Amateur racer Christopher Knauer died as a result of injuries he sustained when he crashed his motorcycle during an MCRA race event June 29 at Gateway Motorsports Park, in Madison, Illinois.
According to an e-mail from MCRA Board Member Beth Streif, Knauer was transported from the track via helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Knauer won the 2013 MCRA Challenge Series Sportsman Championship and was named the 2013 MCRA Challenge Series Rookie of the Year.
Knauer was originally from Troy, Illinois, according to his Facebook page, but was currently living in Davenport, Iowa.
Funerals services are being planned for later this week, wrote Streif.
More information will be reported as it becomes available.
More, from Todd Knauer, Christopher Knauer’s father:
We will have a viewing from 5-8:00 p.m. Wednesday [July 2] at Richeson Funeral Home, in Troy, IL.
We will have another viewing from 4-7:00 p.m. on Thursday [July 3] at St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Elizabeth, IL, with funeral services at 7:00 p.m. at same location.
Burial will be Friday [July 4] at 9:30 a.m. at Elizabeth Cemetery, in Elizabeth, IL.
Here are the addresses:
Richeson Funeral Home
205 Edwardsville Road
Troy, IL 62294
St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
411 West Catlin St.
Elizabeth, IL 61028
More, from Knauer’s official obituary:
Christopher Lucas Knauer, 24, of Troy, Ill., born Dec. 22, 1989, in Myrtle Beach, S.C., died Sunday, June 29, 2014, at St. Louis University Medical Center, St. Louis, Mo.
Christopher was a graduate of Triad High School Class of 2008, and SIUE Class of 2013, with a degree in engineering. He was employed by Entegee Engineering Technical Group of Davenport, Iowa; was a member of C.C.D.R. (Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders) and M.C.R.A. (Midwest Café Racers Association). Christopher was an avid Cardinal Baseball, Blues Hockey and Rams Football fan, and enjoyed playing golf, having two recognized hole-in-one honors. He loved riding and racing his motorcycle, and was very loving and caring to his family and all his friends in life, and in death was able to continue to give through the gift of life as an organ donor.
Surviving are his parents, Todd C. and Michelle R., nee Hilby, Knauer of Troy, Ill.; a sister, Kelly Ann Knauer of Troy, Ill.; his grandparents; Paul and Ruth Knauer of Elizabeth, Ill., and Leroy and Lela Mae Hilby of Galeena, Ill.; aunts and uncles, David and Tracy Johnson, Kathy Hilby, Deanna and Mel Irick, Patti-jo and Leland Felderman, Cindy and John Meyerhofer, Tim Hilby and Russell and Lee Hilby; and many cousins and friends.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Christopher.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at Richeson Funeral Home, Troy, Ill., and from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2014, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, Ill.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2014, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, Ill., with Rev. Willis Schwichtenberg officiating. Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 4, 2014, in Elizabeth City Cemetery, Elizabeth, Ill.