[cowbellracer]

What are you racing for? The Cowbell is a race for the racers… one that does some fundraising for a few great causes…
Pro-Open Male and Female Solo: Equal Payout--1st-$600, 2nd-$300, 3rd-$150--and yellow Winner jersey; top 3 receive a nice bottle of Shannon Ridge wine; sponsored by The Right Words and Shannon Ridge Winery.
Single Speed Male and Female Solo: Equal Payout--1st 300, 2nd 150, 3rd $75--and yellow Winner jersey and Terrapin Beer, sponsored by Terrapin Beer and Wake-N-Bake Racing.
Prolog Race to the Course: First Male and Female to reach the course, sponsored by Maxxis.
Fastest Lap, Male and Female: of the 12-Hour race, green Sprinter Jersey, sponsored by Maxxis.
Fastest Night Lap, Male and Female: front head light and back red light, sponsored by Princeton Tech.
King and Queen of the Mountain: winners of the first lap race of 4 to 5 climbs, Red Dotted Jersey, sponsored by Organic Systems and Shannon Ridge Winery.
Top of the Hour: first racer to come in each hour, custom labeled Café du Cowbell coffee, roasted and sponsored by Kinetic Koffee.
Good Sportsmanship Award: to the racer displaying the best race attitude—heart, spirit, and kindness, sponsored by Cheech’s Creative Concepts.
Best Support Crew Award: to the crew providing the best support for their racer or team for 12 hours, sponsored by Cheech’s Creative Concepts.
Dead Last Award: to the racer that comes in last place, sponsored Terrapin Beer and Wake-N- Bake Racing.
Hope you come out and enjoy the race!
After we pay all the race bills, ALL of the proceeds (remember, it’s also about raising money for a few causes by racing in the Cowbell) will go towards:
Town of Davidson Parks & Recreation Youth Program Scholarship Fund, Hospice of Lake Norman, IMBA, Tarheel Trailblazers, and the Dirt Divas.
www.cowbellchallenge.org

 

[cowbellracer]

USA Cycling write up...

Cowbell Challenge continues Ultra-Endurance Calendar on June 21



The nation’s best endurance mountain bikers will converge on Fisher Farm Park in Davidson, NC, to race for the bell in the seventh annual Cowbell Challenge 12‐Hour Mountain Bike Race on June 21, 2008. A USA Cycling Ultra‐Endurance series event and the North Carolina 12‐Hour State Championship, the Cowbell Challenge will benefit the Parks and Recreation Youth Program Scholarship Fund and Hospice of Lake Norman.

“In seven years we’ve gone from a small local race to a nationally sanctioned event that brings in top racers from all over the US,” said Taylor Sullivan, race director. “That’s because we focus on both the racer and the community. We’re designing a course that challenges bikers of every skill level, including the pros, and we donate all the proceeds from the race to organizations that make a difference in the lives of people here in the community.”

Free to spectators and supporters, the Cowbell Challenge features solo (both pro and amateur), duo, single speed, and team categories with fees starting at $65 per racer. Solo riders and duo teams who want to try out endurance racing but don’t feel ready for 12 hours can choose to compete in the 6‐hour race. Throughout the race, which begins at 10 am, riders will be competing in several other “races within the race,” including Fastest Lap, King/Queen of the Mountain, and the highly popular Café du Cowbell, rewarding the first racer to cross the line at the top of each hour. Racers in the Pro Open and Single Speed categories also compete for a cash purse totaling more than $3,000.

“Cowbell Challenge was one of the first races to offer equal payout to men’s and women’s categories,” Sullivan noted. “We’re glad to be able to offer equal payout again this year.”

Top national competitors committed to the race include the 2007 Cowbell Challenge men’s champion Brandon Draugelis (SoBe/Cannondale) who took third at the 2007 World 24‐Hour Championship, current US 24‐Hour National Series Champion Nat Ross (Gary Fisher‐Subaru), and Carey Lowery (Outdoor Store/Specialized) who took second in the 2007 Cowbell Challenge and the won the 2007 National Ultra Endurance 100 Series.

The race course utilizes existing trails at Fisher Farm Park, as well as additional features that will bring the total length to seven miles. “The land was purchased in December of 2002 by the Town of Davidson with the assistance of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation,” noted Fraher. “Our goal, already underway, is to begin the efforts of preserving open space and the rural character of NE Mecklenburg County. Welcome to Davidson and best of luck to all riders, teams and their families and supporters.”

Cowbell Challenge was incorporated as a tax‐exempt organization in 2007 in Charlotte, NC, and the annual race is organized and managed by a small but dedicated group of volunteers who combine an extraordinary passion for the sport of mountain biking with deep commitment to the community to produce an event that holds a unique place in Charlotte and the mountain biking world. Local and national sponsors for 2008 include Organic Systems LLC, Bicycle Sport, Lomax Tile & Marble, Carolina Realty Advisors, The Cycle Path, The Right Words, Shannon Ridge Winery, Maxxis International, Hammer Nutrition, PrincetonTec Lighting Systems, Today’s Hot Water, elete™ Electrolyte Add‐in, MTBPath, and Earth Fare.

Visit www.cowbellchallenge.org for more information on registration, schedule, sponsors and rules.

*Photos Courtesy: Chris Baker