Little 500 underway after delay to start of Rookie Week

Warmer weather led to Little 500 fever filling the air.

This week kicked off Little 500 Rookie Week, which was postponed after ice storms hit campus. Last week, the rookies spent three days in the Bill Armstrong Stadium press box watching tapes of previous races.

“We’re just on a day-by-day basis,” Little 500 Race Director Pam Loebig said. “The track was still just too wet Monday from the ice.”

But Tuesday’s sunshine and high of 58 led to the rookies’ first day of tires meeting cinder. During Rookie Week, the new Little 500 hopefuls learn track basics: how to get on and off the bike, make clean exchanges and get in and out of backs, Sigma Alpha Mu coach Zach Osterman said.
 
“Rookie week introduces them to being on the track in a more controlled setting,” Osterman said. “Everybody has to go through rookie week before they’re eligible to ride.”

With showers in the forecast for Friday, Sunday and Monday, Loebig and Riders Council are still discussing whether Rookie Week will continue into next week for a couple of days.

“It looks like the riders should be on the track the rest of the week,” Loebig said. “Riders Council will meet and look at extending the week
longer.”