Program to generate funds for community

By MELANIE NELSON

Staff Writer

LACONIA — A new event added to an already busy Motorcycle Week is expected to generate revenue for the city when thousands of bikers from around the world travel here this June.

Executive director of the Laconia Motorcycle Rally and Race Association, Charlie St. Clair said the Laconia Parks and Recreation Department gave him permission to hold a motorcycle show at Opechee Park on Friday, June 18, of Motorcycle Week.

He said the show will help to bring in money for the city to help offset the cost of hosting the annual event.

"This is just a good opportunity," said St. Clair. "This is a Laconia city event. It’s a good way to raise a little extra revenue to help pay for the cost of having Motorcycle Week."

Opechee Park is a great setting, he said. People will be able to come and go as they want.

St. Clair said on Tuesday a man who has participated in Motorcycle Week the last two years took advantage of the nice weather to ride his motorcycle up from Rhode Island.

St. Clair said the visitor was disappointed that the vintage motorcycle race at Gunstock, usually held on the first weekend of Motorcycle Week, has been canceled. However, the visitor was pleased to hear about the new motorcycle show at Opechee Park.

Motorcycle Week is scheduled for June 12-20 this year and a motorcycle show will be held downtown at the Black Cat on the Thursday, June 17, and the one at Opechee Park will be held the following day.

St. Clair said he doesn’t expect he will have any problem finding motorcyclists who will want to show off their bikes.

There will be a $15 charge for those interested in entering a bike in the show, he said. General admission will be $2 or $3.

"I think within a few years, if everything goes well and it’s well attended, it will become a must-see show," said St. Clair.

By having it close to what started as the official Motorcycle Weekend, still the most popular part of the week, he said it makes it convenient for people to bring their bikes here for the show.

"All of the proceeds will go back to the city’s general fund," he said. "This will be a good thing for the city."

He said organizers will be looking for volunteers to help out at the park.

"It will be fun," he said. "I look forward to it."

There will be judges at the show looking at the bikes and the winner will receive a trophy or plaque, said St. Clair.

He expects to see everything from "Rat Bikes," which are older and have unusual features, to the more expensive custom bikes.

St. Clair said he loves his bike and loves riding, but doesn’t have any intentions of putting it in the show.