Former Racer, Mentor Jim Knipp, R.I.P.

Former Racer, Mentor Jim Knipp, R.I.P.

© 2024, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By David Swarts.

Former AMA Pro Superbike and WERA National Championship racer and racing mentor Jim Knipp died January 18 in a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was 64.

From Larry Lawrence’s Rider Files website:

“Knipp had been hospitalized for a couple of weeks after suffering a seizure and brain bleed and being found unconscious in his Greenwood, Indiana home. According to his stepson Joey Wertzberger, Jim regained consciousness during his first days at the hospital, but then he slipped out of consciousness and remained that way for several weeks due to a bleed in his brain and was placed on life support.”

 

Jim Knipp back in the day. Photo by Greg Sickmeier.
Jim Knipp back in the day. Photo by Greg Sickmeier, courtesy Rider Files.

 

Knipp won the 1981 C Superbike WERA National Championship and in years later took some top-20 finishes in AMA Pro Superbike races. And through the Indianapolis, Indiana shop he and partners Greg Sickmeier and Marc Wertzberger ran, The Superbike Factory, Knipp also helped several racers from central Indiana, including Lawrence, get started.

Read more at the Rider Files website.

 

Jim Knipp (71) racing at his home track, Indianapolis Raceway Park, circa 1987. Photo by Greg Sickmeier.
Jim Knipp (71) racing at his home track, Indianapolis Raceway Park, in 1987. Photo by Greg Sickmeier, courtesy Rider Files.

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