Grand Prix teams prepare for Saturday race

As 27 teams gear up for Saturday’s Purdue Grand Prix, 11 of them took to 3rd Street Thursday to show off their karts and celebrate the 67th year of the race after last week’s qualifying session.

Among the teams was Dynoco Racing, an all-freshman team of students who said they couldn’t find a team prior to Dynoco’s establishment.

Dynoco is also the second-ever public team in Grand Prix history, meaning there is no official organization behind it.

“We’re all about including people who wouldn’t have the chance to build a car anywhere else,” said Creighton Bennett, a freshman member of Dynoco. “We decided to make this team and give freshman the opportunity to get their hands on something they’re interested in.”

But after a carburetor issue, they failed to qualify in the preliminary qualification stage, but they feel good about their chances in the sprint qualification race before the main event which could allow unqualified teams to qualify for the main event on Saturday.

“I think we have the fastest car and one of the best drivers,” Bennett said. “I’m not worried about us qualifying at all.”

Set up next to Dynoco was Excalibur, a self-described “small racing team” out of Wiley Hall. Member Derek Babby, a junior in mechanical engineering, said they have taken a big step up since last year.

“We haven’t made the race the last few years, but this year we were able to make it,” Babby said. “(It’s) definitely a big step up from last year and we’re looking to maximize that performance in the race.”

The team’s driver, Athreya Ramanan, a sophomore in integrated business and engineering, was able to place the car in 11th place in the preliminary qualifying session.

“(The) car in general feels really good,” he said. “The team did an amazing job just getting it set up and responsive to all the changes I make while I’m driving. I think (the race) will be pretty good for us.”

Another team in attendance was Mosaic Mile, sporting “72” on their only kart. Crew Chief Aden Hurd, a junior in electrical engineering, said they could have gotten more from the kart than what they did in qualifying.

“We thought we could have picked up a little bit more time, but it went well,” Hurd said. “We were happy with fifth place and we’re gonna look to improve on that in the race.”

Hurd, who has been involved in the Grand Prix for three years, said that in the top five teams the shootout for top of the pack is luck of the draw.

“From what I’ve experienced, it’s kind of luck of the draw on how traffic goes for you and the maintenance of your car,” Hurd said. “If you’re in the top five, you’ve got the speed to win the race, so I think it’s really just going to shake out into how traffic plays out.”

One team that isn’t taking any chances with traffic issues is Sigma Nu. Davis Cook, a senior in robotics, said the team added bumpers as a failsafe for collisions.

“I know it gets a little hectic in the first couple laps so hopefully they’ll keep us in the race,” he said.

Sigma Nu was unable to qualify in the preliminary session, placing 36th, but Cook said he was pleased with their performance. They have to look forward towards their sprint qualifier race, he said, where they will start third.

“We did better, last year we got 46th, this year we got 36th,” Cook said. “It’s just small steps to hopefully qualify in the next coming years.

“I’m already kind of happy with how we are right now, it would be better if we finished and qualified for the actual race, but you know, if we come third in the sprint, it’s still something (to have) a little celebration for in my mind.”

A team with even higher expectations is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Member Jack Foster said he has high hopes for the race.

“Qualifying went really well for us,” he said. “Andrew (Bische) popped in eighth, so he’s gonna be starting on the grid.”

Andrew Bische, the driver of the team’s Kart 80, said he feels ready for Saturday’s race.

“We had (the kart) dialed in; I think we’re prepared for the Grand Prix,” Bische said.

And while Bische was able to qualify, ASME’s second kart, 79, fell just short in the preliminary qualifying session, but will start second in the sprint qualifier.

“(We’re) pretty confident in (Bische), (we’re) looking for a good result, he’s really consistent on track and really good in traffic,” Foster said. “So just hoping everything goes well, no crazy turn one incidents.”

Another team who had split qualifying results was the Honors College race team, whose Kart 27 qualified, but Kart 17 didn’t.

Kaitrin Blaney, a sophomore in industrial engineering, said that despite the mixed results, she’s happy with the team’s performance and they are ready for Saturday.

“It’s the biggest event of the year and a lot of people are gonna be there, but really, I’m really proud of my team this year and just the sheer amount of work and dedication that they have,” Blaney said.

Kart 27 will start 10th in the race, while Kart 17 will try and qualify through the sprint race. But Blaney said it’s a good spot to be in.

“There can be a lot of carnage in the first couple of turns,” she said.

- Additional reporting by Jacob Gutwein, staff reporter