April 16, 2017

Purdue Grand Prix set for April 21

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 61st Purdue Grand Prix, or “The Greatest Spectacle in College Racing,” is set for Saturday (April 21) at the Purdue Grand Prix Track located at the Northwest Athletic Complex at Cherry Lane and McCormick Road.

State Representative Sheila Klinker will serve as grand marshal for the race.

Klinker was elected in 1982 to the Indiana House of Representatives. She represents Indiana House District 27, serving parts of Lafayette and West Lafayette. Klinker received her bachelor’s and both master’s degrees from Purdue. Before becoming a state representative, Klinker taught in the Lafayette School Corporation and served as the outreach liaison for the Purdue College of Education.

There will be food trucks available at the race and a big screen showing the race in real time to enhance the spectator experience. Both are new additions to the ongoing Purdue Grand Prix tradition.

Qualifications took place on April 14 and this sets the first 27 spots of the field.

Karts that did not qualify will be split into three heats and will then compete in sprint races. The top two karts of these three sprint races will fill the remaining six spots, completing the 33-kart field.

Purdue Grand Prix Day will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday (April 20) near the Purdue Mall fountain. There will be free doughnuts and pizza. Monster Energy and Coca-Cola will be handing out samples.

Race day is Saturday (April 21) with Sunday (April 22) serving as the alternate race date if postponed due to weather. Gates open at 9 a.m., with the main feature beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance and are available now in the Purdue Conferences office, Stewart 116, or online at www.purduegrandprix.org. Tickets will be $12 at the gate on race day. Both cash and credit card will be accepted.

A shuttle service will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on race day. Pickup locations include the corner of Jischke Drive and Tower Drive, Earhart Hall, Ross-Ade North end parking lot, Stewart Center and Wiley Dining Court. Pickup locations will be marked with signage.

The event is sponsored by the Purdue Grand Prix Foundation. The foundation is built on the motto of “Students Helping Students” and works to raise over $10,000 annually to give out in the form of scholarships. The foundation is a student-led organization. The organization consists of 11 senior board directors, three advisors and a junior board staff. 

Writer: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-4325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

Source: Kathleen Jacobs, director of business for the Grand Prix Foundation, business@purduegrandprix.org

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