Racing
ASME Racing has returned to develop innovative solutions to the historic race. We are manufacturing custom components such as a roll cage, exhaust, and transmission, as well as collecting data and creating models to predict optimal race setups and performance. This provides members with professional and technical experience that directly applies to the automotive industry!
Current Projects
CVT Optimization
With a proof of concept established, the CVT and its mounting solution will be optimized for reliability and performance. The CVT acts as a gearbox with “infinite” speeds, allowing the most optimal power output from the engine to the wheels. A testbed will be built which, with the help of an electric motor, will allow testing of design changes from last year’s CVT without the need for the kt-100 motor assembly.
Custom Dry Clutch
Bringing engineering back means making as many parts as possible in house, and the clutch is the next step in that process. The clutch is the intermediary between the engine and tires, only allowing power to be delivered to the wheels with enough throttle input from the driver. It is a new and ambitious project that calls for precise tolerances, dense packaging and challenging materials. It will require all facets of ASME Racing’s experience.
Shifter Transmission
A new project started as an alternative to the existing transmission solutions, the 2-speed gearbox remains one of the most effective ways to optimize kart acceleration. The mechanical complexity presents a new challenge in manufacturing and design to create precise components which can handle the high loads of the kart.
Airframe
When new components are added behind the engine and the driver, the exhaust often must be maneuvered into various angles to achieve the best packaging configuration. A mounting solution will be built that allows the exhaust to be securely mounted in all possible configurations and be less intrusive. The team will also test the effects of adding a variable exhaust to the kart.
Fuel tank
In the ongoing effort to make as many components in house, the fuel tank was identified as an early candidate. The manufacturing challenges brough about with by thin sheet metal and welding meant that new processes had to be made for this season. A reduced weight combined with baffles to control fuel movement will yield performance gains.
Engine Rebuilds + Tuning
One of the largest ongoing costs of the team is the purchasing and external maintenance of the motors, therefore the team is developing in-house processes to complete the required engine maintenance at a fraction of the price. Additionally, it opens the door to operating more karts.
ASME Racing provides innovative technical opportunities by manufacturing in-house racing karts for the Annual Purdue Grand Prix. They won the "BestEngineered Kart" Award with the first custom chassis in over 50 years of GrandPrix history.
Get in Touch
Project Director
John Brower