I am heartbroken to have to announce that Ross Tomas, the 20-year old son of friends of the industry Mike and Carolyn Tomas from Kiwi Indian, passed away yesterday evening Wednesday July 22, 2014 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was wearing a helmet. Ross had an inherited passion for motorcycles and I saw him successfully race in Bonneville when he was only 16 years old.
At this time, his parents and family request privacy. Service and other details will be announced soon. My thoughts and prayers for Mike & Carolyn and my condolences to all his family and friends.
We know there is no pain more far-reaching and deeper than losing a child. Our hearts and prayers go out to you at this most difficult time.
With our deepest sympathy.
Over & Out,
Jeff & Cindy Nicklus
WOW…terrible news Cyril…saw young Ross at Bonneville. Nice young man…so sorry to hear this news. May he always ride in peace.
So sorry for your loss Mike & Carolyn.
Hey Mike & Carolyn, I am very sorry for your loss. I will keep your family in my prayers. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for y’all.
Much respect & love.
RF
So sorry mike and carolyn . You are both in our prayers. RIP Ross
So very, very sorry to read this. My oldest is about the same age, and we almost lost him last year. I can barely imagine how deeply this loss must feel to the grieving family.
Mike and Carolyn,
We can’t begin to understand your tragic loss. You have our prayers and sympathies from your friends in Canada.
Respect.
Thoughts & prayers with you Mike & Carolyn……….
Horrible News !!
Too young & Too Soon
Sincere Condolences to the Family ….
Ride On & Ride Free !!!!
Mike & Carolyn
I am so sorry for your loss.
There can be no pain greater than parents loosing a child.
Take some comfort knowing that Ross was doing what he
dearly loved.
My thoughts are with you.
There is no other way but forward.
Be strong, soldier on.
-nicker-
Our deepest condolences to Mike and his family. This sort of loss is unfathomable. May Ross ride in peace.
Robert Pandya
Indian Motorcycle
Nothing can prepare a parent for such tidings.
Only the love and support from family and friends is of any comfort.
Time will eventually help but such things are never left behind.
Requiscant In Pace
My heart aches for you, Mike and Carolyn.
very sad sorry to here of it my thoughts go out to you mike and Carolyn shane [scoota]
new zealand
My deepest sympathies from Canada. Can’t begin to imagine losing one of my own.
I am so sad , we will miss Ross. We would hear him come home on the bike or his car. Ross is home! such a great big loveable hunk of a kid. Mom an Dad I’m so sorry for the pain . I will always think of Ross, as the little boy scout named Russel from the Pixar movie Up. He will always be that little boy in my hart.
Prayers to all the family
So sorry Mike and Carolyn on the loss of your son Ross.
Devastating news. You are in my thoughts. Ross wouldn’t wish you to suffer.Try and find some peace in that thought.
Our love, prayers & condolences go out to Mike & Carolyn. I cannot think of a family that has put more blood sweat & tears into our industry. Ross always made us all laugh with his photos & jokes. Sheree & I personally & the motorcycle industry will never be the same & we are going to miss you mate. Thanks for the memories Ross, we will never forget you. Be strong Mike & Carolyn. Know we are all grieving with you & supporting you.
I’m just numb. Ross was a top, top guy and I’ll miss him terribly.
I’ll always remember him giving up his time to sit with us around the back of the tent at Sturgis and help out when we had to make all those wooden tech sheet stands for the World Championship, and all the laughs we had during the years we were there.
RIP mate, it was a privilege to know you.
Mike and Carolyn, very sorry for your loss.
Our thoughts & prayers are with you.
Mike and Carolyn my heart also hurts for you both can’t even imagine what your going through ! I am trusting in JESUS that he will comfort you and your family it’s our only hope
Praying for this family
Mike and Carolyn I am sorry to hear about the loss of your son. I will keep you in my prayers.
I met Ross at Davenport after his Bonneville race. Nice fellow and quite a loss.
GODSPEED
Mike and Carolyn, Marianne and I are sorry for the loss of your son Ross, and our prayers are with you both.
Mike and Carolyn, It’s hard to know what to say in a time like this. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Scott and all your friends at S&S.
