Dirty Face Racing

Dirty Face Racing is a mountain bike team that helps raise environmental awareness and money for the educational programs of the Dungeness River Audubon Center along with building a long needed rapport with environmental groups and mountain bikers.

Recent News:

Ellsworth Handcrafted Bikes decided to sponsor Dirty Face Racing for the 2011 race season. Ellsworth makes some of the most beautiful well- designed bikes in the world right here in the USA, so needless to say this is fantastic news! Ellsworth, just like the Dungeness River Audubon Center, believes in the importance of getting kids and adults alike outside to enjoy nature!

We found our new name! Before August 2010 our old name Quiet Waters Racing fit because that is what "Sequim" meant in the native S'klallam language. A linguist says that it now means "good place to shoot" and not quiet waters (read more about the change here). This doesn't quite fit our race team anymore, so we have changed our name to "Dirty Face Racing." Dirty Face Ridge is the backdrop to one of our favorite mountain bike trails in Olympia National Forest, the epic Gold Creek/Lower Dungeness Trail, also known to us as the Dirty Face Loop. If you haven’t ridden it, you haven’t experienced one of Western Washington’s best pieces of mountain bike singletrack. Our new team name is a tribute to this awesome trail, and a beautiful piece of wilderness.

Why Should You Sponsor Dirty Face Racing?

We believe that one of the most valuable things we can do for the next generation is to give them meaningful experiences in the outdoors. When you sponsor one of our riders or the whole team you are paying for those experiences not our race fees or costs. Money donated to Dirty Face Racing will be used to bring school aged children to the Dungeness River Audubon Center for a meaningful watershed experience.

Our Local Business Sponsors:

We are so thankful that the following businesses have pledged their support for our team.

Voyles Insurance is a Farmers Insurance agency which serves the majestic Olympic Peninsula and recognizes the importance of introducing all generations to the wonders of the great outdoors.

Mikes Bikes is a dealer of Specialized and Surly bicycles, as well as Terra Trike recumbent tricycles. You can find any kind of bicycle to suit your needs, from kid’s tricycles, to comfort bikes, to high-end road and mountain bikes.

2010 Events and Races:

The following is a list of the major races we are training for and will be representing Dirty Face Racing.

24 Hours round the Clock
High Cascades 100
NW Epic Series - 3 Race series that includes Stottlermeyer 60, Echo Valley 60, and Capitol Forest 100

Dirt Face Racing Results 2011

24 Hours Round the Clock, Spokane, May 28-29 – Every year our team finishes more laps, and every year the competition in our division gets tougher. We came in 5th out of 16 teams after completing 22 laps (we would have made the podium last year with this result). However, small victories where attained by each member. Powell had the team’s first two sub-one hour laps ever (everyone on the team dreams of the elusive 59 minute lap). Adrian experienced his first cross country race on a dual suspension bike (a beautiful Ellsworth Truth) and he is still fast. Laura perfected her descent of Devil’s Down, even in the middle of the night (thanks to her recent foray into the dual suspension 29er world, a fabulous Ellsworth Evolve) , plus her three fastest laps ever, Greg rode his fastest lap ever, despite 2 months of sleep deprivation due to brand new baby Gwyn. And our fifth and newest teammate, Lamont, held his own despite all his training occurring on the soccer field. Finally, not to be left out, Win finished the 6 and under kids race without training wheels for the first time.

Olympic Meltdown XC, Port Angeles, May 22 – Laura headed east to P.A. to race at Dry Hill, home of the Northwest Cup Downhill series. The course was muddy with lots of climbing and then a steep downhill, complete with jumps and bridges. She was first among sport women (it is really time to upgrade to expert) despite going over the handlebars a few times in the first descent, and collecting numerous new bruises and scratches. She will not be back anytime soon to try out the downhill course.

Stottlemeyer 60, Port Gamble, May 14 – Powell and Laura entered the Stottlemeyer 60 for the second year. The course was similar to last year (rooty, twisty, technical), but had way more participants due to its inclusion in the NW epic series. Laura finished 6 of 17 women (and dropped 53 minutes from last years’ time) and Powell finished midpack while riding his big travel bike in baggies shorts (and he didn’t destroy his derailer this year).

Twisted Sister XC, Port Gamble, May 7 – Laura rode at the Northwest Adventure Festival with Powell and Win as her cheering squad. The weather was rainy, the course was the muddiest ever, and Laura was the first woman finisher in the sport class. It was a great start to the mountain bike racing season.

2010 Results
The cyclocross season ended for Laura (the only Dirty Face committed to this insanely fun facet of bike racing). In all she raced 11 times and was the cat 4 series winner in the Seattle Cyclocross Series, and 2nd place in the Washington Women of Cross series. Laura place first at Wooley Cross (her favorite course), 4th at the state championships, and racked up a string of 2nd-4th places finishes enabling her to upgrade to cat 3 next season.

Dirt Face Racing in the News:

Riding For a Cause - Sequim THis Week

Biking for Birds - Sequim Gazette QWR press release

Mountain biking group stirs up interest - Peninsula Daily News

Stewardship and Trail Work:

If you use it you should help take care of it. At least that is what we think! When starting Dirt Face Racing we thought that it was important to make stewardship of single-track trails part of our mission. In May 2010 we will start our first trail project that will include removing invasive species and repairing a trail that gets very wet and wide during the winter. Check back here for updates and pictures!