1993 Volume 116 No 1–4 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

On Campus
Coughlin wins drag racing championship
By Rob
Pasquinucci
When Ohio Mu Phi
Delt, Jeg Coughlin,
returned to
Ashland University after a
customary weekend of
drag racing this past fall, he
was wearing more than liis
custoniary grin. Coughlin
had just been crowned
World Super Gas champion
after the quarterfinal
race in Califoniia, winning
with the fourth highest
point total in the history of
the circuit.
jeg is the youngest
member of a weU-known
racing family. His father,
Jeg Sr., raced professionally
for three decades and now
owns Jeg's Automotive in
Columbus. The company
seUs racing products out of
its three stores and through
mail order catalogs.
Coughlin's three older
brothers also drag race.
Coughlin's race class is
one that requires competitors
to reach the finish Une
in as close to 9.90 seconds
as possible. To be successful
requires a lot preparation
and very quick
reflexes.
In the cockpit of his
canary yellow 1927 Ford
Roadster, at the starting
line, Coughlin releases a
button on his steering
wheel when the yellow
light appears on the
traditional drag racing
Christmas tiee. A computer
in Coughlin's dragster
applies reverse and
forward gears, creating
torque but no forward
motion. The computer
releases the car forward at
a preset time which
corresponds to the green
Ught on the tree. All
Coughlin needs to do from
that point forward is hold
on and drive safely to the
finish line.
What contributes to his
success Coughlin attributes
his team's success
to a combination of driver,
car, and luck.
"In our case, it's 60
percent driver, 20 percent
car, and 20 percent luck,"
Coughlin said.
For Coughlin, traveling
is one of the most interesting
aspects of the sport.
The family travels to races
in two motorhomes, each
member taking turns
driving to the various
meets around the United
States.
Coughlin plans on
continuing his work at the
family business after he
graduates from Ashland
this May. Even though
racing is thrilling and fun,
Coughlin also says it is a
lot of work.
"Working and racing
are one in the same, when I
hang up my helmet on
Sunday night, I put my
driving gloves on for
Monday," Coughlin said.
Coughlin continues to
race, and he hopes to be
first to repeat a world
championship this year. If
he does, the Brothers at
Ohio Mu can expect to see
an even bigger smile on his
face. •
Chapter
Advisers
Needed
At the Massachusetts
Delta chapter at Bentley
College. Interested
alumni should call Chris
Hartwyk at 201-642-
3900.
At Penn Lambda at
Indiana U. of Pennsylvania.
Alumni should
contact Bob Heister at
412-355-4406.
At Texas Iota at Lamar
University. Alumni
should contact Chris
Young at 713-664-9771.
At Florida Gamma at
Florida State University.
Alumni should contact
Jim McCarthy at 813-
225-7253.
70 TheScroU * Spring 1993