(Press Release from New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
Shane Narbonne (center) will be going for his 7th Loudon Classic win on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Photo: Courtesy New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
LOUDON, N.H. – New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s traditional three days of racing caps off a busy Laconia Motorcycle Week and will be highlighted by the 95th annual Loudon Classic, the longest-running motorcycle race in America, June 15-17.
“Motorcycle Week has gotten off to a strong start this year with perfect weather and crowds of riders from all over New England,” said David McGrath, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “Father’s Day weekend will be a hit with on-track action, and I can’t think of a better way to close out the week than with the Loudon Classic.”
With more than 36 races in three days on the 1.6-mile road course, the race weekend will feature different series and types of motorcycles, including the Moat Mountain Legends and J&J’s Yolk and Co. Oval Series, which are powered by motorcycle engines, USCRA Side Cars and the Loudon Road Race Series.
The 95th annual Loudon Classic feature event will be run by the Loudon Road Race Series in the form of Middleweight Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon. The Loudon Classic has been held on-site since long before the speedway was built when it was simply a road course known as Bryar Motorsports Park.
Shane Narbonne from Tyngsboro, Mass. will return to defend his title. Narbonne has the most wins of any rider, including the last three in a row, and holds the record for being the youngest winner in Loudon Classic history. Last year, the 28-year-old set a new record with his sixth Loudon Classic title.
The LRRS Supermoto event will take place in the S3 lot on a specially-designed track that combines asphalt and dirt for only $5 a ticket on Friday. Classes will range from small mini bikes to the pro-sized 450s with qualifying and features for three classes (Super Mini, Lites and Open). A $5,000 purse is up for grabs in the Lites and Open classes, so don’t miss the dirt-slinging and sideways-sliding action at 4:45 p.m.
Other Motorcycle Week Features You Can Still Catch
The Dunlop Burnout Pit will be open Thursday – Sunday, allowing visitors the chance to burn some rubber. Located in the S2 lot, awards will be given for the top burnout each day. The entry fee for the competition is $10.
Speedway Children’s Charities – New Hampshire Chapter Ride for Kids presented by WILDCO Petroleum Equipment Sales & Service is set for Wednesday. This charity motorcycle ride starts at Heritage Harley Davidson in Concord, N.H., tours approximately 100 miles up and around Lake Winnipesaukee before returning to the speedway for two laps around “The Magic Mile” and a cookout. All profits benefit Speedway Children’s Charities – New Hampshire Chapter, which helps children from all over New England. To register, please visit www.SpeedwayCharities.org/Events.
The North East Motor Sports Museum’s new motorcycle exhibit is now open. The new display focuses on two important historic aspects of North East motorcycling from the 1970s. The very special FIM Engineering Excellence trophy from the first and only FIM International Six Days Trial ever held in the U.S., along with factory memorabilia and a ROKON off-road RT III are on display. You can also see the 1963 DOT motorcycle that AMA Hall of Fame member Al Eames used to set parts of the course for the 1973 ISDT. The museum is open Friday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Home to the largest motorcycle demo ride course, the speedway is hosting the most manufacturers of any location at Laconia Motorcycle Week. Indian, Slingshot, Yamaha, Aprilia, and MotoGuzzi are offering demo rides and guided tours along an 11-mile route of back roads and speedway property on the latest motorcycle models.
On top of the demo rides, there are more than 25 vendors on-site with gear, accessories and more for bikers. Vendors include Soundz, Fast Lights and many more.
For those looking for food, drinks and entertainment, the Miller High Life Hub is the place to be. Starting Wednesday, live music presented by Outlaw Nation will invade the hub with two bands playing each day through Saturday. This year’s lineup includes Porter & Sayles, Dream Spectrum, Stone Senate, Dave Fields, Dionysia, Hillbilly Vegas and Jeremy Bar-Illan Band.
Using antique Indian, Harleys and go-karts, the Wild Wheels Thrill Arena’s “Wall of Death” will provide four days of heart-pounding entertainment starting Thursday.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is located just 20 miles from Laconia Motorcycle Week headquarters at Weirs Beach and on scenic Route 106.
Check out the full Motorcycle Week schedule
For ticket information on all 2018 events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, including the July 20-22 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race weekend and the September 21-22 Full Throttle Fall Weekend, please stop by the ticket office, visit the speedway website at www.nhms.com, or call Fan Relations at (603) 783-4931.
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