LACONIA, N.H. (AP) – An estimated 350,000 bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts spent about $240 million before they roared out of the city Sunday, according to organizers of the 80th annual Bike Week.

The American Motorcycle Association estimated that crowds were up 100,000 from last year, which was regarded as a washout due to rain.

Though downpours kept attendance light Saturday night, sunshine on Sunday made for a big finish.

Despite the large turnout, police said there was little trouble.

Laconia reported 86 custodial arrests during the nine days, mostly for public drunkenness.

There was one fatal crash related to the event and several serious accidents but far less than previous years, according to organizers.

“The whole week’s been quiet,” said Laconia Police Chief Tom Oetinger.

Oetinger said the crowds and traffic congestion in Weirs Beach on Friday night were sparser than he has seen in some of his 20-plus years working the rally. He speculated that more people are coming up for the start of Bike Week, staying a few days, and then leaving before the final weekend.

Charlie St. Clair, executive director of the Laconia Motorcycle Rally and Race Week Association, said that phenomenon also is seen at other rallies, including at the Sturgis rally in South Dakota.

There were few altercations. State police reported one trooper was hit with an apple; a cruiser was hit with a lawn chair. Both incidents led to arrests. From a police perspective, “this rally was successful,” Oetinger said.

Vendors said they made money, most of it in the last two to three days.

Tom Recel, who operated 17 Biker Design T-shirt booths in Laconia, consolidated to just two booths Sunday and was selling off what stock he had left.

“Today was very, very good weather. People were here from 8 o’clock in the morning,” he said.

Jennifer Anderson, director of Laconia Rally and Race Week, said this was perhaps the best rally in terms of cooperation and a united front to support the event.

“The positive outlook was everywhere,” she said.

First-time Bike Week attendee Keith Fowler, who, along with his wife Connie and other family members and friends, traveled from Canajoharie, N.Y., said they were all having a great time, although Bike Week was a bit bigger than they anticipated.

Having ridden in on Friday night, the group was running out of time to explore the many Bike Week activities that were going on not just in Weirs Beach, but throughout the state, said Fowler.

Bike Week is “quite an event,” Fowler said. “I’m sure we’ll come again. You really can’t take it in one day.”

Next year’s event is set for June 12-20.

AP-ES-06-16-03 0736EDT

Copy the Story Link