Motorcyclist

Laconia Pictorial From 1946

April 6, 2012

From the August 1946 issue of Motorcyclist Magazine

Swinging down one of the stretches in the Main Event. Photo by W.F. Webber

The start of the 25-mile Novice road race. No.29, Coleman Mitchell, away first, with No.28, Don Baker, putting a spring frame Ariel in second position. Photo by W.F. Webber

Sal Scirpo of Middletown, Connecticut, winner of the 1946 25-mile Novice road race championship, with his pit crew backing him up after victory. Photo by W.F. Webber

Bill Anderson leading Andy Drobek and Al Chrisler as they came around one of the turns on the Laconia track. Photo by W. F. Webber

E.C Smith and Hank Syvestant, of Harley-Davidson, hold a middle-of-the-road confab. Bush Photo

The start of the 100-mile national championship road race. Photo, W.F. Webber

Oops! We lose more riders this way. Just one of the many spills on the track during the 100-miler. Bush Photo

Ed Kretz gets the winning flag from A.M.A. Secretary E.C. Smith. Photo, W.F. Webber

Dykgraaf, No.26, nudges his Nortonaround the corner and up the hill to pass No.34. Photo, W. F. Webber

Ed Kretz being presented the 100-mile championship road race trophy by Bud Acker. L to R, Skinny Pierce of San Antonio, Texas, Earl Smith Inglewood, California, Paul Flynn, New England Indian Sales Manager, Fritzie Baer, big-time operator from Springfield and spark plug of the tour, and Walter A. Parrish, general manager of the Indian Motocycle Company.

One of the minor satellites of the race, Teddy Edwards, Jr., of Atlanta, Georgia, on his Excelsior Welbike, putting on a fine show between acts. Teddy was overheard to say, in the spirit of his sportsman father, “When do I get some competition?” Photos, Louise M. Scherbyn and Bush Photos

The blazing Blasius bunch. Charles Blasius, half of Blasius Brothers, H-D dealers, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, the Missus and son Wayne.

Leo Houghton, King of the Laconia Gypsy Tour. Note the beret; it’s the berries.

At Sonoma, California , Bill Brownell puts his bike through some paces on the half miler-rodeo ground combination track.

Clara Varrell, Queen of the Laconia clambake, with her trophy.

Motorcycling Marauders of Missoula, Mont. Missoula produces fine motorcyclists and good sports. Here are nine of them who attended the Rally. L to R: Bennie Calabratta, Lawrence Cota, James and Dolores Dore, Leo Kramer, Harold King, Ronnald Somers, John Meier and Bob “Atom Bomb” Line.

Above-The Jesses Roamers of Pawtucket, R.I., the first place winners in the club trophy award. A.M.A. registration booth in Laconia. The gang from Portland, Me., snapped at Laconia. Photos, courtesy Louise M. Scherbyn

Some of the sponsors and promoters of the tour. These are part of the membership of the Utah-Idaho H-D Dealers Association. L to R: Edwin Tischer of Glen Walker’s H-D organization, Pocatello, Idaho; Glenn Walker, Association president, Pocatello, Idaho; Chris Draayer, Vice president, Salt Lake City; Joe Blasius, Secretary, Idaho Falls, Idaho; R.W. Englehardt, Billings, Montana; Don A. Gamble, Boise, Idaho; Charles Blasius, Idaho Falls; John W. Meier, Missoula, Mont., and Ray Guthrie, Helena, Mont. Other members of the Association who were present but couldn’t be rounded up for the picture were Elmo Richards, Ogden, Utah; Paul Holderegger, Powell, Wyo.; J.H. Blasius, Twin Falls, Idaho; Mel Whitsoe, Great Falls, Mont.; E.B. Stranahan, Lewiston, Ida.; and Fred Olson, Billings, Mont. Yellowstone Photos by Art Welch

Yellowstone Victory Tour: Crossing the Fire Hole River Bridge, en route to Old Faithful, a portion of the cavalcade of motorcycles passes by.