11.

Gates open at 3, practice is at 4 and racing starts promptly at 6. Adult admission is $10, students (Age 12-16) are $6, children (Age 6-11) are $2 and kids under 6 get in free. There is also a pit charge of $20 for members and $25 non members.