The world’s oldest motorcycle rally kicks off Saturday, as the 101st Laconia Motorcycle Week gets underway.Organizers said 300,000 people from around the world are expected to participate.”We’re excited about it,” said Karmen Gifford, of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. “As a community and as a state, we welcome folks here.”Gifford said Motorcycle Week has really evolved in recent years. She said you don’t even need a motorcycle to participate.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<“It’s critical to our economy,” she said. “We’re really happy to have it every year. For many of our local businesses, it pays the local taxes for them for the year. It kicks off our summer tourism, and that’s important.”The Naswa Resort has been a big part of motorcycle week for 89 years. All 83 rooms are sold out for this weekend.”It’s not just hospitality,” said Cynthia Makris, of the Naswa Resort. “You just came up through the Hooksett tolls. There’s the gas stations and the convenience stores, the grocery stores, so everyone makes money. We still bring in over $100 million into the state of New Hampshire in nine days.”There are events planned throughout the week, including the popular motorcycle hill climb at Gunstock. At New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the 101st Loudon Classic is being held through the weekend.”These guys going screaming down the stretch at nearly 200 mph, bumping, and it’s wild,” said Shannon Stephens, of NHMS. “It’s pretty crazy. They are loud. They are fast. You’ve got to see it.”There are 31 races scheduled at the speedway through Sunday.See a list of Motorcycle Week events here and learn more about the related events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway here.