25th Annual Laconia Championship Road Races
25TH ANNUAL LACONIA CHAMPIONSHIP ROAD RACES
BOYD REYNOLDS
THE 1963 LACONIA Silver Anniversary Road Race will be recorded in history as one of the high-tension events of the calendar year. It was a race started with a shock, spiced with surprise and topped off with a climactic punch bettering even an Alfred Hitchcock creation.
The winner was young Jody Nicholas of Nashville, Tennessee who, except for two laps, led from the start on a gleaming red BSA to set a new track record of 1 hour, 35 minutes, 47:77 seconds for an average speed of 62.632 mph. The old record was held by Dick Mann at 1 hour, 36 minutes, 15:12 seconds.
Hard pressed all the way by the Monroeville, Ohio Harley-Davidson rider George Roeder, the crowd came to their feet screaming when Jody fell at the start-finish line almost under the yellow-one-lap-to-go flag. Roeder whizzed past and in an actionfast recovery, the tiny BSA rider was after him a scant machine length behind.
All eyes were strained watching the down hill section through the tall mountain pines and everyone whispered “can he make it?” Rider after rider rounded the hairpin turn, practically unnoticed, then quiet fell over the largest capacity crowd to ever witness this 100 Mile Championship spectacular.
Then down the hill they came, Jody Nicholas had passed Roeder and was in the lead, the crowd cheered and screamed so loud that motorcycle exhausts were drowned out, girls were jumping up and down, BSA pit men were hugging each other as their rider took the checkered flag to win.
Jody’s earnings for this win were $1,500 for the win, $150.00 in lap money and $100.00 for the fastest time trial of the day at 54.56 seconds. The old lap record was held by Ralph White at 55:84 seconds.
Passed only once by Dick Hammer (HD ) in the third lap, Jody regained his lead in the fifth lap. Hammer dropped out in the 60th lap after being lapped by the leader. Roeder, who was in 9th position at the end of lap 1, progressed steadily up, passing third running Roger Reiman in lap 11 and the second running man, Tony Murguia in lap 12. From this point on he ranged from running almost alongside of the leader to several hundred yards to the rear at times.
Last year’s Champion, Dick Mann, was not even in contention at the end of ten laps. As he progressed ahead, he got involved in several duels with other fast running competitors. For almost 20 laps he and Ralph White rode fender to fender and wheel to wheel. It was evident, however, that this professional BSA rider had one thought in mind, to top the heap.
If duplication could be classified, then we have a carbon copy turned out by Norton mounted Amateur Tony Woodman from Far Hills, New Jersey. For the 50 Mile go-round, Woodman was headed for laps 3 through 6 by Don Kiger (BSA) and laps 7 through 10 by Buddy Elmore (Triumph). From here on it was Woodman all the way to bring the famous Norton name once more into the winner’s circle. It was a gripping nip and tuck battle to start off, but Tony soon showed his agility on the one-mile mountain circuit in the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area.
Sunday’s races climaxed a week of twowheeled action promoted by the New England Motorcycle Dealer’s Association, Bill Scheitinger of Bridgeport, Connecticut, General Chairman. The first race was held at the New Hampshire Park in 1938 and was a 200 mile event won by Indian mounted Ed Kretz, Sr. in 4 hours and 52 minutes. To break it to 100 miles, it would be 2 hours and 26 minutes, just 51 minutes longer than this year’s record set by Jody Nicholas.
The first major events of the week were drag races on Wednesday. .The fastest time through the electronic traps was 96.187 mph by Don Hyland of West Springfield, Massachusetts on a multi-engined Triumph. Open fuel award went to Glen Cooper of Waterford, Connecticut on a Harley-Davidson with 85.017 mph followed by HarleyDavidson mounted Dominick Miceli of Darien, Conn, with 83.853 in Class Six.
Two new records were set on Thursday when a record number of sportsman lightweight riders went to the grid in a series of class races. Brand of machinery seems to be the prime interest in these events with the operator a mere necessity to achieve an end. Two new names rolled to the winner’s circle, at least for Laconia anyway, in the Spanish Bultaco and the Japanese Yamaha.
