A Gypsy Tour was an overnight event, with organized road rides and other activities of interest to motorcycle enthusiasts, where groups of riders would converge on a favorite destination. The term Gypsy was used because the riders would travel long distances, and often sleep in tents around a campfire along the way, much like the Hollywood stereotype. Gypsy Tours were held in various parts of the country, and typically occured on the same weekend every year. The purpose of the Gypsy Tours was to provide a good time for the riders, and favorable publicity for their sport. An article in the June, of the Harley-Davidson Enthusiast detailed these goals as follows: First—To promote good fellowship among the riders of all makes of motorcycles and to give them a pleasure tour worth talking about until the time for the next annual tour rolls around.
Laconia Motorcycle Week - HAULBIKES
History[ edit ] The Laconia rally has its roots in June , when a few hundred motorcyclists gathered at Weirs Beach in Laconia. Seven years later, the event was officially recognized by the Federation of American Motorcyclists to be later called the American Motorcyclist Association as part of the Gypsy Tour, where motorcyclists celebrated races and hill climbs for an entire weekend. The Federation of American Motorcyclists continued to sanction the event until Participants began flocking to Laconia earlier in the week until the rally unofficially became a week-long event. Local businesses became strong supporters of the event which kick-started the beginning of their busy tourist season. However, Laconia's Bike Week did see times of trouble. During the summer of , a riot between motorcycle gangs and local police broke out, which brought national media attention to Laconia.
Major Motorcycle Rallies