First Jr Engine Challenge Kicks Off at the Gateway Motorsports Park

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Junior Engine Challenge started this past weekend with the first official event held at Gateway Motorsport Park in Madison, IL. The contest is very simple a team comprised of 2 individuals; one team member must be 5-18 years of age must completely disassemble/reassemble a complete single cylinder OHV engine, utilizing only basic hand tools. Some of the goals of the premise behind this contest are to help individuals develop great communication skills, self-esteem; develop problem solving skills, and an understanding of an internal combustion engine.

We had over 20 competitors disassemble/reassemble the small single cylinder OHV engine that resembles the engine that many of the racers utilize to power their cars! One of the teams that ran through the engine, not once, but twice was a team of brothers; Kyle (9 years old) and Billy (8 years old) from Frankfort, IL the boy’s were all smiles as they worked on the engine. The brothers loved the Jr Engine competition so much that they went back to their pit to only return with their older brother Cory (13 years old) to also take part in the Jr engine Challenge! The brothers worked at a fevers pace to complete the Jr Engine build in between qualifying rounds of racing. Father/Son, Uncle/Nephew, Mother/Son, and teams of Brothers and Fellow Racers all had a great time competing at this first of 10 qualifying events.

The love of racing and performance is something that for many is developed at an early age, in order to help fuel this passion we want to expose kids to a unique opportunity to showcase workmanship and the awareness of complex mechanisms. This contest will be featured and hosted as a part of the Midwest Junior Super Series, to be hosted at all of the racing events all across the central US.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Jr Engine Challenge will feature at the Protect the Harvest Midwest Jr Super Series at Byron Dragway on May 5th-7th in Byron, IL. Please be sure to check the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Junior Drag Racing schedule for an event near you and join in on the exciting challenge! You can also follow and like us on Facebook to see photos from the events.