Tom's Version of The Early History of Streetluge:

First of all, before anybody finds a fact out of place, please understand that all my information comes from bench racing with all the pioneers of the sport, probably after a couple of beers and a typical wild day of racing, giggling like a bunch of little girls over a couple of large pizza's.

Second of all, a lot of my exact dates came from Darren Lott's book "Streetluge Survival Guide." This book is really accurate and factual.

Any time you sit down with one of the guys who have been there since the beginning, the first thing that comes up is Signal Hill. This is a novel in itself of great stories. The mid 70s were the Mecca of skateboarding, a time when George Orton and Waldo Autry where on top of the skateboarding world, and a hand full of guys in Signal Hill, California were persistent in keeping the sport of downhill gravity sports alive. There were a lot of guys who hung up their gear, but as much as we hate to admit it, a guy by the name of Roger Hickey went the extra mile and held illegal underground races, just to keep the few luge riders around in the loop in the 1980s on Glendora Mountain Road, including riders like Roger and Bob Ozman (2000 X- Games gold) and Marcus Reitema (X-Games Organizer).

In the meantime, a group of outlaw luge guys were forming their own racing team called Max Racing. This team had consisted of Bob Pereyra (95-2000 X-Games gold) Ken Kinnee (90 GMR outlaw race) Shaun Goulart ( 96 X-Games gold ) and Superstar Lee Dansie (he loves it when I say that). In 93 Bob Pereyra Got a race together at Laguna Seca as a halftime show for the auto race. At this race, the organization of RAIL was born and went on to put on another race in Laguna Seca in '94. I raced in the 3rd and final Laguna Seca race were I took second place after being arrested for wheeling my motorcycle past a cop on the track in a parade (DON'T ASK), but some quick talking and heavy butt kissing got me back in the event. O.K., where was I...oh yeah, in 1994 Roger Formed Figr and was going to do this thing legally (kinda). It was October of '95. I watched Pereyra win gold on a re-run showing of the X-Games with a stuntman buddy of mine Tom Harper. We saw the UFO logo on him, and they said he was from Northrige, California, so we called him and got UFO on the phone, and we talked the guy there (whom I can't name, because I think he's still suing me for trying to look like him), and my insane and hilarious streetluge story begins 10/95.

Tom's Personal Streetluge History:

All the information below has been written after a half dozen concussions. The stories have been told to the very best of my own recollection, and after more than a couple of all night Red Bull party hangovers.

Very well, where do I begin?

Tom In Training 95

I first tried luging with a stuntman buddy of mine named Tom Harper after watching Bob Pereyra win the gold medal on ESPN X-Games in October of 1995. Tom called UFO that day, and we went up streetluging that night We first tried it at midnight, and we rode until 3 a.m. in the morning (when my feet were bleeding because my shoes and socks had burned through). Needless to say, I was really stoked and told my side kick and buddy Mike Colabella, "I have found our new sport." Mike had no idea what I was talking about. At midnight the next night, on Mulholland Hwy. in California, Mike, Tom and Myself were hooked, and the excitement began.

Tom Mason - Team UFO

We rode Every night for a week before my wife found out what we were doing (needless to say she thought I was working a night gig or worse). She was not very happy about it, but my life is on the edge 24-7 anyways. After 4 months of practicing a lot and only at night, Coli and myself were ready for our first race. We all had black leathers and green UFO logos up and down our suits. I painted my white and rainbow leathers black, and Mike wore Bob Pereyra's. The owner of UFO made us look like a radical professional team; we showed up with a team bus. I think everyone thought we were professionals (ringers) and the vibe was weird. We were told not to talk to anyone. We were entered as pros and maybe our whole scene would intimidate them.

A Typical Sunday Cherry

My first Race was with four old timers Alec Schroeder, Scott Skid Nadeau, and Charlie Niche. I had a strong start, I tapped the brakes quickly and often, dove in behind Alec and took Second in my first race. It didn't take long for every one to figure out that we were as nervous as everyone else. Every race me meet more guys and the place was that ultimate weekend high speed picnic ground.

