How to Get FULLY INVOLVED! Red Knights Motorcycle Club
RANDY: It was started in Boylston, Massachusetts in 1982 by 11 local firefighters. The Ontario 1 (GTA) chapter started up in 1984, becoming the first international chapter of the RKMC. Within a few years, it expanded across Canada, New Zealand and Australia. We now have about 400 chapters in 20 countries, with 10,000 members! You can tour a lot of the world, finding a Red Knights chapter, with a warm greeting all along the way. There are three parts to our mission: To enjoy the camaraderie of firefighters globally; to improve the image of motorcyclists; and to perform community service. Our motto is “Loyal to Our Duty”. It’s a clear and deliberate reference to our profession. In regard to what we do, we ride, we socialize, and we have fun! Whether it’s heading out for a day ride, marshalling a charity event, or going thousands of kilometers on a tour, we really look forward to the ride. The international conventions are always a massive good time. Lifelong friendships are forged with like-minded folks from around the globe.
BY KEN DE JONG, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 445-A
INTRODUCTION
This is a series of Q&A articles on Toronto Fire related organizations that can get you more involved in the firefighting community. Some of the best people on the job give back to the fire service in fun and exciting ways. If you find this organization interesting, consider reaching out to them for more information. This month’s theme is getting out of self-isolation and being active again. What better way than to get on your iron horse (motorcycle) and ride! The Ontario 1 (GTA) Chapter of the Red Knights is led by TFS’s Randy Smith. Here is some great information on how to take your motorcycle passion to the next gear! KEN: What does your organization do and what is its history?
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KEN: Do you have to own a motorcycle to participate in the activities? RANDY: Good question, and it’s one that requires a brief segue. There are different classes of membership. All firefighters are considered “active” members. Every active member must hold a motorcycle license and have access to a street legal bike. Spouses, partners, and other family members may become social members. We are an inclusive, family-oriented club. Unlike 1% clubs, we do not “prospect” members. Female firefighters are welcome as full members, and any brand (Harley, Honda, BMW, etc) is accepted. As for the “brand” issue, don’t worry - we will make fun of you, no matter what you ride! This is firehall life, after all. KEN: How do you recruit members? RANDY: One of our traditional approaches is to send notices to the fire halls. Of course, we don’t know whether you’ll actually see it or not. The Red Knights have also been very successful recruiting at the various bike shows. However, Covid shut those down everywhere for the past 16 months. Nowadays, we see a larger response to our online presence at www.redknightsontario1.ca as well as the @RKMC_ON1 Twitter feed and our redknights_ont1 Instagram account. What’s very gratifying, and somewhat surprising during these times, is the renewed interest in the past year! More of our younger TFS members are riding, and we are adapting. You used to see 25 to 30 year-olds buying full-on touring bikes. Nowadays, there are more cruisers, bobbers, streetfighters, sport, adventure and dual-purpose rides. I’m excited about the change, and we want fresh ideas. Our Road Captain welcomes input regarding routes, and we will look at the “two groups, one destination” method of planning for some rides. Opportunities like this article are really helpful, as Fire Watch is the one medium that reaches all TFS members.
