Legends
of the Kamikaze 2009
Once again at Mammoth
Mountain….I started racing Downhill mountain bikes in the late
1990’s. I started off as a beginner and then moved up to the
Sport category with the help of Don Jackson and Scott Smith’s
Southridge Cycling in Fontana CA. I had participated in
the Kamakazee event which was a ballistic ride down from 12,000 ft.
elevation to about 9000 ft. in just a few minutes attaining speeds
of 50 mph and then some. The pros make it look effortless but
it is very Psyco!! Things can happen very quickly at these
speeds. Pretty Crazy!! Most of the Legends did
this event 20 years ago on bikes with no suspension. Even
crazier and waaay EXTREME!!!
Recipients
Bernie U: 2001 World Masters
Champion and the first to win the Reebok Eliminator
Greg Herbold: 1988,89
and 93 Norba National Downhill Champion and in 1996 inducted into
the Mountain bike Hall of Fame
Joe Strannish: 1997
Bud Light State Champion, Factory Santa Cruz rider and team
manager. Rode to 4th at the 2000 World
Masters. Pioneered long travel suspensions for
downhill!!
Leo Salazar: Team
Santa Cruz
Mike Galeoto:
First ever Team Ritchie rider to Downhill and Kamikaze
Gene Hamilton: 2005
World Masters Champion
Pistol Pete: 1997
World Masters Champion
Tom Rogers: Pioneered
suspension for Answer Products and Manitou
Mike Bell: From MX and
Supercross to the Kamikaze Mike is a Legendary Pioneer
Penny Lundgren: 2
National Downhill titles in the 1990’s
Wayne Crowsdale: The
insane National Downhill and Dual Slalom winner!!
Dave Wonderly: Longest
standing Team GT rider
Russ LeBaron: Dual
Slalom and Downhill winner
Joe Lawall: 2002 World
Masters Downhill Champion
Eric Carter: With many
National and World Titles to his credit in Downhill Slalom and Four
Cross Eric is truly a Pioneering Legend.
Scott Smith: From MX
to Downhill Scott has proven himself by bringing home many National
Championships and World titles
Toby Henderson: 1996
Kamikaze
Don Jackson: From
racer to promoter Don has seen both sides of the fence striving to
give racers the most for their money. 2005 Kamikaze
Champion
Tinker Juarez: Simply
amazing Multiple Cross Country National Championship
Titles
Not only are these
racers Pioneers and Legends they are a lot of fun to be
around. During the years I raced I met a lot of very cool
people. In 2003 I managed to get a National
Championship at Durango in the over 50 Sport class and went up to
Canada where I finished 5th In the Worlds Masters Class
50. In 04 I was training to head to Mammoth to defend my
title and I tweaked my wrists so I had to sit out a few
years. I went through the Kamikaze course at this event stone
cold to cycling and managed to make it down in 6 minutes which I
figured was not toooo bad !!! The pros are at
just under 4 minutes
