Loudon Reborn
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• The Loudon National on June 19 and over the country, a name and an event cape for a weekend from the frowning 20 was not simply another road race known to all. straight world and live for a glorious mo meeting. It was the reestablishment of a Not only were competition enthusiasts ment in freedom, beer, and ten solid miles long tradition, broken in 1974 when the attracted, but also the road riders who of choppers. Simply because of their vast numbers of bikers and campers that took part in the AMA’s Gypsy Tours, and numbers, if for no other reason, all of lined the highways near the track were eventually also those riders who took the these people could not see the race. They just too much for law enforcement of Marion Brando Wild Ones image as their were there for the happening, and at its ficials, the AMA, and the press. model. There was a split in the nature of peak in 1974, there were an estimated 30- The very first New England area spring the Laconia fan which widened with time. 50,000 people lining the ten miles of New time motorcycle national was held long The event grew in importance, and so did Hampshire Route 106, adjoining the track, before the war, on a cinder track in Mas the number of paying spectators. At the oblivious to the men, machines, and sachusetts. The event grew, and over the same time, the social aspects of the event drama on the inside. years moved several times, eventually grew as well. Laconia became an annual At this point, everything stopped. The gaining AMA sanction. Laconia became a opportunity to camp out at the roadside AMA and local authorities doubted their focus for motorcycle enthusiasts from all among many other bikers, happy to es ability to maintain order in such a mon- 46 CYCLE strous gathering of humanity, and so the National Road Race at Loudon/Laconia was no more. LOUDON REBORN Ten years before, with fewer people present, there had been a nasty incident The battleline was drawn hard and sharp: Gary Nixon and his at nearby Weirs Beach that quickly esca Kanemoto-Kawasaki pitted against the OW-31s. It would be lated as bikers, local youth, the National a contest of divine inspiration versus divine technology. Guard and police suddenly were at one another and many people were hurt. It By Kevin Cameron was smoothed over, but the memory re mained. With more people, and attitudes no better than before, one unlucky con frontation would be all it would take to convert the whole area into a war zone. The 1974 event was peaceful enough, PHOTOGRAPHY: DENNIS CAPRIO SEPTEMBER 1976 47 | '"'4sr~ ' Igj F i WdL John Jacobson, my race sponsor, a of opinion, believing that the Laconia LOUDON REBORN long-time supporter of road racing and a races could run again, provided that they as it turned out, and was certainly one of New England motorcycle dealer, began to were returned to their proper focus; the largest displays of counterculture look into the possibility of promoting fu motorcycle competition. In due course, a since Woodstock. Impromptu drag races ture events at Loudon. Early in 1975 it law was promulgated to ban roadside were staged, with bearded and costumed seemed that only he and Gary Nixon camping, and in 1975 a major AAMRR “marshals” holding up traffic to clear a (whose skill on the Loudon circuit is tran club race was held on the date of the patch of asphalt. Improbable-looking scendental) were in favor of any future at deceased National. There was no trouble competitors, often stark naked, attempted all for the fifty-year tradition. of any kind. zany and incredibly dangerous stunts of Meetings were held, attended by the This showed the truth of Jacobson’s their heavy machines. The road was solid- AMA, Mr. Jacobson, the state governor’s assumptions; that motorcycle race fans packed, treeline to pavement, with every office, and the police. They made a re are no different from any other kind, and kind of alternative culture freak, weekend markable discovery: there was no law that if large concentrations of people “outlaw,” party-goers, along with all the against roadside camping! Jacobson could be properly entertained, everything many others who had come to see them. began to wade vigorously against the tide would be fine. 48 CYCLE Production class winning Moto Guzzi, riddenjby Mike Baldwin and prepared by Reno Leoni, disappeared from the BMWs. Brake problems with Nixon out, Roberts forged a lead, and then . slowed Super-BMWs of Fisher (24) and Pridmore (63) Nothing was easy. The AMA, nervous hysteria. His rational and methodical ar safe and well-managed. There was no as ever