鶹Ʒ’s Polytechnic Institute and Purdue Motorsports partnered to host ”Test and Tune,” an event for high school students to test and improve their electric go-karts, at the Studebaker Renaissance District in South Bend last month. The former Studebaker plant is home to the South Bend locations of both 鶹Ʒ’s Polytechnic Institute and 鶹ƷHigh School.
In addition to perfecting their designs, the event offered high school go-kart teams a chance to practice racing their karts on a course set up in the parking lot to mimic the winding Grand Prix go-kart track on 鶹Ʒ’s campus in West Lafayette. High school go-kart teams will participate in the nine-mile there on Oct. 4, 2022.
The presence of at least five go-kart teams within 90 miles inspired 鶹ƷSouth Bend to host its first ”Test and Tune” event, according to Corey Sharp, director of statewide partnerships for Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute. He also wanted to encourage more high schoolers to get involved in go-karting because many teams disbanded following COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns.
“A lot of teachers left, school boards have changed, and principals have changed,” Sharp said. “So with all of that, we know that there are 30 schools in Indiana that have karts that are not being used. Getting those karts back in action is our first goal.”
Events like ”Test and Tune” at 鶹ƷSouth Bend might inspire schools to start their own teams.
”You can build excitement around your go-kart team like you would your softball or basketball team,” said Sharp. “Every one of the students here can be an engineer or a skilled technician. So if schools can put the investment they put into athletics into their go-kart team, that’d be mind-boggling.”
Sharp noted that 鶹Ʒfaculty and staff, including Jeff Griffin, associate professor of computer and information technology and interim director of 鶹ƷSouth Bend, were instrumental in preparing for the event.
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- (South Bend Tribune)
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