100th Loudon Classic

[Kurlon]

On the scoreboard/PA front, I just had to buy a scanner for Moto America. I will need to have it with me to get through tech, demonstrating that it can in fact pick up the primary and backup channels used for all official announcements. Local PA, displays, etc are secondary, you must have a crew member listening to that radio at all times.

[tsorfas]

Eli crashed. So did Scott...

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During the classic?

[Paul_E_D]

Yup

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[jimmycapp]

During the classic?

Coming out of last corner on the strait.

He did post the fastest time of the race. Pretty cool

[csmutty]

Coming out of last corner on the strait.

He did post the fastest time of the race. Pretty cool

What was it? That is pretty cool!

[Paul_E_D]

1:19.3 That is a brilliant time. Scottie G has been known to do 19s in the wet, but it hasn't been done in a long time and the pressure was intense.

[tsorfas]

I missed them both I guess.

[OreoGaborio]

Tyler Scott banged our numerous 20s in the rain with no crash. First year ever at NHMS.
Eli clicked a 19.3 in the rain with no crashes.

I lolled

I concur that it is not DANGEROUS in the wet, but it is exceptionally challenging... more so than other tracks. The fact that turns 2 and 12 are both particularly tricky due to pavement changes & lines, AND that they're both enclosed by walls with zero runoff, means that there is nearly a 100% chance of a red flag very single time someone goes down there.

[xrocket21]

I lolled

I concur that it is not DANGEROUS in the wet, but it certainly is exceptionally challenging... and the fact that turns 2 and 12 are both particularly tricky due to pavement changes & lines, AND that it's enclosed by a wall with zero runoff, means that there is nearly a 100% chance of a red flag very single time someone goes down there.

I've gone down in turn 2 in the wet!

[loudbeard]

Been a while since I've attended, and the first time I've watched from Granite Ledge behind Turn 11. Great spot.

I'll say; I definitely came away with a different perspective than before on track safety. I'm a whole lot less racey now, a lot more dad-like, but I wouldn't be compelled to turn anymore competitive laps at NHMS. There's a few sections on that track which constitute unacceptable risk for me. That said, that's me and my personal choice. I'm certainly not here to call an end to the Series.

But....I know there were plenty who thought this event would help grow the Series. That was never going to happen. This was a 1 time deal to celebrate the 100th running of the Classic. It was a 1 time deal for the Series to potentially earn some extra scratch from the gates and vendors. I don't think this event hurt the Series, those who race there will continue to race there. That's all it ever was, there was no one from MA with their eye on NHMS to "see how it goes" and potentially bring the big trucks back.

[JettaJayGLS]

Been a while since I've attended, and the first time I've watched from Granite Ledge behind Turn 11. Great spot.

I'll say; I definitely came away with a different perspective than before on track safety. I'm a whole lot less racey now, a lot more dad-like, but I wouldn't be compelled to turn anymore competitive laps at NHMS. There's a few sections on that track which constitute unacceptable risk for me. That said, that's me and my personal choice. I'm certainly not here to call an end to the Series.

But....I know there were plenty who thought this event would help grow the Series. That was never going to happen. This was a 1 time deal to celebrate the 100th running of the Classic. It was a 1 time deal for the Series to potentially earn some extra scratch from the gates and vendors. I don't think this event hurt the Series, those who race there will continue to race there. That's all it ever was, there was no one from MA with their eye on NHMS to "see how it goes" and potentially bring the big trucks back.

I wasn't expecting it would bring more of the pros to the series (but entice a few spectators to leather up). However, I was hopeful this one race would return year after year. Probably going to be tough to get sponsors to fork up the cash again though...

I'd be curious about the economics of a properly run track/series. Could be a nice little project if the incentives are right. Maybe in my next life.

[sdog30]

Is very expensive to run anything at Loudon. Like $3500 for a day in the parking lot.