A long haired stand up skateboarder named Biker showed up and was on Hickey's tail in stand up, he was wearing non aero dynamic clothes, so (typical me), I said wear my leathers and helmet and I bet you could win-He did. I said why don't you practice luge with us, we could be a team. We rode up on Templin hwy. Every day we could. Banging, bumping, crashing, pushing, and generally everything short of killing each other. We had to take the next step -Get in Touch with the guys from RAIL. We were scared to death-a week earlier we saw some Freaky looking dude with a long ponytail and the sides of his head were shaved, we heard he was a spy from Rail, to check out the Bonelli park race. His crazy look scared us enough, At the race he kicked an off-duty cop off his bike at 50 mph and went to jail. Knowing these guys are loose, me met the Infamous Bob Pereyra, we begged and pleaded to let us in the race series that seats you in the X-Games. He made us race Amateur with Lugenstein, Fernando and a bunch of now big names. He said the top 3 amateurs at the end of the year go to the games. We missed the first race Already, and the series odds weren't good. We did great In every race, all that practice was now obvious, what else was obvious was that we were so aggressive and hungry that we were riding in the upper ranks of the pro class and everyone knew it. The finals of the year were held In North Carolina, on a road we named Gasoline alley(because there was A gas station full of cars in turn 2 with one hay bail, so you better hit it) At 60 mph + that turn, toe to toe with Lugenstein, will never leave my mind. At the end of the day the three Amateurs were named; Mason, Colabella and Sherlock. We were going to the 96 games. I had a call from My Friend Tom Harper who had stopped Luging because his stunt career was going crazy, he said he was stunt coordinator on a 70mm big screen action movie and he needs my help. The next day us three flew Directly onto the set were my stuntman brother in law Rick Miller was The 4th guy and there was the team. At the end of the movie they needed me to crash at high speed in front of a police car at the beach. So I was on it. The Director of Smokey and the Bandit and Cannon Ball run, Hal Needam, known as (The worlds most infamous stuntman) was calling the shots.

The Movie Poster

He asked me how fast can you perform the crash. I laughed and said as fast as you can tow me. He looked at me and must have thought (Rookie-over confident idiot). So Of course at full speed I had to spin out and absolutely grenade myself. And you guess it. On the first take I pinned it full speed, missed my mark, And in the middle of the crash wound up under the car . They figured I had at least a broken back if I was even alive. They lifted the car, as they pulled me out, bent completely in half, I was kinda giggling and said sorry I hit a road reflector in the middle of my spin and it totally screwed me up, but next time I'll nail it. We nailed the next one and the head of Showscan Entertainment said Tom; you are a team player, and if I can do anything for you just say the word. I said us 3 just qualified for the X-Games and we need plane tickets to Providence Rhode Island. He said not only that you guys will be Team Showscan and your racing Will promote the movie.

X-Games Podium '96

X-Games 96 we arrive, Oh my god, it looked like the Olympics Reporters, camera's, media people everywhere. We All rode unbelievable, but maybe a little too aggressive. I had a race with The famous German streetluger Stephan Wagner, he had just beaten Bob Pereyra and this race was to see who raced Shaun Goulart for the X-Games gold. I was leading at the halfway when he was trying to squeeze by and he kicked me to move over, I flipped out, and thought o.k. this is war. After the rest of the race elbowing, kicking, and shoving I was disqualified. The X-Games have never seen a fight during a streetluge race and the organization did not like it at all. My next race for the bronze was against Dennis Derammelaere, that aggressive race ended upside down in a fast turn. I got back on my sled first and won the race.

After the ceremony, I was disqualified again, and stripped of the bronze. My hopes of a X-Games Medal just died, but the name "The Bad Boy of Streetluge was Born".. Once back with all the lugers, nobody was very happy with full combat luge, and we toned it way down and we all have found a fine line between light contact to make the sport that much more exciting. Now Perry "The Fizz" and his wife Laurie were running the Bonelli park Races, and the whole scene was greater than ever. We raced the rail races All over the country, as well as all the bonelli races, and finished with the San Bernadino X-Games Qualifier for the 97 games. The Games were Held in Oceanside California. My races were good and most important I rode hard and at the end of the day the guys said I was a little aggressive But over all everything was cool. That year was the start of some real Notoriety for the sport.

