News
WaveBox® Sponsors Bio-Powered Tailgate Tour
The WaveBox® portable microwave has signed on as corporate sponsor of a sports tailgating tour that features a lime green auto powered by biodiesel and used vegetable oil, dubbed the "Lime Green Renewable Energy Machine." The 2008 WaveBox® Portable Microwave Green Power Sports Tour will visit more than 100 sports venues in the United States and Canada from Aug. 22 through Dec. 31, 2008.
"Since the WaveBox® is a great tailgate machine, we think it's a natural to send along on the Green Power Sports Tour," said Tim Frank, president of The Frank Group, inventor of the WaveBox®. "Sports fans across North America will have fun with the WaveBox® while being entertained by Joe Connor and his ‘green machine.' "
This is the third year that sports writer Joe Connor is making the cross-continent trek in his 1984 Mercedes Benz 300D. The auto is outfitted to run on biodiesel available at many gas stations, and on used vegetable oil discarded from deep fryers of restaurants. The tour allows the colorful Connor to fuel his passion for sports while fueling his car with alternative energy.
"We have a great time on the Green Power Sports Tour and the WaveBox® will help us get to more venues in 2008," said Connor. "What could be better: enjoying great sports, hitting the open road and powering it all with fuel that would otherwise be thrown away?"
Connor gets the used vegetable oil from local restaurants on his route. A filtration system in the trunk of the car makes the oil ready for burning to power the vehicle. The car has a two-fuel system. It starts up and runs initially using biodiesel fuel. Once the engine is warm enough to heat the vegetable oil, Connor switches fuels and runs the car on this renewable resource. Typically restaurants pay for disposal of waste cooking oil, so Connor has no shortage of raw materials.
Connor's 2008 sports tour starts Aug. 22 in Bakersfield, Calif., then winds its way through 20,000 miles in more than two dozen U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Venues will include minor league baseball, college football, college hockey, college basketball, NBA and WNBA basketball, NHL hockey and NFL football. The tour will wrap up Dec. 31 at the Sun Bowl game in El Paso, Texas.
Connor parks the vehicle in high-visibility areas of stadium parking lots, ensuring an audience for his message. He will visit some 40 college campuses during the 2008 tour.
"Tailgating before college and pro football games has been a great forum to not only have a burger and beer, but to informally educate fans about renewable energy," said Connor, who has written for ESPN.com and FOXSports.com during his freelance writing career. "I love sports and I love to travel and this has proven to be a fun way to interact with fans, especially the future leaders of our country - college students."
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The WaveBox® is the world's first truly portable microwave oven. Weighing just 15 pounds and sporting a luggage-quality handle, the WaveBox® is designed for portability and power. With triple power options, WaveBox® microwaves can run off a standard AC outlet, 12-volt vehicle power socket rated at 20 amps or higher, or by direct connection to 12-volt vehicle and boat batteries. For more information, visit www.thewavebox.com.
