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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.