Thank you for the kinds words of Ross. Nothing can prepare one for such a tragedy. It was a solo mc accident in a low speed S bend doing maybe.25-30 mph. There was no high speed involved. He had replaced the tires on his Honda a few days eariier and was concerned about the ill handling afterwards especially in corners he tried a few different things and got it a lot better but not perfect. 2 days later he was on his way to leave it to the dealer to have it fixed. He was almost through the last corner where it was a straight shot to the dealer when something happened. I’m suspecting the bike wobbled (as he mentioned to a friend his bike got a bad wobble in corners) and he went head 1st into a tree. Instantaneous death.
I’ve been to the accident site and nothing else makes sense as he is a very competent rider. It is hard to comprehend. I’ve got so many why why why’s that will never be answered. He was doing the right thing by having it professionally looked at. He was 3/4 the way through the last turn and it was then just a 3/4 mile straight shot to the dealer. Why why why???
It is the hardest thing as a parent and the most dreaded thing to bury and organize your kids funeral. Its just not supposed to happen this way. We are supposed to bury us older folks, not the young. Ross was so sharp mechanically and grasping desig that his contribution to the motorcycle industry will never be realized.
This is an extremely difficult thing to go through. The outpouring from friends worldwide has been immense. Ross grew up in the mc industry and went everywhere we did as a youngster. This is an awesome industry that we consider our family. His funeral is tentatively Thurs 31st in Riverside Calif. We still plan to be in Sturgis as that’s what he would’ve wanted. We have thought about another service or get together there for him since he has many friends there. It was his most favorite meet. As yet its just a thought and don’t even know where to begin.
We will miss Ross forever. He is our only child and we now and forever will have a huge void in our lives. I, as his father, will miss him coming here after work and helping me out and sharing our dinners with him and his friends. He was just rounding the corner to get back into the mc industry. Carolyn and I are heartbroken, yet uplifted by all the out pouring from our friends and what we consider our family which is the mc industry.
Ross funeral will be a mc related funeral. We kindly request no flowers. Ross loved Sturgis and we feel he would ask in lieu of flowers, to send donations to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum/Hall of Fame in his name. RIP son. We love you soo much. Burt Munro said “you can live a lifetime in 5 minutes on a motorcycle than in a lifetime”. You lived many but it was cut way too short.
Mike and Carolyn, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. we have known each other a very long time so If there is anything I can do please feel free to call me.
you are in my prayers
MET HIM ONCE..THAT WAS ENOUGH TO KNOW HE WAS AN
AWESOME KID..FROM AN AWESOME FAMILY….SO SORRY MY SON IS 18 AND I COULDNT FATHOM YOU PAIN…LOVE YOU GUYS AND SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS
We are heartbroken. Words cannot describe this. Motorcycles were such a part of Ross’s life, as they are all of ours. Sometimes these things happen and we can’t explain it. Just know we love our Kiwi family and will always hold Ross close to our hearts.
My heart is breaking for you guys. Such a great kid. We are all holding you close in our hearts.
Very sorry for your loss, and thanks for sharing the painful details, everyone always asks what happened, but even when you know the details it still will never make sense. Be thankful for the time you had together and look to the future.
I am sorry for your loss. Time will make the pain lessen but never go away completely. In the end we will all be together again.
Mike & Carolyn: We are so heartbroken to hear of Ross’s death. Words cannot express what you must be going through. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both. Rest in peace Ross.
Mike, Carolyn, and all the Kiwi Family,
G-Dawg told me of your heart-breaking loss just yesterday morning.
I wish I knew the words to express my deepest sympathy to you.
You raised an Incredible Young Man and he will be sorely missed.
…Missed??? Undoubtedly…
Forgotten??? NEVER!!!
You will continue to be in my thoughts and in my prayers.
Landshark
ML in SD
Mike and Carolyn, we are heartbroken for you. We really enjoyed meeting Ross when our kids rode trials together years ago. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Godspeed to Ross
Mike & Carolyn,
I’m still stunned and at a loss for the right thing to say. It’s been difficult to think of anything else since receiving your email yesterday. I’m grieving for you; as all of us in your James Gaskets family are. Our hearts are breaking with yours, but no one can know what you will endure and as you said – this is a parents worse nightmare, one that no one should ever have to go through. I wish it wasn’t you. I hope you are able to find some peace in knowing that you are surrounded by friends who genuinely care.
With love, Tami
Dear Mike and Carolyn I’m so sorry for your loss
Mike and Carolyn – I was so sad to read the news of Ross’ passing. We watched him grow up in the industry and it was so normal to see the three of you arrive at events all these years. My heart goes out to both of you, Michael
Mike & Carolyn, so sorry to hear of your loss. I can’t imagine the pain of a parent burying their child and my prayers are with you and your family. Honor him and keep his memory alive in what you do.
