MLGW is once again hosting the “A-Blazing Race” on Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. The race will be held at the Beale Street Landing Parking Garage Roof Top at 245 South Main Street. The A-Blazing Race promotes MLGW’s interest in solar energy, but also introduces children to different engineering-related professions.

The object of the race is to design and build a vehicle that is powered strictly by solar power and will compete in races with similar cars as well as compete in a design competition. This year’s event will be divided into two divisions, grades third through fifth and grades sixth through eighth. Teams can consist of two to eight people.

Teams will use a kit (available through MLGW) containing a solar panel and motor. Using any other ma­terials, competitors will design and build a solar powered vehicle that will race on a 20-meter race course. The winner of the competition will be the team whose vehicle is the top finisher in a series of head-to-head elimination rounds.

An A-Blazing Race Engineering workshop will be held on Saturday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to noon at the MLGW Joyce Blackmon Training Center at 4949 Raleigh LaGrange at Covington Pike. To participate in the workshop, participants must indicate attendance on the workshop registration form which is available online at mlgw.com/Ablazing.

“Getting great feedback last year on the inaugural race, we wanted to continue its success,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins Jr. “It gives us another opportunity to interact with local kids and not only teach them about engineering and the importance of solar power, but also make it fun for everyone.”

For more information about the A-Blazing Race contact MLGW’s Community Relations Department at (901) 528-4820 or commrelations@mlgw.org. You can also visit the A-Blazing Race Website to register online.
 

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 420,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County.