Tom, Mallard, Bob Wearin' His Hat

In December I was up snowboarding with my family When I was given an energy drink for free at the entrance of the lift lines. I (being the cheap ass that I am) hustled some for my kids to so we didn't need lunch. The next day The Little car was parked next to mine at the motel So I'm thinking (hustle a few more and we don't need breakfast) because those things make you super human. I mentioned to the girl I was an X-Games athlete (you pigs I was with my kids-an besides I am married) so anyway, I said who do I see about getting some product and bringing it to the races for all the guys. I had a meeting, that week I was named the Red Bull athlete for the sport of Streetluge. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out how that happened. That's when I became religious. Many of guys were getting outside help, and the sport was moving to a little more of a corporate level. Then Bob Pereyra got the Subaru car commercial with Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan.

My first real luge commercial and doing it with Fernando, Dansie, Mallard, Colabella And Pereyra, I felt like we were on are way. Shortly after that we were asked to do the ESPN commercial up in Auburn Calif. Myself, Colabella, Pereyra Rat , Biker and Dennis were really honored to be picked. I was lucky enough to put together a great crew, and went to Independence, Calif. to break The Guinness Book, World speed record for streetluge. At 81.28 mph. Now the X-Games in Qualcomm stadium in San Diego were bigger than ever. The course was fast with a little too much of a kink in the middle, I was in a few pile ups involving to many guys going into to tight of a turn. But 99 was truly going to be the year. I started out the year by helping do the first demo in South Africa, Two separate races in Australia, Hot Heels in Austria, were I luckily podiumed at all of them. But our U.S. races were also growing with the Rail east races and the EDI Races Like Tuscony hills, California .A radical straight drop with a wicked right turn at the bottom.

Waldo, Tom, John Loving Life

I found myself in the gold medal mass final with myself, leemo, Biker and Darren lott. I was in second heading into the 70 mph right turn and passing Biker, he knew I was there and squeezed me and Leemo into the hay, he messed himself up as well, giving the win to Darren. I was very happy with the bronze. We all headed to my first NSLA Streetluge race, in Anstead, West Virginia. A lot of ESPN hype pumped everyone up, and made it a great event. I was lucky to be in the Mass final with Sokol, Fryer, Autry. We all tangled in the first turn And I ended up with the gold medal and a huge silver cup.

The First Big Air Crew

Our X-Games qualifier then moved to St. George, were I was in a race to see what 2 guys went to the 99 X-Games in San Francisco, the race was myself, Orton, Mallard, and Travis Tripp. I felt Confident that I would make it. At the start George paddled into me, we tangled, and we were both Really disappointed. That meant we were not racing in the 99 games. That year at the X-Games I was the announcer and the host of the luge lounge for ESPN. It was an experience, but I love to race. Almost immediately we were headed for the first NBC Gravity games on the Providence Rhode Island track that I started on. I had it wired early An cruised to a great finish. Still on a big high I got to select 16 of the worlds best Streetlugers to be part of History. Red Bull asked me to try to put on the most Extreme streetluge race ever, I recently watched Steve McQueen in the movie Bullet, jumping his car through the intersections of the famous Taylor St. One of the most famous streets in San Francisco.