To illustrate this point, we have Bultaco winning Class 1 with Ed Dziuba of Amherst, Massachusetts in the saddle, Class 2 with Barry Tash of Albany, New York twisting the throttle, and Class 3, Joe Carione of Woodside, New York aboard. The big race, at least from spectator interest is Class 4 and here a Yamaha with practically unheard of John Harrigan of Delmar, New York at the controls.
Class 5 reverts to an old standby with a Ducati winner in Charles Gardner of Bainbridge, New York. Class 4 Expert was a Robert Moore win on Parilia. After this Gloucester, Massachusetts rider took Class 4, expert Ray Hempstead of St. Petersburg, Florida went out to win Class 5 on another Ducati.
It’s interesting to note here some of the speeds turned by these little motors. Robert Moore’s (Class 4 expert) time gave him a 56.429 mph average, Charles Gardner 55.385 mph, John Harrigan 55.385 mph. Compare this with Nicholas’ 62.632 mph average for an engine twice the cubic capacity.
Thursday was completed with showing of racing movies at the Recreation Building in the evening. Following Laconia tradition, most of the larger motorcycle manufacturers, except Honda, had very colorful exhibits of their latest wares available for the enthusiasts’' purchase from their nearby dealer. The show is the center of activity where old friends gather and riders seek the advice of factory trained technical representatives, who will all but tear apart a new show model to help solve the rider’s problem.
Outside the recreation building the woods bristle with camping motorcylists and many a jolly time is had about the campfire. Periodic contests of skill on two wheels arise during the night and then everyone goes back to the fire to rehash the day’s races. Maybe if you’re lucky, you can sleep through it all, but most likely it is four to five a.m. before quiet descends over the beautiful mountain park.
Dawn comes up on another day of racing and this time it’s Formula C Novice riders out on the track in a series of heats, semifinals and finals to try for $1,100 in prize money.
First man down the hill to the checkered flag is Norton mounted Ken Hayes of Johnson City, Tennessee. Ken also led from the start except for laps 8, 9 and 10 when BSA mounted Bren Moran surged to the front for a short-lived moment of glory before dropping to a winning third behind Ed Moran (BSA) of Farmingdale, New Jersey. Ken Hayes covered the 40 miles in 39 minutes, 0.56 seconds, an average speed of 61.523 mph, setting a new record as this was the first time a 40 mile Novice race was held at Laconia.
Friday night was Governor’s Night at Weirs Beach and the local politicians, who play a bigger role in the races at Laconia than perhaps even the promoters, made awards and speeches commemorating the occasion and honoring Chairman Bill Scheitinger. Following is a brief fireworks display, after which most people stroll the boardwalk to look at the chop jobs, radicals and customized motorcycles and in some cases their owners, too. Traffic comes to a standstill and shops sell out of souvenirs as thousands of motorcycle fans jam this tiny beach resort street.
Saturday morning awards were presented at the Weirs Beach for the competition of best dressed clubs. The Pleasure Riders from Honesdale, Pennsylvania took top honors. This was followed by a parade through town of several hundred riders, all in brightly colored uniforms.
Then came the race many had come to Laconia just to see, the 250 Open Class event for under 250cc engines and made up of combined Novice, Amateur and Expert card holding racers,
Although it took place in vile weather, as had all the events previous in the week, this open class race proved to be one of the most dramatic races of the series. After a commendably steady ride during which he worked his way up from tenth position at the end of the first lap, Bultaco mounted Dick Mann of Pinole, California was the winner at 56.836 mph.
It seemed like everyone was going to lead this one and anybody could win as 91 entries were cut down in heats prior to the 90 mile feature event. Colorful AÍ Gunter roared out front on a Yamaha to a commanding lead only to have the lightweight maestro Tony Woodman on a Parilia come surging past. J. P. Hayes on a Ducati took over in the twelfth lap with James Varnes on a Ducati and Tom Clark on a Yamaha leading the pack from laps 16 to 27. During their reign, the weatherman let loose and as rain fell, the black flag fell. Shivering spectators waited about 15 minutes and with the one minute flag to restart, it began to rain again.
