LACONIA — Basking in the sunshine and touring the state by motorcycle, thousands of Laconia Bike Week enthusiasts continued to fill hotels, restaurants, gas stations and attractions on the third day of the rally.

Tourism officials were overjoyed with the weather report, which continues to call for uncharacteristic-like conditions for the event: sun.

But Monday, about an hour after the morning clouds broke at noon, the hot weather and heavy leather were taking their toll.

Laconia Police Capt. Bill Clary said at 2 p.m. there had been three ambulance calls for heat-related medical aid in the past hour.

In recent years, wash-outs and cold were the norm during the one-week period, held in June the week leading up to Father's Day, which is June 16 this year.

Charlie St. Clair, executive director of the rally, said things were going “very well. ... We have people from Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, all around the Northeast, Ohio, New York and Florida,” noting many long-distance visitors tend to come in overnight Sunday and begin their week stay Monday.

He said many riders tell him they plan to return for a family vacation, adding that on Monday he met a man in Tilton who said that after coming for Bike Week for 20 years he plans to buy a home in New Hampshire.

This year's Bike Week boasts a number of new rally events and new locations.

The American Motorcycle Association-sanctioned Hillclimb will be for professional riders rather than amateurs this year, and it will be held Wednesday at Ridge Runner Promotions' property on Route 118 in Canaan, just north of Route 4.

St. Clair said he promotes the event at trade shows across the country, and many riders have told him they plan to come to Bike Week specifically for Hillclimb.

The new hill that will be climbed in Canaan is over 400 feet long and has three sections, the last of which is at a 76-degree incline. More than 50 riders from across the country will compete for a $13,000 purse.

Charity rides associated with Bike Week have been drawn many motorcyclists, and more are expected this week, including one tomorrow to Arundel, Maine.

Cynthia Makris, owner of the Naswa Resort in Weirs Beach and president of the board for Bike Week said a charity ride Saturday in honor of her father attracted about 350 people who raised $32,000 for the Laconia Fire Department dive team and the Veterans Count program of N.H. Easter Seals.

“It was a fantastic turnout and we were really pleased,” said Makris, whom the fire department awarded a crystal trophy for her generosity. Over the six years of the event, it has raised over $100,000 for the department.

An unidentified state trooper who was providing escort detail for the charity ride was struck by another motorcycle and suffered only minor injuries, said Capt. Scott Sweet, state police commander of the detail. He said the accident remains under investigation.

Sweet said there were a number of small accidents with minor injuries during the first few days of the event, “more than we would like to see,” and he gave motorists a “heads up” to be on the lookout for motorcycles.

“There are a lot of bikes. Some are not used to riding in large groups and they are not familiar with the roads,” he added.

Laconia Police Capt. Clary said over the weekend, there were no criminal arrest related to Bike Week and three or four arrests for charges of driving while intoxicated.

“It could be any week of the year,” he said of the rate of DWI arrests, despite the fact that there were tens of thousands additional vehicles in the city.

He said he watches the weather report as well.

“If the weather's good people come. We are prepared for that,” Clary said.

Businesses in the Lakes Region reported strong sales and noted the weather helped bring out some last-minute riders over the weekend.

Makris noted her hotel in the Weirs is sold out for the week.

ptracy@unionleader.com