The Little 500 Bike Race
 

Brothers,

Last Saturday my wife and I had the opportunity to see the Little 500 Bike Race at Indiana University in Bloomington. What a fabulous experience! The race is generally organized along the lines of the Indy 500 Motor Speedway Race. There was a lot of pagentry for this 55th running of the Little 500 Race. Our Lambda Chi Team qualified for the 25th starting position out of 33 qualifying teams. My wife and I managed to make our way to the Lambda Chi "Pit" just before the start of the race! We shook hands, took photographs, and just "pumped" each other up for the race. For some reason our team was wearing "Black and Blue Colors." This choice of colors would prove to be prophetic during the race.

Our team was holding its own until about the 150th lap. One of our riders sustained some minor inguries early in the race that slowed our boys down. However, we were holding steady, at around 20th position, when a spectacular accident took place going into the west curve of the track. A rider went down and caused a chain reaction that took down four or five more riders in an instant. Our rider, trying to miss the pile of bikes and bodies, moved to his right, lost control, plowed into a bale of hay, and was tossed about 5 feet into a plywood retaining wall! He was hurt enough, at least a couple of broken ribs, to be taken to the hospital.

With that accident our Lambda Chi team was reduced to two healthy riders. Our men did not give up and finished the race. I am not sure of their final standing, but I do know it was not last place! What an effort from a group of fine young men who represented us well.

This is a must see event. Fast paced action, drama, danger, and pure athletic ability as 33 men, inches apart, navigated that track at speeds sometimes exceeding 60 miles an hour! What a rush....

Any IU Lambda Chis on board? Maybe someone can give us an update.

As for me, I'll be back at the Little 500 next year!

Yours in ZAX,

Mike, "Where's My Bike," Raymond, Zeta-Upsilon Zeta

When you mean little bikes, do you mean the really small ones that are like 1/4 scale? I've seen alot of those in my area. They look like alot of fun, but I don't think I could ever fit on one unless they make them for 6'4 and taller!

Maybe you could post some pics or have a link about little bikes?

Full Size Racing Bikes
 

The bikes were full size racing bikes. I really don't know much about the type of bike used- just that it was very exciting to see either a pack of them coming around the curve or seeing a bike rider or two attempt a "break away!" Just think of the Indy 500 on bikes....

I talked to one of the IU Brothers who was taking photographs with what looked like a professional grade camera to me. I gave him my "card" and he said he would send me photographs.

The 'Little" means a scaled down version of the Indy car race.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike, "Where's my Speedo," Raymond, Z-UZ

Brother Mike, great story. Hope you can get some pix and put them on Site!

Amazing what a bunch of LXA Brothers can do!:cool:

Damn! They were full sized! That's pretty cool.

I thought you meant the literally little bikes that have sprung up, there are alot of events around here for those.

Did LXA actually sponsor the team or was it a chapter or someone else and the team just had alot of LXA's on it?

Just venturing a guess, I would think it was the Zeta.

Wouldnt you?:)

Job well done to the Zeta there for busting their rears and other body parts. Ouch, asphalt or concrete hurts!:o

I think we should start a LXA team for midget racing. You know, racing midgets, or "little people" as they liked to be called, around a race track as they carry you on their back. To do this I think we will probably need between 15-20 midgets. I know of at least 3 in my city that we could grab. Who's up for it?! We could do chapter v. chapter!

Team Sponsors
 

This team was composed of members of our IU Zeta. I remember them announcing the names of men, from various states, who I assumed were IU Lambda Chi Alums, who sponsored our team.

There appears to be no rule against support from corporations. How about Marsh Supermarkets in Indianapolis stepping up? The CEO is a Lambda Chi!

Some of the teams have professional trainers and coaches! Some practice with professional racing teams in the summer in Florida!

This is really "big time" racing. It has been on the old Wide World of Sports TV show and ESPN. It was televised in the local area this year.

To me, we should band together now to field a "Centennial Racing Team" in '09. What a way to draw attention to our Centennial....

Check out the movie "Breaking Away" and you will better understand how teriffic this event is to see!

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, ZUZ

Yeah, a racing team in 09' would be cool, but what about the midgets??? We cannot forget about the midgets!

I'm telling you guys, midget racing is where it's at. They don't eat alot being that they are so small, so we just need to feed them enough to keep up their strength to carry us on their backs.

I'm serious guys, we could get the world's greatest midget racing team together!

Oh man, midget racing kicks so much ass! We could rule the world.

Actually, the track appeared to be wet cinders to me!
 

All I can say is: cinders hurt!

Yours in ZAX,

Mike, "Midgets? - "Little People?" Raymond
Zeta-Upsilon Zeta

Actually....
 

Depawl University has held a very successful "Little 500" that involves go-carts. I suspect being small would be an advantage unless they compensate with sandbags to equalize the weight.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike, "I'd Rather be in a Small Go Cart than on a Fast Bike," Raymond - " Wait a Minute, I just Remembered, I Won't Fit in a Small Go Cart."
ZUZeta

Speaking of Ass
 

I don't think anyone would like to see mine on a racing bike seat....

Mike, "Coach, Can't You get me a Bigger Seat?, Raymond
ZUZ

I'm with ya Doc! Bending over on a bike and my hairy, white a$$ doesn't mix. Maybe you and I could join up and maybe scare and blind the competiton?!