‘Breaking Away’ brings Little 500 to IU Cinema

An older man told Tom Schwoegler at the Monday screening of “Breaking Away” that he and his wife always watch the Little 500 race scene of the film and yell out, “There we are!” when the camera pans across them in the stands.

Schwoegler was the technical adviser for the 1979 film and has continued to be an avid Little 500 enthusiast and coach ever since.

“I’ve never been married and I’ve never had kids,” Schwoegler said. “So in a way, the kids I’ve coached have become my children and the event is a big part of my life.”
Though Schwoegler said the event has been a big part of his life, he has been a big part in the life of the race as well.

He was the Little 500 coach for Acacia for 20 years and Kappa Alpha Theta  for 19.

This year, Schwoegler is coaching men’s team Sigma Chi and independent women’s team Wing It. With his vast experience, Schwoegler was welcomed to the IU Cinema by Cinema Director Jon Vickers for the free showing of Schwoegler’s 35 mm copy of the film.

Vickers said the cinema plans to make the showing an annual tradition for the week of the Little 500.

“The common thread between the race year to year is the continuity,” Schwoegler said. “The continuity is the road, and I think the thing that travels that road is the contagious passion that gets passed from person to person.”

Sophomore Evan Fetherolf said one thing that has changed during the years is the conception of the Little 500 race.

“When I first thought of Little Five, I thought it was just a huge party week,” Fetherolf said. “After I experienced the week my freshman year, I realized that the race really is the biggest part of Little Five.”

The film peaked when it won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and a Golden Globe for Best Film. Though the film has been a hit and a classic in several countries, Monday was the first time that Fetherolf had seen the movie.

“It was interesting to see our campus emphasized so much,” Fetherolf said. “The whole Little 500 experience is really unique and one that you might never be able to relive, and I think seeing the movie and going to the race is a big part of that entire experience.”

Freshman Jacob Gabbard said he has heard so much of the infamous party side to the Little 500 week that it was cool to see the historical side to the race.

“I’ve seen the movie growing up, and I really hope that this year’s race and events will live up to the hype,” he said.

Gabbard said it was neat to hear the audience in the theater actually clap loudly when the Cutters won the race in the movie.

“There is unity with Little 500,” Gabbard said. “Regardless as to whether you’re greek, a ‘dormie,’ as the movie puts it, a GDI or a townie, I feel it makes the whole campus come together as a community.”

Through the years, the race has been celebrated with concerts, parties and social events labeling it the “Greatest College Week in America” and the essence of IU.  

“As long as the passion remains contagious, the Little 500 will continue to do really well,” Schoewgler said.