JERRY KNAPP & ELITE ENTERPRISES

Start your engines and travel to the Cokato Museum to view the latest exhibit about Cokato racer and kit car builder Gerald "Jerry" Knapp. The exhibit is open in the temporary gallery through June, then it will be condensed and moved to another exhibit space until the end of August. We hope to see you there!
 
Jerry Knapp officially launched Elite Enterprises, Inc., a business creating fiberglass sports car kits, in 1969 with his wife Myrna. Initially, the business was run out of his home before Knapp moved his operations in 1970 into a building on Highway 12. One of his most popular kits was the Laser 917 Sports Car, a version of which was later featured in Disney’s movie “Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.” Knapp also created Elite Auto Sports Inc., in 1981 to cater his business towards racing. Knapp himself raced in both amateur and professional racing series in a Formula Vee race car.