History
A tradition was born amid a roar of lawnmower engines at Purdue on May 17, 1958. The Purdue Grand Prix was born after a dream inspired by a few enthusiastic students' late night bull session became a reality. The students wanted a way for engineering students at Purdue to exercise their skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm. Since its beginning. Grand Prix has matured into a successful and well-ran organization that concentrates its fundraising efforts to provide scholarships to students. The Foundation centers on its motto of "students helping students".
The first race was run on North Intramural Field and an adjacent parking lot. Each kart was built from scratch, had a lawnmower engine, and could barely exceed 30 m.p.h. After 144 laps or 60 miles and an average speed of 22.6 m.p.h., James Moneyhun of Gable Courts, now Terry Courts, became the first winner of the Purdue Grand Prix. Today, the race is run on a track carefully modeled after the World Kart Championship Track in Japan. The current track, located on the northeast comer of campus near Ross- Ade Stadium, was built in 1968 and was completed in time for the 11th running of the Purdue Grand Prix. Known as "The Greatest Spectacle in College Racing," Grand Prix consists of 33 drivers and teams that participate in the 160-lap or 50 mile race each spring at the conclusion of Gala Week. In 1995, lan Smith set a record as being the first student to win the race three times in a row.
Each team's kart is built from scratch at the average cost of $5,000. The money is partially raised from a team sponsor such as local businesses, housing units, or private individuals. All karts race with a Yamaha KT-100 engine. The race itself is scored by one of the most advanced computer scoring systems anywhere in the world of racing. This system allows up-to-date information to the kart crews, the public, and the media. The Purdue Auto Club originally sponsored the Purdue Grand Prix. Upon the disbandment of the Purdue Auto Club, the student body wanted Grand Prix to continue. In 1966, the Purdue Grand Prix Foundation was formed and ever since has been the governing body of the Grand Prix race.
The foundation consists of a president, an 11 member Senior Board, a Junior Board consisting of over 50 members, track workers, and safety and security workers. The foundation is a university sponsored student organization that is run by students for students. The primary purpose of the foundation is to raise funds for student scholarships. Annually around $10,000 is raised for these scholarships. In addition to the Grand Prix Race, the main fundraising activity, each year the Purdue Grand Prix Foundation sponsors various activities such as the Grand Prix Bed Races, Grand Prix Day, and Sprint Races. Besides focusing primarily on scholarships, the Grand Prix Student Ambassadors Program selects individuals from the student body to represent the spirit of Grand Prix throughout the school year in the local community. Often times this means going to local schools and speaking about the importance of helping fellow students to create a better environment.
Race History Winners
| 2007 - |
1982 - John Brenan |
| 2006 - Clayton Smith |
1981 - David Fuhrman |
| 2005 - Timothy O'Brien |
1980 - Brian Grant |
| 2004 - Clayton Smith |
1979 - Dave Fleek |
| 2003 - Timothy O'Brien |
1978 - Robert Keagy |
| 2002 - Timothy O'Brien |
1977 - Dave Jones |
| 2001 - Tom Gray |
1976 - Chuck Sprague |
| 2000 - James Weida |
1975 - Mike Brennan |
| 1999 - Tom Gray |
1974 - Wayne Gerhart |
| 1998 - Kyle Smith |
1973 - Charles Workman Jr. |
| 1997 - Joe Troyer |
1972 - Mike Goodson |
| 1996 - Dustin Smith |
1971 - George Kozak |
| 1995 - Ian Smith |
1970 - James Fry |
| 1994 - Ian Smith |
1969 - Gary Van der Heide |
| 1993 - Ian Smith |
1968 - Al Brittingham |
| 1992 - Brian Berrisford |
1967 - Al Brittingham |
| 1991 - Doug Hodgdon |
1966 - George Taylor |
| 1990 - Doug Hodgdon |
1965 - Jim Feutsal |
| 1989 - Tom Smith |
1964 - Robert Booty |
| 1988 - Steve Daugherty |
1963 - Edward Mcdonald |
| 1987 - Dave Skelton |
1962 - John Mickley |
| 1986 - Bob Pitzer |
1961 - Tom Ellis |
| 1985 - Doug Wright |
1960 - John Mullaly |
| 1984 - Curtis Chariton |
1959 - Dick Clayton |
| 1983 - John Shumaker |
1958 - Fred Bartlett, Gregory Boman, Ronald Moffett, James Moneyhun & Kenneth Shull |