Laconia Motorcycle Week postponed; Thunder in the Valley canceled
The Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire scheduled for June 13-21 has been postponed to Aug. 22-30 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile, Johnstown, Pa.’s Thunder in the Valley that was set for June 25-28 has been canceled. Organizers hope motorcyclists from around the country will plan to attend the event June 24-27, 2021. The annual rally features vendors, live music and displays from a variety of motorcycle manufacturers. Info: www.visitjohnstownpa.com/thunder-valley.
Laconia Motorcycle Week and Thunder in the Valley are AMA Gypsy Tours, which are some of the largest motorcycling gatherings on the planet. The Gypsy Tour tradition began in June 1925, less than a year after the creation of the AMA. Thousands of motorcyclists all over the country joined together and held the first-ever AMA-sanctioned Gypsy Tour. These weekend rides, usually including field meets and other forms of entertaining competition, became a staple of the AMA.
This year, Laconia Motorcycle Week organizers announced they were changing the dates of the massive event after the Laconia City Council decided to reschedule the rally. New Hampshire is under a stay-at-home order because of the virus. Officials felt that June was too early “for a gathering of tens of thousands of people in Weirs Beach and beyond, particularly considering that most visitors travel from out of state.”
Another massively popular motorcycle gathering that may be postponed or even canceled this year is the 80th Sturgis (S.D.) Black Hills Rally planned for Aug. 7-16. The Sturgis City Council will decide on June 15 whether to allow the event to proceed as scheduled. The Sturgis rally offers concerts, vendors, motorcycle racing and plenty of road riding opportunities. Info: www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com.