Loudon, Speedway agree to revisit demo-ride marshal requirement after safety data review

Loudon Board of Selectmen and representatives from New Hampshire Motor Speedway met Sept. 3 to discuss safety and permitting for motorcycle demo rides held during Motorcycle Week, focusing on a permit condition that would require marshals to attend demo rides.

The meeting addressed why the town added a marshal requirement to the special-event (hawkers and peddlers) permit and whether other measures—enforcement, signage or vendor-level disqualification—could address the town's safety concerns without imposing a marshal requirement that Speedway vendors say they would not accept.

Town and Speedway officials reviewed recent enforcement figures and incident data. Dan Flanders, Loudon chief of police, said the department recorded roughly the same number of enforcement stops during Motorcycle Week in 2023–2025 and identified a portion of those stops as connected to the demo-ride routes; Flanders also conveyed the department's view that enforcement and public notices are practical ways to reduce unsafe riding. New Hampshire Motor Speedway managers said demo rides have run for more than a decade and that most demo riders are experienced owners trying new models at the track. Speedway representatives emphasized the economic value of the event to their operation and to local activity.

Selectmen said residents living on Lower Ridge Road and Loudon Ridge Road have repeatedly reported traffic and safety concerns during Motorcycle Week and wanted to ensure the town's permit process and any added permit conditions reflect public-safety priorities. Board members described the existing permit pathway (hawkers and peddlers/special-event paperwork) and said the selectmen's board of permit may add conditions to a permit.

Both sides agreed not to impose immediate, unilateral changes for 2025. Instead the Board of Selectmen and Speedway representatives asked Loudon public-safety leaders and Speedway operations staff to meet, exchange precise statistics and propose measures the town could consider for 2026. The Police Department agreed to provide a segment-level breakdown of motor-vehicle stops tied to the demo-ride time window and route; the Speedway agreed to continue enforcing vendor rules and to participate in outreach to riders. The parties emphasized improved communication and an earlier permit-review timeline for the next season.

The selectmen tabled any formal change and said they will revisit the issue after the working meeting between the track and public-safety staff and after reviewing the police and track data.

Lede details: the selectmen called a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3 and invited Speedway leadership and public-safety officials to discuss demo-ride operations and a permit condition requiring marshals. Nut graf: the discussion centered on resolving residents' safety concerns while preserving an established demo-ride program that Speedway officials say draws riders and supports local business activity. Ending: officials agreed to meet and exchange the police and operations data, then return to the selectmen with proposals prior to any permit condition taking effect for 2026.