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The Union Leader - June, 2003
Full throttle at Bike Week adds tension, excitement
Attorney General speaks of “undercurrents” between gangs; says police visibility important.
By Paula Tracy
LACONIA-Bike Week was at full throttle yesterday, with tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts crammed into the Weirs Beach section of the city to see the bikes and the crowds.
Attending the Bike Week rally, Gov. Craig Benson took to the stage at a beer tent in the Weirs Beach Lobster Pound, wearing a leather vest that read “Mr. Gov.” and “Live Free or Die” on the back.
He reminded the crowd of the state motto on his back, and another, “Let Those Who Ride, Decide,” which elicited wild cheers.
American Motorcycle Association officials estimate the crowd over the nine-day period will exceed 300,000 and could go higher if the weather is good today.
Attorney General Peter Heed was out among the crowd, dressed in denim. He has been at the event since Friday and has seen it from the air in a State Police helicopter and by water with Marine Patrol.
“This is more crowded than Disney World without the rides,” he said. “From the copter today it is very impressive. Today it is backed up in a solid line to the Meredith boat docks.”
He said he has been meeting with law enforcement agencies who were working hard to stay on top of and potentially diffuse problems, particularly with those among rival biker gangs.
Last year, there were rumors that the hell’s Angels and their enemies could brawl at the event. But reports that there were other rival gangs in the area had police on their toes last night.
“There are a lot of undercurrents going on between some of the biker gangs. They just have to stay on top of it…”visibility is important, “Heed said.
During his visit yesterday afternoon, Gov. Benson went with Heed and several high-ranking law enforcement officials behind closed doors. Also, in the room was P. Scott Bratton, an attorney for the Hell’s Angels, among other people.
Heed said Friday night when it was raining that it appeared there were more police than visitors, but standing in a veritable sea of people at the corner of Lakeside Avenue yesterday, he said the level of law enforcement and the cost to the state was definitely necessary.
“You never know what or where something is going to develop,” he said.
Heed has not attended a Bike Week since 1977, when he was an assistant attorney general.
“It has changed so much. There were no vendors then, “he noted, holding a bag with T-shirts he bought for his family.
Police said Friday night was a washout and there were very few arrests considering the situation.
Early yesterday morning – about 1 a.m. – there was a motorcycle accident in the Weirs in which two people were hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries.
Reporting on Friday’s activities, Laconia Police Chief Tom Oetinger said there were 21 taken into custody in the Weirs Beach area, and State Police Capt. Craig Wiggin said his department handled very few problems. Both said that was down dramatically from previous years.
“It was quiet.” Wiggin said yesterday afternoon, while officers geared up for the last night, when the event saw by far its largest crowd of the week.
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