TRAVERSE CITY -- "Racers on your mark ... GO!"
And they were off, wheels of many colors rolling toward the finish line, smiles stretched across kids' faces.
Fueled by pedal power, determination and enthusiasm, the goal of all Big Wheel racers was to reach the finish line, where the ultimate thrill of victory awaited them.
The Big Wheel Race led off the 82nd National Cherry Festival's children's events Saturday morning at the Preferred Outlets parking lot in Traverse City. The crowd cheered and offered support to about 150 participants ages 3 to 6.
Just before his heat, 3-year-old Liam Dart of Boyne City stared through his sunglasses. A "Lightning McQueen" helmet and socks from the Disney Pixar motion picture "Cars" protected his head and showcased his love of racing, and he celebrated Independence Day with an American flag attached to the back of his Big Wheel.
"I like to race," Liam said. "I ride in the big green lines and go fast."
Clayton Kinnard, 5, of Dexter also had a need for speed. Pedaling and perseverance helped Clayton earn first place in his heat two years in a row, and third place overall in the 5 to 6 age group at this year's race. When he was nearly to the finish line during his first heat, Kinnard passed several other participants and won first place.
"I did it last year so I knew I could do it again," Clayton said.
It was his 3-year-old sister Vivian's first year participating, and she said her favorite part was "just doing the Big Wheels."
Noraa Silver, 4, from Rochester Hills, also competed in the Big Wheel Race for the first time. She ate her way through the Cherry Pie Eating Contest last year, and hungered to try another event. Noraa brought her Big Wheel all the way from home, and she ended up earning a second-place ribbon in her heat.
"It was fun," she said. "I want to do it again."
National Cherry Festival
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