The track has always been expensive. When they drop running the race series, and John and Eric picked it up, it got even more expensive. That's why we had to start paying for wristbands even if you registered early and signed up for 3 races. And why you have to pay for camping even if you rent a garage.

The track has never cared about lrrs as a series since I've been going. Having someone else in charge of the series made that worse.

[sdog30]

I think John is realizing that. Eric probably did after the first year. As Pete said, nobody is getting rich running this. The idea of a series run by racers for racers is great, in theory.

[Kurlon]

The track is putting the screws to everyone this year, USCRA got nailed by the camping bit as well.

[Stoneman]

Been a while since I've attended, and the first time I've watched from Granite Ledge behind Turn 11. Great spot.

Damn! Missed you at Rocky Road, missed you up in turn 11. We had a blast up there!

I wasn't expecting it would bring more of the pros to the series (but entice a few spectators to leather up). However, I was hopeful this one race would return year after year. Probably going to be tough to get sponsors to fork up the cash again though...

That's pretty much what I was hoping. I'm not foolish enough to think a big series will return. I was hoping that "The Classic" would get recognized nationally again by bringing in a handful of the big trucks year after year though.

[JettaJayGLS]

Who profits from bike week? Is that a state run event? I feel like they would be the most likely to invest in the classic.

[sdog30]

Who profits from bike week? Is that a state run event? I feel like they would be the most likely to invest in the classic.

I believe it's a local area thing, as they have decided to extend bike week throughout the summer to capitalize on the 100th anniversary. They have several events planned.

Bike week at Laconia started as bikes coming to the race. That somehow got lost over the years. One look at the typical "biker" nowadays should explain that. Lol

[JettaJayGLS]

Makes sense - convincing the bagger series to run at NHMS would seem to be a better fit then.

If you could make a class and get them a race sat & sun, I bet you might attract some locals.

[sdog30]

Makes sense - convincing the bagger series to run at NHMS would seem to be a better fit then.

If you could make a class and get them a race sat & sun, I bet you might attract some locals.

I thought I heard there was clearance issues with the bags that prevent them from being able to run at Loudon.

[Stoneman]

I believe it's a local area thing, as they have decided to extend bike week throughout the summer to capitalize on the 100th anniversary. They have several events planned.

Bike week at Laconia started as bikes coming to the race. That somehow got lost over the years. One look at the typical "biker" nowadays should explain that. Lol

Negative. The "rally" started before the racing. The racing followed about 20 years after the first rally. The rally started shortly after WWI, racing started in the '30's. But for many, many years, "Rally Week" did indeed center around the racing.

[Stoneman]

This explains it rather well, albeit a bit abridged.

https://laconiamcweek.com/history-of-the-rally/

[Stoneman]

Who profits from bike week? Is that a state run event? I feel like they would be the most likely to invest in the classic.

I'm really not sure any one particular organization per se profits from it. A shit ton of vendors, companies, restaurants, dealers, rental property owners, hotels, bars, campgrounds, etc., etc., all stand to make bank during the week. But as far as I know there's not one particular single entity that rakes in gross profits from every event/location.

[sdog30]

Negative. The "rally" started before the racing. The racing followed about 20 years after the first rally. The rally started shortly after WWI, racing started in the '30's. But for many, many years, "Rally Week" did indeed center around the racing.

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

[sdog30]

They could bring AFT back on Saturday night. That seemed popular with spectators and nemrr racers alike. You could do a discount promotion for both tickets for spectators.

Or pay a supermoto org to come in.

Whatever happened to the sidecar racing? That was fun to watch.

[Stoneman]

Negative. The "rally" started before the racing. The racing followed about 20 years after the first rally. The rally started shortly after WWI, racing started in the '30's. But for many, many years, "Rally Week" did indeed center around the racing.

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

Another interesting tidbit: The first races were actually held in Swanzey, NH. It was then moved to Old Orchard Beach for a year or two before it was moved to Belknap Recreation Center (Now known as Gunstock) where it was held for years before moving it to Bryar Motorsports Park (now NHMS).