This Sucks

When the Luge pilots arrived, They thought I was out of my mind, It did not take long until they were all going huge. The race called "The Streets of San Francisco Big Air" was born. Lott won the 4 man race and Lott and Mallard had the jump off for Mr. Big Air. It was back off to Brisbane Australia to have my worst wreck yet. I was in the gold medal run with Biker, Tim Cayer and Fernando. I was on Bikers helmet for an easy silver medal, then I tried a pass about 65 mph in a 2 foot space, everything was great until my handle caught the hay, the rest was history. Fernando and myself limped across to tie for the bronze. 2000 started off great. Cape town South Africa, The American crew showed up and I pulled out a 3rd pl. to be apart of that unreal podium experience. Then EDI had the race at Campo in San Diego. Then to St. George Utah for the 2000 X-Games qualifier. It was a rode trip in my truck with Bob P, Mike and Gerhard Lanz. All four of us drove up togetherAnd shared the same room. The first day I won the gold in Buttboard and Gerhard took second. The next day we all raced and qualified for the 2000 X-Games, Then the pro race, where the top 4 finishers automatically get Invites to the 2001 X-Games in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Oh yeah, You guessed it. Mike took the gold, I took silver on his helmet, and Gerhard Was on my helmet for the bronze. At the awards Bob was told he was also going, do to having highest overall X-Games finish. Needless to say that ride home was the happiest ride home ever.

Don't I look Innocent

Now to Hot Heels in Austria. Dave R. put a spanking to us but I pulled out a second place. Which is nice. Exkate took 8 of the team riders to Japan ,for the "Core Extreme Games" We raced electric luges and skateboards, and never a dull moment with Orton, Leemo ,Beagle, Sokol, Mallard, Hardwick, Freeman and Louie F. Then we were off to Zurich Switzerland, we rented Harleys and tore it up for a couple of days. The racing got tight. I was leading the mass final when Leemo and myself got tangled. Dennis and Waldo passed us then Leemo flew into a fence (I still say it was Leemo's fault), but I left there with both 3rd place finishes and a great memory. The EDI race in Mammoth mt. rolled up in june, I was already qualified for gravity games twice but I go anyway, I just love goofing around and hanging out with the fellas. I make the quarter final with Ozman, Beagle and rat. Ozman and Rat started fast and Beagle and myself hung back to work the draft. At the halfway point Beagle and myself passed Rat and were both starting to split Ozman when Oz moved over a little, I should have tapped the brakes a little but (typical Me) I thought I was 12 inches wide and could fit. I hit the cones with no brakes at close to 70 mph. I thought a bomb went off, back flips, and rag dolls, were the dance I was doing until I hit a tree stump, and that was going to be the worst day of my life. I played the tough guy, I made the paramedic release me, and I rode up the hill with Amy. There my body shut down and I was going into shock, for the first time in my life, The Terminator was in trouble and I new it. Pereyra was on the line For the final race for the gold medal, someone told him Tom was in trouble, He ran to the truck, and with his leathers on, rushed me to hospital. I was Suffering mostly from a massive hematoma in my chest cavity, and a lot of torn cartilage, and some pretty wild purple bruising everywhere. In less than 3 weeks I was being taped up in the medics trailer and getting ready to ride in the second annual Red Bull big air race in San Francisco. I was seeing god every time I hit the jumps, The doctor was pissed at me But this race is my baby, and I don't ask anyone to hit something I won't hit. Again Leemo took the victory in the 4 man race, and the web master Jeff Schonzeit from LLLV.COM just edged out Chris Chaput for the title Mr. Big Air 2000.

Two weeks later I was back in Providence Rhode Island At The second annual Gravity games, all taped up with no doctors note We qualified in the rain and I made it to the final four (even after slate Hit my foot with his helmet). I was out of gas, and had one more race to go. The mass final was Rat, Orton, Sokol and myself. I was happy with fourth. The San Francisco X-Games, not my best performance, but parking a 40 Foot motor home at the finish line as the hospitality tent was. What started out a miserable race weekend, turned into a total party palace for all. September 9th was the day I put on Red Bulls first stand up skateboard race "The Seattle Downhill" in Seattle Washington. I got the 16 best riders in the world to put on a killer event. Oh yeah, in the rain. December rolled around and I was feeling better, the final stop of the 2000 Season was the Planet X world Extreme games in Melbourne Australia.

The weather was great, all the guys were staying on the beach in a trailer park. On practice day I was spot on. The next day I got there early, took a couple of practices and I was done. When you have it figured out Don't wreck your equipment and or yourself. 8 hours later I had won the Mass gold the dual bronze and the over all gold medal. Look out, 2001 looks twice as busy and three times as fun.

The End