American Motorcyclist Association announces new era for Gypsy Tours
17 road rides scheduled between March and November
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The 2017 AMA Gypsy Tour, a national series of premier road-riding events, features 17 road rides between March and November in all sections of the country.
AMA Gypsy Tours and the rallies that include them are among the largest and most popular U.S. motorcycle gatherings.
“We have a great slate of events on the 2017 Gypsy Tour series,” said Marie Wuelleh, AMA recreational riding and volunteer manager. “These rides are put together by experienced organizers, who promise all participants a memorable experience.”
Originally, 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 single destination. Gypsy Tours were staged in different parts of the country and typically occurred on the same weekend every year. The “National” Gypsy Tour referred to the whole series of these events.
The 2017 AMA Gypsy Tour series includes Laconia Motorcycle Week. Laconia Motorcycle Week, an AMA Gypsy Tour Heritage Event, dates to 1916 and is the longest-running AMA Gypsy Tour.
“We are proud that this event has been running for so long, and we are happy to be a part of the 2017 AMA Gypsy Tour series,” said Charlie St. Clair, executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week.
The original Laconia event was a social gathering of about 150 riders organized by the Bay State Motorcycle Club riders and New Hampshire Motorcyclists at Weir Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee near Laconia, N.H. Over the years, the event grew to attract as many as 430,000 motorcyclists.
The AMA has been sanctioning Gypsy Tours since 1924.
The schedule for the 2017 AMA Gypsy Tour, a national series of premier road-riding events includes:
• March 10-19: AMA Gypsy Tour at Bike Week, Daytona Beach, Fla.
• April 5-9: Arizona Bike Week, Phoenix, Ariz.
• April 26-29: Laughlin River Run, Laughlin, Nev.
• May 3-7: Thunder Beach Spring Rally, Panama City, Fla.
• May 12-21: Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• June 5-10: Americade, Lake George, N.Y.
• June 10-18: Laconia Motorcycle Week, Laconia, N.H.
AMA National Gypsy Tour Heritage Event
• June 22-25: Thunder in the Valley, Johnstown, Pa.
AMA National Road Rally
• July 7-9: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, New Lexington, Ohio
AMA National Gypsy Tour
AMA National Road Rally
• July 12-16: Roar on the Shore, Erie, Pa.
• Aug. 2-6: National Biker’s Roundup, Kansas City, Kan.
• Aug. 23-27: Rally in the Gorge, Hood River, Ore.
• Sept. 13-17: Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally, Mescalero, N.M.
AMA National Road Rally
• Sept. 22-24: Ray Price Capital City Bikefest, Raleigh, N.C.
• Oct. 5-8: Las Vegas Bikefest, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Oct. 25-29: Thunder Beach Fall Rally, Panama City, Fla.
• Nov. 3-6: Lone Star Rally, Galveston, Texas
A full schedule of AMA National Road Riding events can be found at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Riding/National-Road-Riding-Events.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join