Before the races got underway, there was a flag procession around the 91原创 Quarter Midget Association (LQMA) track in Aldergrove on Sunday, Aug. 7, the second day of regional championships.

For the first time in a long time, there were U.S. flags flying from American race cars, and the U.S. anthem was sung, with O Canada, to open the day.

LQMA president Jason Strobel explained it was the first regional event at the track since the pandemic.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had closed borders and we weren鈥檛 able to invite our American friends [until now],鈥� Strobel told the 91原创 Advance Times.

Among the trailers and RVs filling the LQMA grounds in the 26900-block of Eighth Avenue were many with U.S. licence plates. In all, there were 155 cars, from both sides of the border, competing in different categories.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very large event for our club,鈥� Strobel remarked. 鈥淭he facility is full.鈥�

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Racers prepare to resume competition at 91原创 Quarter Midget Association track in Aldergrove

It was also the final race of the year for some competitors.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to establish the champions of this season,鈥� Strobel noted.

If Mission racer Kyden Theobald, eight, was feeling any pressure, it was wasn鈥檛 evident as he relaxed on the roof of his vehicle with a portable cooling fan while he waited for his race to begin.

It was quite in character, according to his dad Mike, who described his son as a 鈥渧ery calm and collected鈥� racer.

Aria Chambers, eight, from Clayton Heights, when asked what appealed to her about the sport, said she liked 鈥済oing fast.鈥�

Aria鈥檚 dad, Jeff, admitted to occasionally mixed feelings watching his daughter blast around the track.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fear,鈥� he laughed, then pointed out the vehicles are designed with safety in mind. In addition to safety cages, Quarter Midget racers wear protective helmets, neck braces and fireproof racing gear, and are secured to their seats with a five-point harness.

鈥淚 think the safest place on the track is the car,鈥� Jeff commented.

It would be the last season of racing for Aldergrove鈥檚 Dave Arnold, whose daughter Jessica was about to age out of the small cars.

Technically, with Jessica about to turn 15, she could compete for another year, but she was, literally, outgrowing the small vehicles.

鈥淭hey [drivers] grow,鈥� Arnold noted.鈥�

Brookswood resident Jamie Fauht used to race quarter midgets cars when he was considerably younger. Now, he cheers on daughters Jemma, 10 and Jayla, eight, something he calls 鈥減retty cool.鈥�

鈥淚 like seeing everybody and helping the novices,鈥� explained Jemma, who has been racing since she was five, adding 鈥渋t鈥檚 fun. I love it.鈥�

LQMA is a non-profit organization that specializes in car racing for kids five to 16 years old, competing with that are one-fourth the size of midget race cars, and powered by small one-cylinder engines similar in size and construction to most lawnmower engines.

Unlike go-karts, they have four-wheel suspension.

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More photos from the LQMA-hosted regional championships can be viewed online on the .

Those interested in getting more information about the association and the sport, can phone 604-856-9621, visit their website , or go to their Facebook page, .