RoboKong RC Race at Central Library!

Central Library had our largest Summer Reading Finale to date thanks to the Best Buy Teen Tech Center and Kid Kong's RoboKong program. All of the participants from the RoboKong program raced electric remote-controlled (RC) cars inside an inflated race track in the lobby of the Library. Every Thursday from June 11th through July 23rd, the kids put their all into designing and building these cars. Kid Kong and his volunteers, alongside the Best Buy Teen Tech Center staff, supported them as they gained new skills and made new friends along the way. Read about the building stages from June here: fulcolibrary.org/blogs/post/unearthing-robokong-june-recap/, opens a new window. 

July marked the halfway point of RoboKong, and the kids were in full gear. Some teams were further along than others in the building stage, but Kid Kong and his volunteers were always available to step in when someone hit a wall (sometimes literally). As more parts were assembled each week, we could see the cars slowly take form. There were two moments where the participants were most excited during the building stage: powering the chassis and getting their logos and painted car body. It was a blast witnessing the excitement from bodiless vehicles driving around the Best Buy Teen Tech Center and then decorating the painted bodies with the logos they designed themselves. As mentioned before, some teams were further along than others, so a few teams continued building their cars until the very end. Nonetheless, the participants completed 6 RC cars, and race day came on July 29th.

Picture this:

Everyone surrounds the race track in awe of its magnitude and raves about the cars. The RoboKong teams give each other pep talks at the head of the track as Kid Kong's volunteers place the RC cars at the starting line. Kid Kong begins the countdown for the first of the three-round race and the revving of small and mighty engines reverberates through the lobby. 3... 2... 1... and they all take off! Around and around they went competing for first place. The winners, Gabriel D. and Noel O., left no room for confusion as they swept through the competition each round and claimed their prize. Gabriel even gave a celebratory slickback (airwalk) dance inside the track. Check out all the fun everyone had in the photos below. Click photo to enlarge.

Blog post by Nechelle Roberts, Library Associate

For more information about the above program or other programs for Teens at the Central Library, please visit fulcolibrary.org/central-library/central-best-buy-teen-tech-center/, opens a new window or call 404-613-0259.