Mike & Carolyn I’m shocked to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.
Paddy
Mike
I am so sorry for your loss
Chuck
its sad when anyone in the motorcycle fraternity dies, but my soul cries when its someone so young,
my dearest sympathies
OMG!!
Carolyn and Mike, Hard to wrap my mind around this horrific news. Ross was a lovely boy. My deepest thoughts, prayers and condolences to you and family.
Thank you Mike for your information of your son Ross ,as I was reading it my heart was heavy Deirdre and I will continue to pray for you and Carolyn if you need anything please contact me rest in peace Ross you are missed
My condolences to the Thomas family.I have enjoyed being next to you at Davenport for so many years. Ross was a true gentleman and will be missed greatly.
Mike,
It was very sad to learn of your son’s sudden passing by the news from the AMCA So. Cal chapter.
I did not know him as a young man, but do recall seeing him when he was a little boy with you and Carolyn at motorcycle meets. May he rest in peace. My wife and I extend our sympathy and know your pain as we also lost our only child when our son died suddenly. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
John
God bless
Mike, I know nothing I can say will mean much, but just know that you are in our thoughts.Danny from motor menders
Condolences and Best Wishes to the family
To brother Michael / sister in law Carolyn
Utterly shocked to hear of this news of the loss of your son `Ross , our nephew in the USA.
We will forever miss him but still have the memories and photo’s
when we visited 3 years ago.
RIP nephew Ross
Paul & Joanne Tomas
Perth
Australia
Mike & Carolyn, as you know Buzz just honored Ross with the Kick Start Classic ride. So many of us there rode with broken hearts thinking of such a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
So sorry for you loss…no words can help your pain so I send prayers for you, his wonderful parents, he will be honored and missed by the many people who loved him.
Sincerely Amy, Ralph and Sierra.
Mike and Carolyn,
You and Ross are in our thoughts and prayers – we all watched him grow-up into the wonderful young man he became…Sincerely Bethany, Bernard and John
AMCA Dixie Chapter
Mike and Carolyn,
So sorry to hear this terrible news.
Our hearts and prayers go out to you at this most difficult time.
With our deepest sympathy,
Neal, Joanne and Manda,
Bolam Family Motorsports.
Australia.
Much sorrow and many prayers GOD speed RIP….
Mike, so sad to read this, my deepest condolences to you and your wife. I believe that I only met Ross the one time in Bonneville….I remember you being quite proud of him, and with very good reason,from our brief meeting , I remember him as a very nice, respectful and motivated young man….I could tell what he meant to you. Sincerely, Roger
Deepest sympathies to both of you- and thank you for sharing.
Dear Mike and Carolyn, I am so sorry hear of your loss. You are right we are all family and this is a loss for all. I will see you next week in Sturgis.
Dear Mike and Carolyn,
So sorry to hear the sad news of your son Ross. This is a parents worst nightmare having 2 boys of similar age. Our thoughts are with you. Pete, Barb and family.
Dear Michael & Carolyn,
I heard today about the tragic loss of your son, Ross. It seems like yesterday that he was born.
I can’t imagine your pain. It is clear you are loved by many.
My thoughts are with you. Donna Foster (ex Lamont) , now in Brisbane, Australia.
Mike and Carolyn, I just heard of your sons passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Ross is now sitting with Smitty, Ernie, Eddie and the rest of the great Indian riders in heaven. RIP Ross.
Big Chief,
So sorry to finally hear of your loss. Our trips to Bonneville to race “Dream Catcher” will have a hollow void.
God speed Ross,
Rocky
May his spirit fly.
Mike & Carolyn,
So sorry to just hear about your son Ross . You are and will be in our thoughts.
Prayers from Ohio.
Marv and Diana Niese.
I first met Ross at the Broken Spoke in Sturgis some years ago, he was hanging out by Teach & Amy’s camp. He had a big smile, and at his young age he had forgoten more about bike, than I know. when I’d see you folks, Id get kick out of seeing Ross ,from one Hapa to another, I felt a connection. I was crushed to hear this news,my heart goes out to the both of you. love and Aloha, Buddha
Carolyn and Mike, The sadness that I feel can’t even approach the sadness that you are dealing with. You and Ross are in my prayers.
Mike, we met at Oley swap meet and I know from meeting you that he was a stand-up kid. I want to send my deepest sympathies to you and your family, Pete H.