Engineering Solutions Since 1967 Ten-year-old Cooper Lawson races in the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League. These cars are designed for kids ages 5–18 to race against each other on 1/8 mile dragstrips. At 1/4 tracks, they just use the first half, giving them extra room to slow down. Kids are limited by their age as to how quickly they are allowed to run. This last summer, Cooper graduated from the 11.90 class to the 8.90 class, meaning he is not allowed to go any quicker than 8.90 seconds to the 1/8 mile mark. Once he turns 13, he will be able to go 7.90, which is the quickest they are allowed. His current car is reaching 72 MPH in the 1/8 mile from a standing start, and he has gone as quick as 8.93 seconds.
Ten-year-old Cooper Lawson uses Tufoil Engine Treatment in his motor oil as well as Tufoil Gun-Coat on the drive chain each day for consistent drag racing performance.
Changing classes last summer meant changing cars, as it was not economical to upgrade the old car. The previous car was sold to another family with young kids just getting started in racing. Those funds were put towards the replacement, which was purchased from a family who had “aged out,” meaning the kids had outgrown the class. Cooper quickly adapted to the new car, winning his class the second time out!
Besides the fun and excitement, racing has opened Cooper’s eyes to math and science. The timing system records his performance to the thousandth of a second. To level the playing field, the kids are given a handicapped start based on their “dial-in” (predicted time), which they cannot go under. Thus their reaction time and car performance become critical. Even at this level, a tenth of a second makes the difference between winning and losing. At the end of the pass, the math always tells the story. On the science side, the car’s performance is mainly dictated by the weather conditions. Cooper has learned that temperature and humidity are key factors. As a result, he checks the weather after each run and enters it in his logbook for future reference.
NHRA Junior Drag Racing League 10-year-old Cooper Lawson
Cooper is using Tufoil Engine Treatment in his motor oil as well as Tufoil Gun-Coat on the drive chain each day for consistent performance. The engine runs on methanol, which quickly contaminates engine oil, so it gets changed every three passes (multiple times per race day). Cooper does this himself as part of the between round maintenance. He’s also the one deciding what the “dial-in” will be. Dad and grandpa are there to keep the fuel tank full, drive the golf cart to tow the car to the starting line and back from the finish line (the kids are only allowed to drive on the actual race track). Dad helps with all the required safety gear for every run, and grandpa runs the starter (external to the car as another precaution). Once the engines are fired and the cars are lined up, it’s all up to Cooper to get to the other end of the track.
Thanks to the Fluoramics team for helping make memories!!!
Guest Blog By: Erik Lawson
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