John Tomac wins Kamikaze

[Emmett]

http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?year=2004&id=1575&info_id=3219

I checked the news section of this site and couldn't find anything on this thread. If it is there I apologize for missing it.

Tomac is the best ever... I'm just wondering if he'll do an XC race.

[frank-oi]

think that might just be were the USA riders finished, cause there seems to be a lack of overall riders riding.but thats just what it seems to me.

could be true tho.

[frank-oi]

my mistake. so what the difference between the DH and Kamikazie... other then on riders riding in it. or did they just chuck a few riders done the old school track just for kicks.

[floody]

Haha, Old Skool REPRESENT! Go Johnny T...
What a pisser, notice "Tattoo" Lou DeAngeles up there on the podium too...
It was the old Kamizaze, first time its been raced since the mid 1990's according to Velonews.

Not a bad effort for Tomac, given he retired about this time 4 years ago...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/sep04/NORBAnc04/NORBAnc043/trials_and_mtn_cross_podium_017.jpg

[Techno Destructo]

Tomac is BOSS.

So cool to see him up on a podium again.

Maybe we'll see Overend again soon? I hear he's finally gotten rid of that mustache... 8)

[frank-oi]

my mistake. so what the difference between the DH and Kamikazie... other then no riders riding in it. or did they just chuck a few riders done the old school track just for kicks.

[roasted]

Tomac is my god!

kamikaze is the old Big Bear (I think) DH track. Fire road, steep, and super fast.
Just think, about 100kph on dirt, on a hardtail, in pastel coloured gear in the early 90's.

[Ty]

wooooohoooo

thats sick, i wonder if they ran the orignal kamikaze which needed 60T chainrings and only had 7 corners, or just the big bear DH track.

JT is the man.

[cam-o]

it's Mammoth Mountain kids, not Big Bear.
(yeah I know they are both just big furry fierce things but one is deader than the other)

And it does look like they used the original mutha.
Check out the trail map:
http://www.mammothmountain.com/bike_ride/bike_park/trail_map/large_map.cfm

The Kamikaze is to the right of the main chair.

[Link]

The difference between the DH race track (bullet DH) and the kamakazi is huge.

Bullet is a DH track, rockgardens, berms (kinda), jumps, tight sections through trees, gaps, drops ect ect

Kamakazi is just a fire road blast over the back of mammoth, it is almost entirly the same track that tomac wore the black tioga skin suit to race in all those years ago and ran like 50 tooth chainrings for....so yeh not very tech at all just fast and pedally the whole way down, just imagine the fireroad at the start of thredbo....except make it 5mins long

[mtb_man]

To see what the Kamikaze looks like in motion, find a copy of "Chain Smoke", it'll change your mind about how crazy "old skool" riding was. Esp. with v-brakes :shock:

Go Tomes!!!

[floody]

To see what the Kamikaze looks like in motion, find a copy of "Chain Smoke", it'll change your mind about how crazy "old skool" riding was. Esp. with v-brakes :shock:

Go Tomes!!!

V-brakes? man - that ain't old skool...Get hold of a copy of "Kamikaze : 10th anniversary" (I think - If I recall I bought it in about 1995) and check that out - try doing 50+mph (ie 80+ kmh) on a hardtail with cantilevers (or a dually with about 50mm of suspension with the same brakes..) downhill on a loose, rough, powdery surface..

It was insane then and it still is now...I'd say it would be pretty awesome even on a modern DH bike..

[mtb_man]

I hear you floody, but i was trying to put it into language that the youth of today might understand. Most wouldn't know a set of anodized purple Grafton canti's if they hit 'em in the face :)

Also remember those old yellow and blue Etto helmets Jimmy Deaton, Missy and Myles used to wear on the Yeti team. Just the thing for a big "off" on Mammoth's moon rocks

Oh yes, the old school fetish i have still burns brightly

I promise i will not start to jibber on about Cook Brothers cranks, 1st gen syncros stems or Kooka rachet levers... :(

[floody]

I hear you floody, but i was trying to put it into language that the youth of today might understand. Most wouldn't know a set of anodized purple Grafton canti's if they hit 'em in the face :)

Also remember those old yellow and blue Etto helmets Jimmy Deaton, Missy and Myles used to wear on the Yeti team. Just the thing for a big "off" on Mammoth's moon rocks

Oh yes, the old school fetish i have still burns brightly

I promise i will not start to jibber on about Cook Brothers cranks, 1st gen syncros stems or Kooka rachet levers... :(

haha , ok, no worries...

[cam-o]

Most wouldn't know a set of anodized purple Grafton canti's if they hit 'em in the face :)



Hey I had a set of them, purple and all!
<sniff> memories.