Little 500 riders’ meeting signifies start of ’08 season

With the 2008 Little 500 season quickly approaching, over 200 men’s and women’s riders packed into the Kelley School of Business last night for a riders’ meeting.
This season marks the 58th men’s race and the 21st women’s race. After a thrilling finish in the men’s race and a dominating performance by Kappa Delta last year, this year’s Little 500 is looking to build on last year’s excitement.

“Last year’s men’s race couldn’t have been more exciting,” Little 500 race director Matt Ewing said. “There were five teams in a sprint to the finish on the final lap. We’re really excited about the women’s field as well. In the past, there were one or two women’s teams with a chance to win. Now there are five or six teams with a legitimate shot. We expect this year to be more of the same.”

Ewing said he expects the rider turnout to be similar to last year.

“On the men’s side, we’re right about where we were last year,” he said. “We expect about 40 teams to compete in qualifying. We’re expecting about 31 women’s teams. We know there are two teams not returning from last year but there are two or three new teams this year.”

This year’s race is on the weekend of April 11, one week earlier than last year’s race. Ewing said the earlier date caused a few changes in the schedule for this year.
“With the race in the second week of April, it kind of crunches everything together,” he said. “One change we’ll have this year is the Team Pursuit. Normally it has been held mid-week, but this year it will be moved to a Saturday. The Rider’s council has shown support of the decision and they like the idea of having it on a weekend.”

This year, Rookie Week, which Ewing described as a sort of mini-camp for rookie riders, begins Feb. 11.

“You never know with Indiana weather in February,” Ewing said. “It could be 60 degrees, but it also could be freezing. We’re praying for some good weather for that week.”

For the riders in attendance, especially the first-time riders, the meeting served as a preview of things to come.

“Seeing all the people here definitely makes it more real for me,” first year Gamma Phi Beta rider Caitlin Greenwald said. “We’ve been training in our basement for a while now, so it’s nice to see all riders here.”

Prospective Weston Voirol is also a first-time rider who attended the meeting. While Voiral is still looking for a team he can ride for, he is already planning for race day.
“Looking at all the dates, I’ve already got some changes I have to make in my schedule,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of things going on, but this definitely takes precedent. It looks like my girlfriend may not see too much of me during Valentine’s week.”