Jimmy began competing in the early 1980’s. Deaton raced in all six Whiskytown Races (81-86), in the Annual Rockhopper (82-90), all the Norba Nationals and the National Series Race World Championships in 1987, ’88, ’90 and ’91. Jimmy won many downhill races including Repacks in 1983 & 1984, Crested Butte 1984 and he was the World Downhill Champion in 1988.