A half an hour later, the pack got underway single file under the hold position flag to dry the track. A few laps later, they were under full power and then Ralph White look the lead. At the 74th lap, he dropped out with mechanical trouble as had over half the riders contending, leaving Dick Mann on his 200cc factory-tuned Bultaco in the limelight for the checkered flag.
Completing Saturday’s activities in front of the recreation building, Mary Hogan, wife of Springfield, Massachusetts Yamaha dealer Bob Hogan, was picked as Tour Queen and road riders competed in field games long into the evening hours.
Laconia this year was like the meeting of the clans with a record spectator attendance and the largest competing entry ever compiled. Everyone was speculating if there will be another race next year and this hinges on the political desires of the Belknap county voters. Behavior of this year’s visiting firemen, so to speak, may be the deciding factor as to whether or not the Laconia 100 Mile Championship goes the way of all large motorcycle events in the Northeast, into oblivion. •
100-MILE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1. #58 Jody Nicholas, Nashville, Tenn. BSA 2. 94 George Roeder, Monroeville, Ohio H-D 3. 64 Dick Mann, Pinole, Calif. BSA 4. 55 Roger Reiman, Kewanee, III. H-D 5. 84 Larry Williamson, Peoria, III. H-D 6. 57 Digger Helm, Bakersfield, Calif. H-D 7. 69 Donnell Shiflett, N. Kansas, Mo. H-D 8. 54 C^rl Williamson, Lockhaven, Pa. Tri. 9. 31 Don Twigg, Hagerstown, Md. BSA 10. 50 Tony Murguia, Key West, Fla. H-D Time — 1 hr. 35 min. 47:77, 62.632 mph OLD Time — 1 hr. 36 min. 15:12 50-MILE AMATEUR 1. #70 Anthony Woodman, Far Hills, N.J. Norton 2. 79 Buddy D. Elmore, El Paso, Tex. Tri. 3. 49 Denton Craig, Ottawa, Ont., Can. BSA 4. 58 Don Kiger, Lancaster, Ohio BSA 5. 62 Richard A. Hauman, Cranston, R.l. H-D 6. 2 Buddy Stubbs, Bellflower, Calif. H-D 7. 14 Dick Guglielmana, Garden Grove, Calif. H-D 8. 42 Edward Ford, Three Rivers, Que., Can. Tri. 9. 37 Howard B. Utsey, Denver, Colo. BSA 10. 94 William Werner, Bethlehem, Pa. H-D Time: 48 min 48.22 sec., 61.470 mph NTR 250cc OPEN CLASS 1. #64 Dick Mann, Pinole, Calif. Bultaco Exp. 2. 99 Ray Hempstead, St. Petersburg, Fla. Ducati Nov. 3. 31 Don Twigg, Hagerstown, Md. Ducati Exp. 4. 41 Charles Andrews, Rochester, N.Y. Ducati Ama. 5. 18 Robert Winters, Ft. Smith Ark. Honda Ama. 6. 36 Marion Pyron, Geneva, N. Y. Honda Ama. 7. 35 Garnet Koehler, New Dundee, Ont. Honda Exp. 8. 118 Oliver Voorhees, Commack, N.Y. H-D Nov. 9. 83 Donald Hodge, Victor, N.Y. Ducati Nov. 10. 80 Joseph Weeden, Pine Bush, N.Y. Ducati Ama. Time: 1 hr. 35 min. 55 sec., 56.836 mph 40-MILE NOVICE 1. #7 Ken Hayes, Johnson City, Tenn. 2. 6 Ed Moran, Farmingdale, N.J. BSA 3. 65 Bren Moran, Windsor, Conn. BSA 4. 32 Gene Winkler, Mt. Kisco, N.Y. BSA 5. 3 Robert Winter, Ft. Smith, Ark Triumph 6. 79 Edward Adkins, Newmarket, Va. BSA 7. 29 Robert Reidnauer, Emmaus, Pa. BSA 8. 94 Paul Wilde, Long Beach, Calif. Triumph 9. 60 Ronald Alleman, Rockville, Conn. BSA 10. 68 Michael Pedone, Pt. Washington, N. Y. BSA Time: 14 min. 59.79 sec., 60.014 mph
