Participants began flocking to Laconia earlier in the week until the rally unofficially became a week-long event.

During the summer of 1965, a riot between motorcycle gangs and local police broke out, which brought national media attention to Laconia.

Laconia officials imposed stricter law enforcement, and the number of events during the week began to decline.

[5][7][8][9] It was not until the early 1990s that, in an effort to increase tourism, Laconia businesses approached the Federation of American Motorcyclists for their support to bring the rally back to a week-long event.

[14] Some of the riders killed in accidents at Laconia Motorcycle Week have not worn helmets, and this is reported in the press.