about its image, offered objec guments brought progress and under roadside camping, and there was no trou tions of every kind. The track surface was standing. An island of possibility began to ble about it. Bikers bought weekend tick too bumpy, there were too many bushes, emerge as the seas of doubt receded. ets, stayed in the prepared camping areas spectator facilities weren’t sufficient. They Still, the advance was slow, requiring all of near the track, and watched the race from wanted to see the purse money well Jacobson’s considerable energy and ne the new perimeter road that allows spec ahead of time. With repeated meetings, gotiating skill. Even up to the last minute, tators to walk around the entire track. letters and phone calls, Jacobson when tentative agreement had been A fair number of people entered the smoothed down their ruffled fur. If this, reached with all parties, lawsuits and re track without paying, but Jacobson was that, and the other could be guaranteed, straining orders kept shooting up like happy with this, too, because there they they might sanction a 1976 race. dandelions, and the AMA was still fussing were at the track, not out on the road, The various area police forces were over the paving controversy. facing tense police and guardsmen as in also worried. Further meetings were held, The results were a satisfaction for years past. with Jacobson continuing to present the everyone. The attendance for the two For next year, it can be better. This matter as legitimate business and not days was a new record. The racing was success has cleared the uncertainties SEPTEMBER 1976 49 Kanemoto, who says with commendable has never been stronger in the East. The LOUDON REBORN modesty that Gary will get out front if you ripples left by heavy racing cars are no away, and made the event attractive to only give him a half-decent bike. Nev surprise any more, just a fact of racing life. potential sponsors. There are plans for ertheless, you can be sure that Nixon’s Many of the complaints that had worried further improvement of facilities, and for semi-worked Kawasaki KR-750 is many the AMA had more to do with the poor better advertising and promotion. times the machine it was when Erv first state of 750 suspension in 1974 than with Even the infamous “promoter’s fee,” opened the crate. There was to have been the track. Private 750 Yamahas, many of the AMA’s new levy on the riders’ bank a special chassis for Loudon, a massive them still on original shocks and lacking accounts, was returned to the purse as structure of 1%" tubing (1 Vs" is usual) the indispensable front fork modification, the main event came to the grid. It had not based on the proven frame already built were truly dangerous-looking that year. rained, there had been no riot, and the by Kanemoto for Nixon’s Suzuki, which Cresting any of several rises on the gate had paid for everything. won this race in 1974, but the frame was course, they would wheelie and go The special interest for the road racing held up in production. straight into a divergent wobble that only fan was the renewed battle between Gary This is not to say there were no other rolling off would cure. More than one rider Nixon and everybody else. Gary has won actors in the play. Gene Romero was rode the race at seven tenths because of the last two races here, in 1973 and 1974, there on a Vesco Yamaha looked after by this, and might well have gotten around and his special knowledge of this track Don Vesco himself. (His streamliner is quicker on a 350. would have made him the clear favorite languishing for lack of sponsorship.) Ron Today most builders know what to do here were it not for the Yamaha OW-31 s Pierce would ride my restored-to-health for 750 handling, and it was a much safer- of Ken Roberts and Steve Baker. The Kawasaki KR-750. Rapidly up-and-com looking race and a faster one. There are OWs have been the stars of the season, ing Randy Cleek was on Larry Worrell’s still a few diehards trying to finesse it on pushing forward the frontiers of 750 ex (Mississippi Round Man) much-modified old 350s, but no one seriously believes cellence in a sweeping gesture encom TZ-750 Yamaha, benefiting from Larry’s that lightweight handling and power add passing power, braking, handling and European undercover work. Yvon du- up to much alongside heavyweight han weight simultaneously. At Daytona, Vene Hamel, on the sole factory Kawasaki, was dling and power. zuela, Imola, Paul Ricard, and at the En all but paying his own way, having signed Testimony to the improvement was the glish Match Races, they had made other to do only three races in the US this year.