LACONIA, N.H. (AP) – One walked down Weirs Boulevard, next to Lake Winnipesaukee, eating an ice cream cone. Another says he plans to “go swimming, listen to a little music and eat a lot of hamburgers.”

Three others from England sat quietly in a bar for a cold drink on a hot day.

The owner of Rita’s restaurant and bar on the boulevard calls them “a pretty mellow group.”

The few Hells Angels who will say even a few words to reporters say they came to New Hampshire for the World Run to have fun on vacation, not make trouble.

“We didn’t come here to have a problem,” said a member from the local chapter. “Some guys came 3,500 miles from the West Coast with their families to vacation.”

Past troubles “have been blown out of proportion,” he said.

Up to 1,500 members were expected in the Weirs Beach area this weekend for the gathering that attracts representatives from all over the world. Laconia police Chief Tom Oetinger said he doesn’t believe the group plans any trouble, but Capt. Ray Burke said incidents in the past have shown minor matters can escalate.

A police presence is noticeable in the area.

The Hells Angels wear the sleeveless black leather vest with the Hells Angels logo on the back; some have beards and long hair, and most are middle-age.

From England, Italy

They include at least three members of a chapter from England, three others from Italy – a truck driver and two mechanics.

“We work hard so we can take a holiday,” said one Italian.

Many flew in, leaving their motorcycles at home; they are driving rental cars.

“None of us want any problems. We came here to see our brothers and have a good time,” said one member from Toronto, who is a contractor. Afterward, “we’ll all go back to family life – children, wives, mortgages.”

Mike Daly, the owner of Rita’s, said he has no concerns, noting that local members frequent his place without trouble.

“They just come out here for some fun,” he said.

A few doors down, Randy Loring, the brother of the owner of the Paradise Club restaurant and lounge, said he thinks everything will be fine.

“You show them respect and they’ll respect us,” he said.

He said local members eat at the club each week, and they are “‘good guys.”

The central gathering spot is a private home at the end of a dead-end road bought by Hells Angels in 2002, where Ed Shaughnessy lives. A banner stretches across the dirt road announcing: “Hells Angels. Strength and Honor.”

A few steps in is a security check point, and beyond that, the two-story white house.

When a reporter walks up, members standing guard politely say they have no comment.

Around the corner on the main road, a woman neighbor, who declined to give her name, said Shaughnessy is a friend and a good neighbor. She had no concerns. In fact, she was more worried about the weather.

“Hopefully, it doesn’t rain this weekend,” she said, adding she would hate to see the weather ruin a vacation for people who have come from all over the world.

She also looked forward to the club’s fireworks display. She plans to see it with friends from the field behind her house.

She noted the group hired a nationally known fireworks company to put on the display.

“They’re not fooling around,” she said.

AP-ES-07-30-03 1858EDT

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