Motorcycle races come and go. Grand Prix racing in the United States, for example, has taken place since World War II in four different locations – Daytona, Laguna, Indianapolis and Austin – with gaps as long as 23 years between Grand Prix events.
Through it all, the Loudon Classic has been there. Since the time of World War I, when motorcycles were barely more than motorized bicycles and paved roads were a novelty, motorcyclists have descended on the New Hampshire Lakes Region for rallies, recreation and racing.
The actual beginning of the race that would become known as the Loudon Classic is shrouded in the mists of history. The first rally in the area took place in 1916, and was (according to Wikipedia) officially recognized in 1923 by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM), an organization later to become the American Motorcyclists Association. Part of what the FAM called its Gypsy Tour, the rally was a destination event to promote motorcycling. Now known as Laconia Motorcycle Week, the event “included races, shows and a motorcycle hill climb competition,” Wikipedia states.
Now, one must be clear that the modern concept of an organized race is very, very different than what was happening back then. According to the book Laconia Motorcycle Week, edited by Charlie St. Clair and Jennifer Anderson, “The unorganized motorcycle hill climbs took place on Tower Street off of Lakeside Avenue, while other races took place anywhere they could be managed.” It is easy to see why reliable information about these early races is difficult to come by.
Things got more organized in the 1930s. In 1933, the AMA introduced a new category of racing for street machines, and in 1934 organizers held a 200-mile race on a 3.3-mile track in Swanzey, New Hampshire. The first race to be called the Laconia Classic, the event was won by Babe Tancrede on a Harley-Davidson.
The race was held for a year at Old Orchard Beach, Main, then moved to the Belknap Recreational Area near Laconia in New Hampshire. It was held there until 1963, and during that time the rally grew to become the largest gathering of motorcyclists in the U.S. until its popularity was overtaken by the Sturgis rally in the 1970s.
When the Belknap circuit was closed after the 1963 race, another circuit was created in Loudon, approximately 20 miles away. The Bryar Motorsports Park circuit featured 11 turns in 1.6 miles, and was known for its spectator-friendliness – a fan in the stands could see pretty much the whole circuit. It was during this period that the event became known as the Loudon Classic. It was also known for the, um, unruly behavior of some of those in attendance.
American motorcycling historian Larry Lawrence wrote in a recent article: “Loudon gained a reputation for the wild atmosphere that encompassed the event. Riders camped in the woods surrounding the track, and when the sun went down the craziness began. One particular area of the camping grounds surrounding the track known as ‘Animal Hill’ gained notoriety for its wild happenings, such as car and motorcycle burnings, dirt hill motorcycle drag races, and fireworks fights, sometimes all at once.”
After the 1989 event – won by AMA Superbike Champion Jamie James – the track was closed and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway constructed at the location. It features an oval/road course, but unusually, the road course section of the circuit snakes outside of the oval. Increasing speeds and a lack of runoff room led to the race being removed from the AMA Pro Road Racing calendar – it’s noteworthy that the Classic is run with middleweight machines. Eric Bostrom won the final AMA Superbike race at the facility in 2001.
