Drone Race Returns to SUNY Poly

Lisa Marie Payne

Utica NY – The SUNY Polytechnic Institute University Model Aviation Student Club #15104 (UMASC) in cooperation with CNY Drones will host NEON Night Race II, a MultiGP drone racing event, Saturday, September 15, 2018, at Wildcat Field on the SUNY Utica Campus.  The event opens at 7:00pm with races starting at dusk. In addition to fast-paced outdoor drone racing, spectators can mingle with area drone enthusiasts, try out FPV – First Person View goggles and drone flight simulators. Drones will fly under the lights with a special race using a neon lit course and darkened field.  CNY Drones is the MultiGP Racing Chapter for the Utica/Rome area.

SUNY’s AMA Club partners with CNY Drones to present drone races and STEM-focused drone events. CNY Drones provides racing to complement their core program, an annual indoor Team Drone Challenge for students, age 11+.  SUNY Polytechnic’s AMA Club will also host Drone Info Day, on September 30, 2018, and the Team Drone Challenge Competition Day on April 7, 2019.  The growing partnership gives volunteers and college students more opportunities to provide the community with inspiring STEM-focused programs that feed into the regional drone education and employment pipeline.

For directions and parking information for the NEON Night Race II, visit the CNY Drones website: www.cnydrones.org or contact SUNY UMASC Advisor Bob Payne, PayneR@sunyit.edu. Interested racers can contact MultiGP Racing Coordinator, Paul Brown, louispfloyd@gmail.com or go to www.MultiGP.com to register.

Recent News

Economic study highlights work of Griffiss Institute in Rome

Originally published by the Daily Sentinel. Read the full article here. (November 29, 2025) Story by...

Griffiss Institute Drives $15.4M Economic Impact While Strengthening the Mohawk Valley’s Innovation Economy

Download pdf Rome, NY, November 20, 2025 — Griffiss Institute (GI) announced the findings of its...

Five Women-Owned Businesses Recognized and Awarded a $5,000 Grant Totaling $25,000

Pictured:  Brenda Carney / Can Chasers, Alex Nicolette / Bloom Nutrition Solutions, Ana Felica Brito...

Rediscovering the Mohawk Valley: From Apathy to Optimism

Article Written by Travis Applebee, Marketing and Communications Manager, Griffiss Institute In late...

Griffiss Institute Launches PASSPORT After-School STEM Program with $100,000 Gift from Griffin Charitable Foundation

Griffiss Institute (GI) is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural PASSPORT after-school STEM...

Four Wheels and a Big Idea Local Business Owner Donates Trailer to Drive Griffiss Institute’s STEM Programs Forward

Griffiss Institute (GI) is rolling full speed ahead with delivering STEM programming directly to...
Scroll to Top

MVGives Now Accepting Donations Through 9/19 @ 9PM EST