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Before 1975 bike enthusiasts in Connecticut had to wear a helmet, it was the law. But a man by the name of Donald Pittsley of Montville, also known as Pappy, fought to do away with helmets, and in 1975 the law was repealed. Donald Pittsley died of a heart attack in 1975 shortly before his efforts won the battle to repeal the helmet law. On August 11th 2004 during the annual Sturgis Rally, Donald "Pappy" Pittsley was inducted into the Sturgis Museum Hall of Fame. His long time friend John "Rogue" Herlihy accepted the introduction award in Pappy’s honor, the following year, Rogue himself was inducted. There have been many other accolades to Pappy since his death in 1975, articles in Easy Rider, Chopper, and other motorcycle industry magazines, features and editorials in local and national newspapers, and of course… the legendary 34 annual memorials to Don… Pappy’s Memorial Run. To this day Pappy’s Memorial Run is held on Memorial Day Weekend in Southeastern Connecticut. The 33rd Memorial Run was held last year in 2008 with estimates of almost 4000 riders. The ride has become legendary attracting riders from all over the country and Canada. The run has been staged from many different places over the years but always travels to Montville’s Comstock cemetery where Don Pittsley is buried. This years 34th annual run will be held on May 24th and staged at the Sprague Rod and Gun Club located on Rt. 138 in Baltic, CT and as always will travel to the cemetery so riders can pay their respect to Pappy. |
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How many of you remember Don “Pappy” Pittsley? He died in May, 1975 very unexpectedly. Without his early accomplishments fighting the helmet law fight, it is very possible today that all states would still have the helmet law.
Pappy
had a vision, and that was you could diddle with the bureaucrats forever
and go forever backwards; to accomplish a goal you had to change the law
through Congress. So this rider from
And
today, few
if any
bikers are dealing with the Congress. We must get back to the vision
that Pappy
had. I took this photo of Pappy in his home less than a year before his
death He was making some last minute changes to his speech for the
upcoming hearing he had arranged over
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