Rupp Riders 1966 T-Shirt

Rupp Industries was born in 1959 when Mickey Rupp began assembling and selling go-karts from his basement in Mansfield, Ohio. Originally called Rupp Manufacturing, the name Rupp Industries was adopted in 1971. In that year, Rupp employed 400, with 23 engineers in the R&D department and sales in the millions. In addition to their popular go-karts, Rupp began producing minibikes and snowmobiles in the early 1960s and as the popularity of their rides grew, so did the informal 'Rupp Riders Club' of Rupp owners and enthusiasts. Mickey Rupp sold the company in 1973 when it ran into financial trouble as the market turned. Although the Rupp would continue to produce dirt bikes, minibikes, and snowmobiles, they would never regain stability.