The Exponent - special


04-25-2003	Previous edition: 04-24-2003

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History proves Grand Prix's popularity

Exponent File Photo

WAVING ON A TRADITION: Duane Sweeney, starter for the Purdue Grand Prix Race since 1982, waves checkered flags at a past race. Sweeney is only one part of the legacy of Grand Prix that has existed for 46 years.

By Heather Poston
Assistant Campus Editor

Though many annual events fail to withstand the test of time, one event has remained a much-anticipated Purdue tradition for 46 years.

Members of the Purdue Auto Club founded the Purdue Grand Prix in 1958. In 1966, the club broke up and the Grand Prix Foundation and the Tippecanoe Sports Car Club were formed, said Fritz Peacock, Purdue alumnus and supervisor of technical services for the School of Mechanical Engineering.

"Grand Prix survives and it is still an event run for and by the students," said Peacock.

The race was originally 160 laps around the Recreational Sports Center. Peacock said the then 30-mile race was later moved to the Engineering Mall. In 1969, a track was constructed north of Ross-Ade Stadium. It cost more than $25,000 and was modeled after the World Kart Championship track in Japan. The Grand Prix race is still held on that track, said Peacock.

"Grand Prix is known nationally as 'the Greatest Spectacle in College Racing.' Locally, the focus is entertainment and fund-raising for scholarship money," said Peacock.

The race was created to raise scholarship funds, and it was redesigned in 1982 for "well-rounded students in need of financial aid," said Peacock.

In recent years, corporate sponsors like Ford, Michelin, and Kimberly-Clark have made sizable donations to the Grand Prix Scholarship fund. Over the years, Purdue's Grand Prix has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in student scholarships, said Peacock.

Each year, more than 60 teams compete for the 33 spots in the main 50-mile race. Organizations of all types have been involved in the race, including residence halls, fraternities, sororities, cooperative houses and other campus organizations.

When the karts were first built, they were made of a variety of materials. Some were little more than bed frames, lawn mower engines and wheelbarrow wheels that reached a high speed of only 20 to 30 mph.

"They were awfully crude and much slower than the karts now raced," said Peacock. "In the early years of the race, many teams developed really innovative designs and engine modifications. One team created a fuel-injection system consisting of a hot water bottle filled with fuel, upon which the driver sat; as he bounced, fuel was pressurized and sprayed into the engine — not a good idea."

Peacock said having the Grand Prix race also evolved from ideas of having engineering students showcase their skills in a competitive nature.

"As an engineering school, it was a competitive sporting event that us 'Geeks and Greeks' could engage in," said Peacock.

Peacock said Frederick Hovde, former Purdue president, was supportive of the race during his tenure at Purdue.

"Without his support, the race never would have started," said Peacock.

In the interest of safety, President Hovde created the safety committee, headed by personnel from Purdue's Fire Department. Safety rules have evolved since the first race; no serious life-threatening injuries have resulted from the race at any point during its 46 years.

Peacock is not the only alumnus who is passionate about the race.

Peacock's friend John Watson was involved in the first Grand Prix Race in 1958. His team was the Gable Courts team, which won the first Grand Prix race. The Gable Courts were residence hall units that were located on the south side of State Street. Watson said their kart wasn't necessarily the fastest car, it just happened to be one that didn't break down during the race.

"The winning kart won because it never broke down, though some of the other karts were much faster," said Watson. "The race was very well attended. Fifteen or 20 karts started the race; just like today's race, many karts did not finish."

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