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Rev Up those Engines: A much awaited introduction of our 2024 Purdue Grand prix Team
Hello, loyal fans of Purdue Triangle Grand Prix team! It's been a while since we last connected through this blog, but the wait is over. Buckle up, because we're back with a roar, ready to share some exciting news that has been brewing behind the scenes.
The past couple years this blog has taken a back seat to some of our other social media but no more! While we still love interacting with our fans on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook (which we will still be doing full force), we will now be keeping a blog this year to let you view "under the hood" of all the things we are doing this year.
This year we will be rolling out a team with experienced competitors gunning for podium spots. Leading the charge are our veteran drivers Randall Hubbell II and Andrew Morin. This is their 3rd race and they are looking to put the pedal to the metal on this one. Coordinating things from the pits will be Adam Dziergowski in his 4th grand prix as Hubbell's crew chief and Jacob Mobley will be on the com with Morin in just his second grand prix.
Feel free to meet the rest of the roster in our "Meet the Teams!" page that has our entire team along with more in depth bios and photos!
Rookie Race Team Takes on 2021 Purdue Grand Prix
Scouting new horizons, at Purdue’s largest in-person event since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, an all new rookie race line-up fills the shoes of Triangle Racing. Featuring rookie drivers Trey Stroupe and Adam Dziergowski, rookie Head Mechanic Vaughn Carraher, and rookie Crew Chief Jackson Longfellow, mentored by returning Grand Prix veterans Stefan Rust and Nate Kerr. Featuring 30+ rookie drivers out of 52 teams, Purdue’s 64th Grand Prix proved to be an excellent learning experience for both Stroupe and Dziergowski, with Dziergowski earning himself a spot in the official race lineup.
Purdue Grand Prix 63 Canceled
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the 2020 Purdue Grand Prix has been canceled. Triangle Racing plans to use this time to prepare for Purdue Grand Prix 64, which is slated for spring 2021. See you next year and stay safe!
Triangle Racing says Goodbye to Senior Driver Jared Thayer
Following subsequent 3rd place victories in both the 2018 and 2019 Purdue Grand Prix, Triangle Racing says goodbye to graduating senior driver Jared Thayer. Thayer has been a key player in Triangle Racing during his time here at Purdue, and stepping up to fill his shoes for the 2020 season is rookie driver Nate Kerr. Kerr has experience racing for the EV Grand Prix team and hopes to fill Thayer's Shoes.
Triangle Team 1 wins 2018 Grand Prix Series at Whiteland & Halloween Hundred!
This Fall, Triangle Team 1 won the 4-race series championship at Whiteland Raceway Park! They capped off their success by winning the season finale, the Halloween Hundred, a 100-lap endurance race, set up like the Purdue Grand Prix. Triangle's Team 2 also made it to the finish line in 4th position, which helped them secure 5th overall in the series championship. Both drivers made impressive steps forward this Fall season, and will be exciting to watch come time for the first day of practice of the 2019 Purdue Grand Prix season, Tuesday March 26th.
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Upcoming Event: 2018 Grand Prix Fall Series at Whiteland
Join us at Whiteland Raceway Park starting August 26th for the first race of a 4-feature series! Last year both Triangle Racing Teams participated in the Fall 2017. Team B gained crucial race experience, and Team A got 2nd overall in the series, as well poll in the Halloween Hundred 100-lap endurance race! This year our sights are set on winning 1st place overall, a goal within reach! Century Club Members - be on the lookout for post-race updates on our teams' progress!
Schedule
Race 1: August 25th:
Race 2: September 1st
Race 3: September 22nd
Race 4: October 13th
Halloween Hundred - TBD (October 27th?)
Summer Racing, Featuring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!
Jared continued to race nearly every weekend this summer at Newcastle Motorsports Park in the Yamaha Senior can class. He gained lots of experience racing an identical chassis to the Triangle A Team Grand Prix kart. In early July Jared raced in the Battle At The Brickyard, a national go-kart race inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he and other karters got the chance to take a lap around the 2.5 mile oval!
