04/08/2023
As the 2023 flat track season is approaching, I‘d like to take the time and remind everyone that racing is not about the trophy, money or place received. It’s simply about the fun, memories and the smile behind your helmet. A successful race day is when the ambulance don’t move, the rubber side stayed down and we’re all leaving the track with memories we’ve added to the little spot in the back of our brains. Team Knapp is happy to announce we are ready and coming in better than ever to the 2023 flat track season. To start off about what I was originally going to say, here are some photos of all of us throughout the years of our laps around the track. I’m sure some of you aren’t familiar with the Knapp’s so let me introduce you to us and our craziness. (to put into perspective, we’ve all been riding since we could all walk)
Bob ( #44& #30)- Bob has been racing for over half of his life. He started on a 200 bultaco at the young age of 13. The year after he decided to step it up and race a 750 yamaha. He went pro at 16 years old. Soon after his career racing pro, he decided to go amateur and has been since 2001.
Robby ( #17)- Robby grew up in the garage helping Bob wrench on bikes, learning the mechanics of different bikes. It was something different all the time. Robby decided to take on racing at just 5 years old, looking to his dad for a role model. Over the years Robbys of course gotten faster, smarter and learned the right lines to ride and when to ride them. As he gets older, he loves racing some of the vintage bikes Grandpa Jim has built.
Katie ( #43)- Katie also grew up in the garage watching Robby, Dad and Grandpa wrench on the bikes, always wishing to race. She loves to twist the grip and has a need for speed. Katie started racing at 16 years old, after some persuading and encouragement but soon after she did not regret a thing! Looking to her father and brother as what to do, where to go and how to do what.. her ears are always open when the boys are talking!
Jim (Grandpa, Dad, Mechanic)- After Jim retired his racing flat track years, he still is no stranger to the track! Jim started out his career racing flat track for quite sometime. After, he started wrenching on Bob’s bikes, then started wrenching on all the Knapp’s bikes. Jim is the go-to mechanic at the track, who everyone goes to if they have a question in the pits. There’s always quite a few stories for every conversation too! He is the smile, light and the “handy man” of the track. There is very few things he does not know.
Patty (Mom, Wife) -Patty has been running around all the craziness since she was 27 years old. She’s traveled with Bob since he was a pro, making sure he had the moral support and didn’t leave anything behind. She has been the root to the fuel of us at the track. Anything we need she’s sure to have it with us at the next race.
Janet (Grandma, Mom, Wife, Root) -Janet has been there from the beginning of Jim racing, to the youngest (Katie) racing and is still going strong to support. Janet is a known smile around the track being sure everyone has their needs met. She has never let anyone down. She is well loved around the track, not only by her ow family but her racing family.
Needless to say, we are a family that has grown up at the track, and stopping racing is nowhere in sight. We love all the support we get at races, all the conversations made and all the memories remembered. We will continue to do what the Knapp’s do, which is do our best. We looking forward to seeing everyone at the track this season. Don’t forget to stop by and say hey! Good luck to all and stay safe!!
