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Attendance, Sales Down Again At N.H. Bike Week

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Jun 23, 2008 9:37 am US/Eastern

Attendance, Sales Down Again At N.H. Bike Week

LACONIA, N.H. (AP) ― Despite a strong finish, bikers and organizers say overall attendance and sales at the 85th annual Laconia Motorcycle Week were not as strong as in past years.

Jennifer Anderson, director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, says the rally attracted people from all 50 states, but they didn't stay as long as they usually do. Yesterday's thunder storm didn't help, clearing out the Weirs Beach area early, and cutting into the number of daytrippers who usually visited on final day.

Attendance has dropped each year since hitting an all-high time of 375,000 in 2004. Charlie St. Clair, executive director of the rally, blamed this year's lower attendance on high gas prices and the sluggish economy but says he expects the numbers to bounce back when times are better.

There were six motorcycle fatalities and numerous crashes around the state during Bike Week, though it's unknown whether all the victims were attending the annual event.

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