Triangle Racing Mourns the Passing of John Storm
On May 13, 3 weeks following the 2018 Grand Prix, Triangle Racing mourned the loss of a great man, John Storm pur73. John was Triangle Racing's #1 supporter, who's passion for racing and generosity revitalized the Triangle Racing program in 2016.
John was extremely proud of both team's results after the 2018 GP. Just days before his passing, Jared got the chance to reflect with John about John's goal for the team set 3 years prior. As the story goes:
It was a night at a Triangle Nationals convention in 2016, when Purdue Triangle Alumni Board President Pat McCarthy approached John about the idea of restarting the racing program. "It's time Triangle reclaims themselves as a competitive Grand Prix racing house at Purdue. We ought to set a goal to finish 5th place in 5 years", Pat told John. John responded, "If I'm getting involved, I want a top 3 finish in 3 years!"
John lived to see his wish come true. It was an honor to know John, and he will be dearly missed. John was always the top Triangle Alumni sponsor, and to recognize him, we are hanging a plaque with his photo in the Triangle Formal called "THE STORM AWARD". It will recognize the highest annual Triangle Alumni contributor by engraving their name on the plaque.
PODIUM FINISH FOR TEAM A,
TEAM B FINISHES 12TH!
Triangle's A Team finished this year's race in 3rd place, the highest finishing Purdue kart, behind two IUPUI karts!! Triangle's B team finished in 12th!! Jared was only 4 seconds away from a 2nd place finish!
With Vijay starting in 22nd and Jared and 8th, the race began intensely, all 33 karts battling for position.... Read More
PRACTICE & QUALIFICATIONS REPORT
Both Triangle Teams had a successful first week of practice! The A team and their new kart compiled nearly 300 laps in 3 practices, consistently staying among the top 5 fastest karts of the day, among a field of 50+ karts. Rookie Driver Vijay Venugopal and Team B are running in the top 20! Read More
The second week of practice seemed to fly by almost as quickly as our karts did. The 4 days before Qualifications were important days for both teams. Team A made experimental changes to their kart setup, swapping exhaust pipes, axles, and front end adjustments, not to mention breaking in a handful of tires, clutches, and race engine.
Triangle's A Team qualifed 8th and B Team qualified 22nd! Read More
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IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR!
Although the forecast is still calling for snow, the calendar says it's April, and that means IT'S RACING SEASON! Both teams have shown great progress throughout these last 2 weeks of practice, and there are high expectations riding on both units as we approach qualifications.
BOTH TEAMS PASS TECH INSPECTION!
The Triangle B Team cruised through tech inspection #2 Saturday morning with only a couple of minor necessary modifications made since tech #1 in early February. Team A was not present at tech #1 due to the late shipment arrival of their new kart chassis. The new Italian chassis made its way to the states by sea, and with the help of our kart builder was ready to roll by tech #2, passing inspection! Team A also secured a remote shop on campus to work independently. This situation allows both teams ample space and area to work without having to share tools.
Jared wins Fastimes Endurance Race
Jared went to Member's Night at Fastimes Indoor Karting to race in the 150-Lap endurance race! He qualified 2nd overall, and finished 2nd after an hour of racing! The winner was DQ'd, and therefore Jared won a $50 gift card!
Matt Hatzer named Triangle B Crew Chief
Matt has been named Triangle B Team's Crew Chief! Matt is a Freshman studying Mechanical Engineering Technology. We are happy to welcome his mechanical expertise which he has gained from working on cars, knowledge of clutches, engines, and suspension components. Matt helped Vijay at Whiteland this fall, keeping Vijay on the track. Together they will be a strong young force.
