RogerPost21 <http://myaccount.rootsweb.com/publicprofile?mba=009df38d-0001-0000-0000-000000000000&rurl=> (View posts <http://boards.rootsweb.com/authorposts.aspx?uname=RogerPost21&uid=009df38d-0001-0000-0000-000000000000&uem=&rurl=http%3a%2f%2fboards.rootsweb.com%2flocalities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.cayuga%2f4726.1.1%2fmb.ashx>) Posted: 23 Oct 2007 6:37PM GMT Classification: Query Surnames: Lepak, Rogalski, Rudick, Cuipylo, Testa, Cecchinni, Vitale, Pacyliak Hi, Bill. Sharon and Ralph Schooley have provided names for the motorcyclists in the picture of the Devil Riders. Left to right: Harold Lepak, Barney Rogalski, Bobby Rudick, Al Cuipylo, Joe Testa, Aldo Cecchinni, Ben Vitale, Dick (Farmer) Pacyliak. Sharon says the picture was taken late 1940s. An article appeared in The Citizen, "Death riders memorable sight" - By Tom DeFurio, on 22 October 2007. A cropped version of the picture with the motorcyclists' identities appears in the print version of the newspaper. The article is here: http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2007/10/22/news/lake_life/lakelife04.txt Auburn Death Riders small http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10756_96.jpg> large version http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10756.jpg> Elsie Yawger Car Crash 1949 at corner of Rt 90 and the old 326 (Cat's Elbow) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10757_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10757.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10759_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10759.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10760_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10760.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10762_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10762.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10763_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10763.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10764_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10764.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10765_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10765.jpg> The man with the child looks a little like Bob Doremus http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10761_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10761.jpg> The Grill 1949 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10758_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10758.jpg> Half Acre 1950 car accident http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10766_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10766.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10767_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10767.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10768_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10768.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10769_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10769.jpg> East of Oakwood 1954 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10770_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10770.jpg> Motorcycle Hill Climb Sine (Sine) Farm 1948 WHERE IS THIS ????? http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10771_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10771.jpg> Note chains on rear tire http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10772_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10772.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10773_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10773.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10774_96.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures... <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures107/10774.jpg> Death riders memorable sight By Tom DeFurio Monday, October 22, 2007 9:47 AM EDT A few days ago, as I was driving west on Grant Avenue, I pulled up along side of Eddie Speno. I rolled down my window to say hello, and Eddie responded with a question about “would I like a great story for my column?” I said that I'm always looking for interesting topics. We pulled over into the Dunkin Donuts parking lot, and he told me about one of Auburn's motorcycle clubs that was formed after World War II. Although he wasn't a member, he remembers the group and how it developed. Eddie and his brother, Jack Speno, lived on Wallace Avenue. Many of “the boys” lived in the area, and Mrs. Speno volunteered to sew letters on their shirts and jackets. They were known as the Auburn Death Riders. Many of the members have passed on, but Ben Vitale of School Street in Throop was able to tell me about this comrades, and how they enjoyed motorcycling. He told me that after the war, many young men bought Harley-Davidson or Indian motorcycles with their mustering-out pay and pursued the freedom of the road, along with the, then popular, sport of hill climbing. Ben said “invariably no one made it to the top of the hill, but the person who got the farthest was deemed the winner.” The “Riders” were an informal group, with no designated leaders. They congregated at Louie Mentillo's gas station, at the corner of Columbus and Clark streets, from where they took “spur-of-the-moment” rides. They would ride around Lake Ontario or Lake Erie, stopping only for food and short rests. On Sundays, they would ride to Caledonia, N.Y. for the motorcycle races. The Vehicle and Traffic Laws were less strict in those days, and Ben said “it was a pleasure riding without a helmet. We had no serious accidents.” The above photo was taken on Clark Street in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church, and the wooden building behind the bikers is on the grounds in front of the spot where the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine stands today. The white building to the west was a gas station, then operated by Steve Tarby. The sport has gone through many “cycles,” but its popularity continues to increase. If you would like to share a great story or any “news of the past,” please call me at 567-9989. Tom DeFurio is former town supervisor for Sennett.