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.
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.
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debsnow wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:10 PM:
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