MADISON – For the second year, Madison City Schools and GreenpowerUSA collaborated for the MadCity GreenpowerUSA Electric Vehicle Race. The race course was set up at James Clemens High School on April 15.

The Greenpower Electric Car Challenge is a project-based STEM learning initiative for broad levels of education. This program leverages the excitement of motorsport to enhance teaching and learning of STEM-based subject matter and learning objectives. 

Race teams were revved up early in the pits at 8 a.m. After a pre-race safety meeting, the Goblin Race opened the event, followed by the intermediate race and advanced race, which were both 90 minutes long.

An awards ceremony concluded the day, Jessye G. Gaines said. Gaines is Engineering Academy Director and PATRIOT Racing sponsor at Bob Jones High School.

Madison teams aced the top places in the Goblin Race for younger students. Columbia Elementary School was the first-place winner. Mill Creek and Horizon elementary schools claimed the Goblin’s second and third places, respectively.

Students in middle school entered the F24 Intermediate Race. Discovery Middle School earned first-place bragging rights. Challenger Middle School in Huntsville took the second-place slot. Liberty Middle School earned third place in the intermediate race.

Teenagers ran the course in the F24 Advanced Race. Grissom High School in Huntsville won first place. Bob Jones High School ranked in second place. Rocket City Racing from Huntsville ranked third.

The race drivers vied to complete the most laps in 90 minutes. “Cars are required to take pit stops at least twice to swap drivers and must have a minimum of three different drivers,” Gaines said.

“In addition to racing, the teams also had to give presentations and participate in a question-and-answer session with a panel of judges on their car, their team, their business plans and other topics,” Gaines said. 

In another activity, the MadCity Car Show was held the same day at James Clemens. The show was open to all makes and models. “The car show was a huge hit. We had great attendance for the show,” Gaines said.