The History of the Red Knights®™
During the summer of 1982, motorcycle firefighters met at the “Randy Cycle Shop” in Boylston, Massachusetts and the subject of motorcycle clubs was quickly broached.
They quickly discovered that law enforcement had a motorcycle club known as the Blue Knights, and that there was no such club for firefighters! Store owner Randy Wilson then suggested to Ed Wright, a Northboro firefighter, that he stop crying about the lack of a club and form one instead!
Knowing a good idea when he hears one, Ed Wright went home that afternoon and printed up posters inviting firefighters in his area to meet and decide whether they had enough interest in form a motorcycle club.
On August 17, 1982, Fire Chief Jack Pierce allowed a small group of motorcycle riders to meet at the Northboro Fire Station headquarters to lay the cornerstone for the creation of a "firefighter" motorcycle club.
On October 19, 1982, firefighters Colin Mackey, Bob Bourassa, Ed Wright, Roger Wentzell, Dave Hamilton, Bob Goulet, David Hunt, Jon Tripp, Don Parker, Norm Beausoleil and Chief Pierce met and decided to create a motorcycle club to promote the positive image of motorcycle riding while benefiting from the brotherhood and experience of other motorcycle firefighters.
It was then decided that this motorcycle club would be named:
Red Knights Motorcycle Club
News of the creation of this new motorcycle club spread like wildfire!
In July 1983, a chapter was created in Connecticut, then a second in Massachusetts, followed by the creation of two other chapters in Nevada and Louisiana.
In August 1983, the 11 founding members realized that the creation of the motorcycle club and its management was quickly exceeding their initial expectations. To best manage this expansion, they then elected a committee to serve as a national board of directors.
Following the creation of the Ontario and Saskatchewan chapters in Canada, the club then became the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club.
Since Randy's idea in 1982, there are now more than 300 Red Knights chapters around the world with more than 10,000 active members!