Florida Test Day at Andersen Racepark
While visiting family over winter break in Florida, Jared was able to meet up with Jimmy Simpson at Andersen Racepart in Palmetto Florida for a day at the track. This track was much bigger than Whiteland and Purdue (most similar to Newcastle). Jared drove one of Jimmy's modified TAG go-karts, packing a whole lot of power. Speeds reached up to 75 mph! Jared hopes to make another visit on spring break during the month of March.
For now Jared and Vijay are staying driver sharp during Monday nights at Fastimes Indoor karting in Indy, unlimited driving for 3 hours.
TRIANGLE WINS WHITELAND HALLOWEEN HUNDRED GP ENDURANCE RACE
Kart #7 finished first overall on a cold November afternoon at Whiteland Raceway Park. The annual Halloween Hundred 100 lap endurance race, the most similar race to the Purdue Grand Prix in April, had been previously delayed due to bad weather. Our kart was the only kart that endured throughout the entirety of the race, while others broke down due to equipment failures. Thank you to Triangle Alumni Tony Seyfried who saw our kart through the race and lent a hand during our pitstop. Brachston Grubbs our reliable Head Mechanic and recent graduate made his final appearance in the Triangle Racing pit crew. Thank you Brachston for all your hard work and dedication to our revitalized program. Our returning Crew Chief, senior Wyatt Dahlenburg did an excellent job ensuring that our team would come out on top.
TRIANGLE A TEAM BECOMES WHITELAND FALL SERIES COLLEGIATE GRAND PRIX RUNNER UP!
Jared's second place finish was Triangle's best finish of the 4-race series, and enabled them to win second overall, the runner up of the Whiteland Fall Series! Rookie driver #2 Vijay Venugopal did race and gained more value seat time! Although he did not finish, Vijay made great progress, consistently getting faster and faster, competitively matched drivers with more experience. Thank you to all who have been following us throughout the series, we appreciate your support!
Upcoming Event: 2017 Grand Prix Fall Series at Whiteland
Join us at Whiteland Raceway Park starting August 26th for the first race of a 4-feature series! Last year the Triangle Racing Team participated in the Fall 2016 series and brought home three trophies, two of which were second place finishes to 4-time Purdue Grand Prix champion Jimmy Simpson! This year our sights are set on winning 1st place overall, a goal within reach! In addition,
The Halloween Hundred is the series finale, a 100-lap race. The idea of the race is to recreate what the enduring 160 lap Purdue Grand Prix feels like in the spring.
Schedule
Race 1: August 26th: Post Race Report
Race 2: September 16th
Race 3: September 30th Post Race Reports
Race 4: October 7th Post Race Report
Halloween Hundred - October 28th
SUMMER RACING 2017!
Jared stripped down the Grand Prix kart to do some summer racing! To qualify to race at Newcastle Motorsports Park and Whiteland Raceway Park, the kart got a makeover. The role cage, metal gas tank, exhaust pipe, seat belts and shoulder harnesses had to be removed. To race in the Yamaha Senior Can class, an exhaust can and dry clutch needed added. Possibly the most noticeable addition was putting on new plastic body work and an awesome kart graphics kit! Racing really became a commitment for Jared and father Jim when they went out and got a race trailer in early June. Between practice, driver training, and race days, Jared has been focusing primarily on getting quicker in preparation for next April. So far he's been at Newcastle about 10 times, battling it out Sunday morning KRA races! So far Jared has brought home a first and 2 second place trophies in the senior can class at Whiteland!
Triangle Racing takes 7th @ 60th Purdue Grand Prix (2017)
#7 finished 7th! The team qualified 14th for the race, although an engine problem delayed Jared's entry prior to the green flag. An excellent pit crew effort was able to fire Jared up and send him back out in under a minute's time, however Jared was now in dead last place and about a lap behind the field. With a newfound sense of urgency, Jared had open track to begin a comeback that would allow him to overtake 25 positions and finish the race just 2 spots shy of a top 5 finish! Here are some pictures taken during the race and in celebration after the finish!
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