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Little 500 turns the big 5-0: campus tradition reaches half century mark
April 3, 2000
EDITORS: More information about the history of Little 500 is available in the March 31 edition of IU Home Pages, which features articles about how the race has developed over the last half century and about a typical day in the life of a race participant. Go to the publication's main Web home page at http://www.iuinfo.indiana.edu/homepages
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University's Little 500 began 50 years ago simply as a way to raise scholarship money for working students and create awareness of the IU Foundation among students. Today, it is known as the premier intramural collegiate cycling event in the nation.
In 1950, Howard S. Wilcox, then executive director of the IU Foundation, witnessed a small-scale bicycle race around a campus dormitory. As he watched the enthusiasm of the cheering spectators, Wilcox envisioned a similar event for the entire campus. He would pattern the race after the Indianapolis 500, which his father had won in 1919. With the support of the IU Student Foundation, the Little 500 was born.
2000 Event Schedule
This year's Little 500 events, April 13-15, will include the men's and women's bicycle races, an alumni race, and a screening of the feature film, "Free Wheels: The Tradition of the Little 500." This year, spectators will notice a few changes at Bill Armstrong Stadium, the site of the men's and women's races -- the grandstands, track and press box have all been renovated.
Thursday, April 13
The weekend's festivities will get rolling on Thursday with the annual Mini 500 Trike Race at 7:30 p.m. in IU's Assembly Hall. Established in 1955 as a way for women to participate in the Little 500 race, the Mini 500 has evolved to include all-male teams and co-ed teams. This two-lap race on custom-made Roadmaster tricycles is always fun-spirited and light-hearted.
Friday, April 14
Events on Friday will begin with the Little 500 Golf Classic at 9 a.m. at the IU Golf Course. Pre-registration for participants is required and space is limited.
At 4 p.m., Kappa Kappa Gamma will defend its 1999 victory in the Women's Little 500 Race at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Since 1988, more than 1,000 women have ridden in the race.
In the evening, the Residence Halls Association and the IU Student Foundation will sponsor a concert with singer Rich Hardesty and the group Seventh Man Down beginning at 10 p.m. in the IU Auditorium. Tickets will cost $9 and are available at the IU Auditorium box office and through all TicketMaster locations, including ticketmaster.com. Pizza Express and TIS Bookstore also are sponsors of the concert.
Saturday, April 15
Saturday's activities will get into gear with the Alumni Reunion Race at 8 a.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The race will feature former Little 500 riders engaging in 10-lap competitive races and five-lap fun races. Heats will be divided by decade of Little 500 participation.
At 2 p.m., Sigma Phi Epsilon will attempt to win the Men's Little 500 Race for the second year in row. This 200-lap race was the backdrop for the Oscar-winning motion picture Breaking Away. Since its beginnings 50 years ago, more than 6,500 undergraduate men have ridden in the Little 500.
Following the Men's Race, an alumni banquet will be held at 7 p.m. at the Mellencamp Pavilion. The banquet will feature a screening of a documentary titled "Free Wheels: The Tradition of the Little 500," produced and co-directed by 1989 Little 500 champion Kendall Harnett. Harnett and co-director Doug Haight set out to capture the magical allure of the storied race, as well as to demonstrate some of the difficulties that go into maintaining a high-profile, student-run event as it struggles to keep up with changing attitudes and cultures.
"We set out to make a documentary which not only captured the history of this great bike race, but also demonstrated the incredible uniqueness of this event and how it has generated 50 years' worth of students who have become better equipped and better developed to meet day to day challenges," Harnett said.
Although the times have changed, the purpose of Little 500 remains the same -- to raise scholarship money for working students. To date, the event has raised more than $700,000. While different scholarships have different criteria, all of the scholarships are awarded in the spirit of helping students who help themselves.
Tickets for the Mini 500 and the men's and women's races are available at any TicketMaster location or through the IU Student Foundation Web site at http://www.iusf.bloomington.com/ For more ticket information, call 812-855-RACE.
(George Vlahakis, 812-855-0846, gvlahaki@indiana.edu or Jennifer McCormick, 812-855-5393, jenmccor@indiana.edu)