Former Major Taylor director filed suit

Former Team Major Taylor director Courtney Bishop filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to allow him to coach and serve as a consultant for TMT April 21, one day before the Little 500.\nIn December 2005, Bishop received a lifetime ban from all Little 500 activities for allegedly giving riders scholarships to participate in the race.\nAccording to a Jan. 16 Indiana Daily Student article, former TMT riders Dante Pryor and Julio German reported to University officials they were offered scholarships to ride in the Little 500, but Bishop only partially provided such scholarships, which caused each rider to rack up considerable debt. Providing scholarships to ride in the race is a violation of Little 500 rules.\nBishop's suit was filed in U.S. District Court against IU, the IU Foundation, the IU Student Foundation, Curtis R. Simic, CEO of the IUF, and Rob Rhamy who was the former race coordinator for the IUSF.\nBishop said he filed the suit so he could get his side of the story heard, saying he was never contacted by the IUSF before it made its ruling to ban him.\n"I was not trying to stop the race," he said "I was trying to stop the ruling on my (lifetime ban). Stopping the race was never on the table."\nThe IUSF was unable to comment about legal cases, but said Bishop is still banned from participating in the race.\n"As of this time, our ruling stands," current Little 500 race director Lucas Calhoun said. "I really can't comment any more than that."\nWithout Bishop, TMT raced to 20th place in this year's men's race.\n"With legal cases I can't really comment at this time," Rhamy said. "However, both races went off with no incidents and Team Major Taylor participated, which was good for their program as well as the Little 500."\nWhile the timing of the lawsuit was so close to the race, Bishop emphasized his goal was not to get the race delayed or cancelled.\n"I was looking to get it done earlier than that, but due to delays on our end that's what the timing ended up being," he said. "Believe you me, I'd rather cut off my arm than delaying or stopping the Little 5. However, I think (IUSF) needs to be fair to everyone."\nWhen asked about the possible rule change banning alumni coaches on race day, Bishop said he thinks it would be a mistake to get rid of the "most selfless people associated with IU."\n"I think per the mission statement, alumni are an essential part of the university experience," he said. "Alumni coaches are the heart and soul of the race and by banning them it would be detrimental to the future of the Little 500."\nBishop said he plans to contact IU President Adam Herbert or a member of his office to have an open forum where he said the truth could come out.\n"They are basing everything they know about on lies," Bishop said. "They've never spoken to anyone with TMT or myself. (The rulings have) been based on lies and I've said that from the beginning. If the IUSF is basing their argument on the truth, why will they not bring it out? All I want is to be heard, and all they want is for me not to be heard"