Georgia Gravity Games Set For Saturday in Douglasville

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — It'll be all downhill in downtown Douglasville this weekend, when the 2016 Georgia Gravity Games come to town.

Thousands are expected to come out for the statewide competition, sponsored by Google, Georgia Tech and the City of Douglasville.

In preparation for the gravity-only race, students and adults assemble either out-of-the-box "kit cars" or highly personalized "engineered cars" to race, this year, down the hills of Pray Street and Church Street in Douglasville.

The cars can have no internal power, and will go only with the flow of gravity — making crafty engineering a must for a strong finishing time. Think of it as a life-sized soapbox derby.

Sponsors describe the Gravity Games as a hands-on engineering activity designed, primarily, to get young people excited about STEM studies.

More than 55 teams made up of students from 28 schools across the state will be competing on Saturday.

Currently at 58 total teams — including adults who can race in the "open" category — this year’s Gravity Games has the highest number of participants in the event’s three-year history.

This year’s games also include a new award category for educational videos. Teams were encouraged to create and submit a YouTube video explaining what they learned while building their cars and how they used STEM skills.

Registrants will begin arriving at 7:30 a.m. and races will begin at 9 a.m. following remarks from Councilman Richard Segal, Google representatives and Douglas County Area Director of Schools Kwame Carr.

An award ceremony is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. with remarks from Douglasville Mayor Rochelle Robinson.

Food vendors will be onsite and admission to the event is free.

This year’s Gravity Games also includes a new award category for educational videos. Teams were encouraged to create and submit a YouTube video explaining what they learned while building their cars and how they used STEM skills.

Photo via GaGravityGames.com