1980 Laconia Classic

[Johnny B]

Pictures by Gary Remal

"Speaking of 1980s AMA races, here is what I have found. A guy down the street was a young reporter in the Loudon area in 1980. Not knowing anything about motorcycle races, he went with a photographer friend to the Loudon race. His friend set him up with a camera and a few pointers and said Good Luck. Well, what I have is 70+ pictures of that day. Some good, some fuzzy. There are a few side car shots of the #s 21, 44, 5,7,1,45,and 71. Some of Freddie Spencer, Rich Schlachter and Adamo`s bike in the water. Action shots and stuff."

Steve Baker (the other one)

[highsider]

Thanks for posting that up, brings back a lot of memories. My father raced down there in 1982/1983; I remember watching him from atop the Bryar building.

[OreoGaborio]

wow, those are some great old-school shots

[Collision pro]

Looks all backwards to me...but pretty cool!!

[Johnny B]

Originally posted by Collision pro
Looks all backwards to me...but pretty cool!!

There were lots of banked turns in the old course. In these pictures, the right hander is Turn 6. Located just about where the current Turn 6 is, it came down the hill and emptied onto a straight. It was a single apex turn. It fed into Turn 8, the left hander in the pictures and the tightest turn in the course. Overshooting it put you in the pond, just like Jimmy Adamo (#6) did in the race.

[bentbryan]

Thanks Johnny! Cool pics! See you next w/e!

[Collision pro]

So was it backwards??

[OreoGaborio]

nah, you're just lookin at the pictures upside down.... flip your monitor back upright

[legalspeed]

Originally posted by Collision pro
So was it backwards??

Yes, they used to run the course backwards. The pond was a big factor.

[Johnny B]

Originally posted by legalspeed
Yes, they used to run the course backwards. The pond was a big factor.

The Bryar course went clockwise, NHIS is counterclockwise. We used to run roughly two weekends a year backwards, referring to the track as "Noduol" (great way to remember proper spelling of Loudon). No way this can be done at NHIS because of safety. The only difference was that if you overshot Turns 3 and 8 at Loudon, you ended up in the pond. If you overshot Turn 1 at Noduol, you ended up in the pond.

[Collision pro]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
nah, you're just lookin at the pictures upside down.... flip your monitor back upright

Your right....my whole house is upside down right now!!

[TLRMan]

They didn't run it backwards...That's how it was supposed to be run.....the pond ate more than a few....
Turn 10 with a cement wall looking at you was fun too.
noduol was fun too....

[Ken C]

Great pictures! Really brings me back. I raced an RD400 in 1986-89.

[gsxrjack]

great pics, i raced at loudon from 1985 to 1995, I loved the old track,and enjoyed it going backwards also...hate the new track but stuck it out for a few years on it, raced 600 ninja and 600 hurricanes and gsxr750's and was a member of team roadrash racing for endurance races....great pics

gsxrjack at old loudon

[Honclfibr]

This thread requires more love.

[need4speed]

Thanks for the pic Johnny

[Kip]

Funny thing is 1980 was the last time the track was paved.

[gixxer6]

I salute you Johnny, for posting that. An amazing look at the heritage of the Classic. Thank you very much.

Heath-

[a13x]

I've looked at these pics many times. Love them, wish I was there.

I dig the old Goodyear tires. John Owens the hippy, Jerry Wood in the white pants (after labour day?), John Bettencourt, and Mike Valesco. M.Valesco has built some sick Hawk motors in his day.

[Ken C]

Me in 1986. Probably in the bowl.
If the attachment doesn't work go
HERE . It's the fifth photo down.

[Ken C]

Here's more:
My "pit" area. Dirt and rocks.

This is looking toward the old turn 10 that goes onto the straight. Where I'm standing to take the picture is probably where turn 2 is now. Notice the scoring building in the background.

[bigred875]

great pics

[Rick Lee]

Holy shit!!! Hey Thanks For posting these. The 31st picture has my dad in it...Leif is Jeff Woods mech now.

bike #76 is present AMA announcer Richard Chambers, tuned by Leif Gustavson

Are these copyrighted because i want this picture if you don't mind me lifting it????

[brewmaster]

Thanks for posting them. I enjoyed seeing what 20-25 years has done to NHIS and racing....very cool. What do you think it will look like in 20-25 years from now?.....

[OreoGaborio]

Originally posted by brewmaster
What do you think it will look like in 20-25 years from now?.....

EXACTLY.... THE SAAAAME