Long-time Riders Welcome Third Generation in Tbaytel Motorcycle Ride for Dad
Published Wednesday, June 21, 2023
by Graham Strong
Lyle Knudsen and his father Peter have been riding in the Tbaytel Motorcycle Ride for Dad together for several years. But this year will be extra special. Lyle’s son Kai will join his father and grandfather on June 17, as well as “Uncle Scott” (Lyle’s brother), which means three generations of the Knudsen family will be riding together in the event for the first time.
“It was my Dad’s idea,” said Lyle Knudsen. “My son Kai just got his motorcycle licence, and my Dad said, ‘Why don’t we all ride together?’”
Lyle said motorcycles have been part of family life for decades. He and his father took the training course together and got their licences when Lyle was 16. Today, Peter is 84 and still riding his two Harley-Davidsons.
“It’s nice that we are still riding and creating memories together particularly that we are now into the third generation,” Lyle said.
Lyle said that the family is always ready to jump in and help the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. They have supported local healthcare for decades both individually and through their business, Equipment World.
“We’re strong believers in supporting the community where we live and work,” Lyle said, who rode in the first Tbaytel Motorcycle Ride for Dad back in 2001. “It started as a group of friends who wanted to ride together and support a great cause.”
Sadly one of those friends, Peter Pascuzzo, collapsed after the ride in 2003 and succumbed to cancer himself days later. Since then, friends Lyle, Arto Pouru, John Jurcik, and Michael Comuzzi along with Peter’s brother John put together a special Peter Pascuzzo Prize in his honour. It is awarded annually after the ride in partnership with the Health Sciences Foundation.
Lyle said that he appreciates the work the Foundation does in Northwestern Ontario.
“The Foundation does a great job of community networking. That’s so important when it comes to raising funds for our Hospital. Governments are much more likely to fund projects when they see the community get behind it,” Lyle said.
He added that it’s easy to see the impact the community has had over the years. “The diversity of services we have now in Thunder Bay compared to where we were several years ago – you can see how important that community support and events like the Tbaytel Motorcycle Ride for Dad have been. The advancements we’ve made here are pretty amazing. Without that community support, I don’t believe we’d have the level of services at our Hospital that we have today.”
The Knudsen family will take to the road along with all the other event riders on June 17, 2023 starting from the Victoria Inn parking lot.
Registration is open for the Tbaytel Motorcycle Ride for Dad, Presented by PDR Contracting. For more information, please visit: https://www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/fordad or email Haley Werbowetski at haley.werbowetski@healthsciencesfoundation.ca