FAIRHOPE — The 48th-annual Air Race Classic was held last week, and a mother and her daughter from Fairhope flew across the country's skies in their first air race together.

Beginning in 1929, the Air Race Classic is an all-woman race that draws female pilots from across the United States. Over 40 teams compete in a race that stretches roughly 2,400 miles across the country beginning in Fairhope and ending in Spokane, Washington. Due to the weather conditions on the first day, however, the start of the race was delayed and moved to Harrison, Arkansas.

Each team is made up of two women with nearly 100 women participating in the race. One team in particular was Fairhope's own Misty Dyas and Ivy Steiner, whose team name is fittingly "Poison Ivy."

"We've been anticipating this for months now, and the day's finally here, so we're really excited," Dyas said prior to the race.

Dyas is a mother, wife and business owner who opened a med spa eight years ago with her husband, who is also a pilot. She quickly fell in love with flying and pursued and received her pilot's license all before turning 40. Her daughter, Ivy Steiner, is a freshman at Auburn University studying aviation management and working toward earning her commercial rating. This was their first time participating in the air race, and both expressed their excitement for the adventure ahead.

"We're excited to see all the terrain and mountains and landscapes together and get to conquer any problems with weather or navigation or anything together, and I am honored that my daughter wants to spend that much time with me in a cockpit for eight days," Dyas said.

As a handicap, each team raced against their own best time rather than each other, so the race is as much about teamwork and coordination as it is momentum, but Dyas and Steiner said they were ready for what was to come.

"There's definitely a bit of a thrill and fun factor as opposed to just a normal cross-country trip, but I think we're ready," Steiner said. "We're prepared, and we've also made so many friends along the way."