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Rule 7C states: NEW FOR 2006: Solo racers, solo tandems, and and two- or four-person relay teams bring ONLY ONE support vehicle for the duration of the race. Eight-person tandem relay teams may have no more than two vehicles. Note: Any vehicle associated in any way with any racer(s) is considered a "support vehicle," thus "unofficial" support vehicles or family/friend cheering squads are not allowed. Sorry, but we MUST keep our presence on the roadway to a minimum. With this rule change, we are eliminating the rules known as 7D through 7G in previous years. The rationale for the rule revisions which require all 508 entrants (except for eight-rider tandem relay teams) to have just one support vehicle includes the following: LESS VEHICLES EQUALS MORE SAFETY: The route is the route and it's essentially the only way through, thus any secondary vehicles have to be on the actual route, creating more traffic, and, often, slowing down to cheer for people or take pictures, parking poorly, and such. On a related note, in the past, many secondary vehicles weren't even really "crew" vehicles, but were cheering squads, family, and such. That type of driver often didn't attend the pre-race meeting and doesn't understand the event, the sport, and the associated safety issues. While it's nice to think that secondary vehicles are always driven and parked safely and with the right attitude, they often aren't. Less vehicles means more safety, pure and simple. ACCOMMODATING THE GROWTH OF THE RACE: When we began producing the 508 in 1990, there were 25 people in the race. By 1998 that had grown to 80 entrants. By 2002 it was 112. In 2004 it was 117 entrants, then 2005 was the first year we reached a full capacity of 150 registered racers (of which 148 began the race). Over the years, we've made numerous adjustments in the race rules to minimize the impact of this growth: We limited crews to two vehicles many years ago. We eliminated RVs, Hummers, and other oversize vehicles. We required crews to go out ahead of the race field at the start and wait for their riders at mile 25. We barred secondary vehicles from stopping anywhere on Townes Pass except the summit. All of those efforts helped a lot, but they also made the rules longer and more complicated. The goal all along is to keep allowing more people to experience the joy, the glory, and the camaraderie of the 508. MOST SOLOS DO THIS, ANYWAY: The vast majority of the solo entrants in the 508 bring just one support vehicle and a crew of three. They have demonstrated that this is a safe, effective, and economical way to tackle the race. A TRUE TEAM EXPERIENCE: A team of four relay racers can crew for themselves or bring only one crew member. (Two person teams can enter with just two or three crew members and their one vehicle.) Many teams have raced with just one vehicle, starting with the first Team 508 in 1993 when the winning team, Canadian Geese, did so. Two years ago, Team Sasquatch did this, too, and there are other examples. They all say it's more fun and a better bonding experience to be there for the duration together. It gives the teammates something to do during the long stretches when they're not riding, plus they have the chance to cheer on and truly support and appreciate what their teammates go through. LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD: Having one support vehicle makes participating in the race more "doable" since race entrants don't have to bring lots of crew people and extra vehicles. Less vehicles means less crew, which means less van rental fees, less gas, less hotel rooms, and less food. Therefore the costs and logistics are minimized dramatically, especially for out of state teams that have to fly to the race. Allowing only one vehicle opens the race to more people and also means that teams with more money, and more vehicles, don't get an advantage during nighttime transitions. PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF THE RACE: Less vehicles also means less chance for the California Highway Patrol, Cal Trans, National Park Service, Inyo County, and the other government agencies to get upset about the event. Keeping all the government agencies at least neutral about the event is my BIGGEST challenge every year. Without everything falling into place smoothly and safely, the race will not go on. My goal is to keep the race going forever and for as many as people as possible to get the opportunity. WE WELCOME INPUT: When we became the first ultramarathon race to include a fixed gear division, we weathered criticism for also including "purist" rules in that division. But the critics were people who didn't even ride fixed gear bikes or hadn't entered the 508. Those who've done the fixed gear 508 have raved about our "classic technology" requirement as an intrinsic part of the 508 fixed gear race. Likewise when we reinvented the team race as a "stage race" instead of having relays happen constantly, anywhere and everywhere: critics abounded, but so did many supporters. Ultimately, the 508 team field has grown (from 48 in 2003, the last year of the "open relay" format, to 58 racers in 2004, 70 racers in 2005, and 104 racers in 2006) and the feedback from those who've raced the new team format has been 100% favorable, including from those who initially criticized the format change. I'd also mention that 90% of the rationale for changing the team format was safety issues. The "one support vehicle rule" begun in 2006 at the 508 came about because of the comments and suggestions of 508 entrants and crew, coupled equally with my own observations of the race over the previous sixteen years. Though I am the race director and therefore "call all the shots," my decisions about the future of the race always include input and observations from race entrants, crews, and staff and are always intended to be fair and reasonable in order to keep the race fair and fun and to ensure its long-term viability. On June 8, 2006, we received the following feedback on this rule change from Joe Petersen, a five-time 4x and 2x relay finisher and multiple team division winner of both the 508 and Race Across America: Last year, it was "suggested" that teams use one vehicle, it was not mandatory. We opted to use two vehicles. Obviously it's easier to set up transitions at night if you have a vehicle and rider already on the road when you get there. Not having to wait for riders and bikes to load and unload saves minutes at every night time transition. (With the new format, there are only 3 x 5 minutes for a loss of roughly 15 minutes.) However, if all teams are using one vehicle, then it is all relative. |
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