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The Grand Prix Kart Museum

The Grand Prix Kart Museum is a mobile museum that showcases the history behind the Purdue Grand Prix race. The museum was established in 2012 by Purdue Grand Prix Foundation alumnus and historian Dave Fuhrman to celebrate the history of the ingenuity and engineering behind the Purdue Grand Prix race.

In the museum, you can find karts driven by legendary past winners, diagrams of past track layouts, and video footage from past races dating back to 1962.

The museum is open and on display every year during the annual Purdue Grand Prix race. Here are some of our highlights:

scratch built karts with Clinton Engine Company supplied power.

1958 // No. 4

This kart is from the inaugural race. During that race, all the karts were scratch-built with engines from the Clinton Engine Company.

Jim Feustal wining the race

1965 // No. 35

Jim Feustal won this race in the ‘Ole Banana.

The Photon with George Taylor, McCulloch kart and engine.

1966 // No. 45

George Taylor drove the Photon, a McCulloch kart and engine.

an image of go cart

1967 and 1968 // No. 5

Al Brittingham became the first two-time winner in KDR’s 5th Mystery.

SWE’s first entry was driven by Phyliss Wheil.

1974 // No. 9

SWE’s first entry was driven by Phyliss Wheil.

Mike Brennan in front of ancient Rupp kart

1975 // No. 23

Mike Brennan drove Sigma Kappa, an ancient Rupp kart.

Future Indy500 winning crew chief, Chuck Sprague

1976 // No. 8

Chuck Sprague—who later became an Indianapolis 500-winning crew chief—brought new levels of engineering and preparation to Purdue Grand Prix. Many think this was the best-looking kart to ever win.

David Fuhrman drove a Margay Expert kart with a McCulloch engine. This race took one hour and seven minutes.

1981 // No. 32

David Fuhrman drove a Margay Expert kart with a McCulloch engine. This race took one hour and seven minutes.

Dave Fuhrman’s renovation of the 1983 winning kart driven by John Shumaker

1983 // No. 13

Dave Fuhrman renovated the winning 1983 kart driven by John Shumaker.

1983 Champion John Shumaker in the Alpha Sigma Phi kart.

1983 // No. 13

John Shumaker won in the Alpha Sigma Phi kart, the same kart his brother Bill drove from 1979 to 1981.

scratch built karts with Clinton Engine Company supplied power. — 1958 // No. 4 // This kart is from the inaugural race. During that race, all the karts were scratch-built with engines from the Clinton Engine Company.

Jim Feustal wining the race — 1965 // No. 35 // Jim Feustal won this race in the ‘Ole Banana

The Photon with George Taylor, McCulloch kart and engine. — 1966 // No. 45 // George Taylor drove the Photon, a McCulloch kart and engine.

an image of go cart — 1967 and 1968 // No. 5 // Al Brittingham became the first two-time winner in KDR’s 5th Mystery.

SWE’s first entry was driven by Phyliss Wheil. — 1974 // No. 9 // SWE’s first entry was driven by Phyliss Wheil.

Mike Brennan in front of ancient Rupp kart — 1975 // No. 23 // Mike Brennan drove Sigma Kappa, an ancient Rupp kart.

Future Indy500 winning crew chief, Chuck Sprague — 1976 // No. 8 // Chuck Sprague—who later became an Indianapolis 500-winning crew chief—brought new levels of engineering and preparation to Purdue Grand Prix. Many think this was the best-looking kart to ever win.

David Fuhrman drove a Margay Expert kart with a McCulloch engine. This race took one hour and seven minutes. — 1981 // No. 32 // David Fuhrman drove a Margay Expert kart with a McCulloch engine. This race took one hour and seven minutes.

Dave Fuhrman’s renovation of the 1983 winning kart driven by John Shumaker — 1983 // No. 13 // Dave Fuhrman renovated the winning 1983 kart driven by John Shumaker.

1983 Champion John Shumaker in the Alpha Sigma Phi kart. — 1983 // No. 13 // John Shumaker won in the Alpha Sigma Phi kart, the same kart his brother Bill drove from 1979 to 1981.

Keagan’s story

I’m walking with Grandparents University tour group near the steps of Hovde Hall. It’s a Thursday morning in July, and the only students around are between the ages of 7 and 14. I catch a snippet of a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson as she details the pranks she pulled with her friends around this area.

I smile because just a few months ago I was doing the same thing.

Grandparents University (GPU) is a two-day event where grandparents and their grandchildren embrace Purdue and all it has to offer.

Participants choose a specific major to study and attend a class taught by Boilermaker experts. The majors aren’t exactly like the ones we have here at Purdue, but they do get to do cool activities like creating hot sauce, designing monsters, flying drones, and cooking in a Purdue kitchen. It’s a great opportunity to see wisdom and curiosity combined in the classroom, as grandparents and their grandchildren collaborate on these projects. They’re equally willing to learn from the instructors —and from each other—while creating lasting memories.

They might not know it yet, but this Purdue experience at such a young age will help with their college decision in a few years.

My mother started working at Purdue when she was pregnant with me, so I’ve been familiar with the university my whole life. Many of my childhood memories are associated with different parts of campus, and these memories played a big part in my decision to attend Purdue. I was going to a place that I knew—a place I already considered a home away from home. In the same way, when these children make their college decisions, they will already have built connections with Purdue through Grandparents University.

It will also help they already have a Purdue degree!

At the end of GPU, the kids graduate just like regular students by walking across the stage of Elliott Hall of Music. They even have their own caps to decorate and keep—which is great because robe rentals would be a nightmare.

I had been to nine commencement ceremonies before my own in May, so I’m well-versed in Purdue graduations. Nevertheless, it was still fun to watch this one.

These children had learned so much more than what was taught in their major. They learned more about their grandparents and strengthened their connection with them. They learned about the university and what’s in store for them when they (hopefully) become Boilermakers. And at the Block Party, they befriended students they had never met before and hung out on Memorial Mall—just like regular college students.

It was almost exactly what I experienced throughout my college career. Yes, I got my degree and now have a job as was intended on this life path. But I also made lifelong friendships and went outside my comfort zone in ways that helped me grow as an individual.

Purdue shaped me and continues to shape me. I credit a lot of my growth as a person and a professional to my college career here, and a lot of what I know to the professors and instructors I had throughout my education.

Through Grandparents University, you have the opportunity to provide the same transformative experience for future Boilermakers. You can be the Purdue instructor that inspires a path that lasts a lifetime.