Rad (1986)

All the flatland tricks were performed mostly by the GT rider Martin Aparijo, Eddie Fiola and RL Osborne from Redline Team. It took 2 days of filming to get the entire scene. And that scene is till today a cult video clip for any RAD fan or BMX enthusiast. -Thanks to Facundo Garcia

The character of "Cru" was loosely based on the life story of "The King" Eddie Fiola. Had he been an actor he most likely would have played the part.

In the park where Cru says "Whats all this #1 stuff about" and then they ride in the park, Eddie Fiola stunt doubles for "Christian".

Beetle Rosecrans doubled for "Bart Taylor".

In the scene where "Cru" bashes through the fence, Bill Allen, does the "trick" on his own but there are 2 guys on wires pulling on the fence.

During practice Rick Moliterno, one of the stunt riders, broke his leg. -Thanks to Jason Cook

Eddie Fiola is responsible for Bill Allen's stunt work in RAD. Bill, the star of the movie, was forced to dye his hair darker for the movie so that he and Eddie would look more alike.

I remember BMX Plus magazine reported the movie was slightly delayed because the starting ramp was orginally built so high non of the factory riders would go down it, so the ramp was cut down to the 25 foot tall version shown in the movie. -Thanks to John Creed

Luke (Cru's best friend in the movie) was played by Jamie Clarke. Jamie wasn't actually just an actor (as you an tell by his role in the movie) but in reality he was a local Canadian Olympic Cross Country Team member. -Thanks to Tony Ionno

"Hollywood" Mike Miranda bailed on-screen an embarrassing THREE times during the Helltrack run. When asked about it while signing autographs at a CW show (with Dizz Hicks) at a local Greensboro, NC bike shop, he said he was paid $500 for each fall, racking up a $1500 paycheck for his historic clumsyness. -Thanks to Jay Daugherty

Sadly, much of the BMX action was changed to make the movie more understandable to non BMXers & the general public, making true BMXers cringe.

The racers in the Hell Track comp were made up of real members of several different real Factory Teams, Kevin "Sheep Dog" Hull, a talented GT Factory Team member was one of the featured riders who says the Helltrack really was hell. The track was mad with a 25ft sheer drop for the start, a ramp that looked like a piece of toast into a cereal bowl and out onto another ramp that looked like a spoon, Helltrack even had a half-pipe with Moonrocks for a rhythm section. The veteran BMX ace had this to say at BMX Mania about riding the circuit "When I got there they were still finishing the track. I could not believe what I was seeing. The starting hill was huge and steep. The hardest things were the cereal bowl, the cliffhanger and the starting hill. Everything was shot in sections starting with the first turn and working around the track. The last thing to be filmed at Helltrack was the start of the race. The reason for this was because nobody wanted to be the first one to ride down it. Every day we were there filming we would try to figure out the best way down the start and who was going to try it first."

Bill Allen got the part of Cru due to an episode of Hillstreet Blues he did. Hal Needham, the director, saw it when he was ready to cast Rad.

BMX Rider Martin Aparijo was the stunt man for actress Lori Loughlin at the nightclub scene, performing freestyle tricks while "Send me an Angel" song (performed by Real Life) was around the place. Aparijo had to wear a wig to look like Lori! -Thanks to Lou Rosetti

As far as the "Send Me An Angel" scene, not only was it Martin Aparijo performing the stunts but also Pat Romano, also on the GT team. The last stunt before the end of the song, when "she" spins the bike on the rear wheel....a classic Pat Romano move, due to his bike being specialized to do that stunt. (locked rear hub and a very small front sprocket). -Thanks to Tre' Ridings

The stunt double for Bart Taylor in all of the race scenes was actually Travis Chipres, who rode for Robinson in the movie. Hence, the long hair coming out of the helmet in scenes. -Thanks to ADAM C

During the dance scene, the twin brothers Rod & Rex's matching gray outfits were borrowed from the 80's sci-fi movie "V". -Thanks to Dan Renfrow

When filming the dance scene (at Cochrane High School, Cochrane Alberta Canada) all of the extras were told not to sing along with the music, as it was not "Send me an angel" at the time.

The movie was mostly filmed in my hometown, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. However, in the movie they only refer to it as Cochrane U.S.A. and never mention a state. Also, when Cru's mom is unloading her trunk full of groceries you can see that the car has an Alberta Licence Plate. However, reader Jeremy Combs noticed that in the movie, when they are looking at the article about Bart Taylor in BMX Action magazine. It says COCHRAN, ORE in the corner. -Thanks to Cory Mossing

When Cru is trying to learn the backflip, there is one particular scene where he is wearing jeans. The next shot has him in brown coudoroys, then in the next....you guessed it, back in jeans. " The porch, I've told you a million times the porch!!!" -Thanks to Brad Clark

In the Dance Scene, when Cru's Stuntman bunny hops up onto the railing, the railing has been "widened" with another platform. You can actually see the extended platform when Cru's Stuntman rides off the end.

Also, I always found it hard to believe Cru was riding over the pile of logs. Ever try this? Didn't think so... Anyway, I noticed that if you look carefully between the logs in certain areas you can see boards laid out to ride on. -Thanks to Brett

During the greatest scene in movie history, the "send me an angel" "bicycle boogie" scene, when Lori Loughlin is spotlighted riding/balancing on her handle bars while doing a wheelie, you can see the brace that is holding her bike up. it is very quick and is at the bottom of the screen, but it is there.

During the final race, Lori Loughlin yells to Cru "Get up!" before he actually falls. It's a split second editing mistake. -Thanks to Jon Melton And Melissa

Richie Anderson's leathers change about three times during the race.

When Cru finishes his paper route in the beginning of the movie, Mrs. Gray comes out and says "Only missed it by five minutes Cru." Watch the doors behind her. She comes out the right side but when they cut back behind her the left door is closing. -Thanks to Travis

Just before the final race (Hell Track) starts, the commentator is given a note and he tells the crowd that Cru Jones has met the entry requirements to race, then the commentator says "we have all 20 riders in competition today". But if you count the riders, there are only 19 and not 20. -Thanks to Craig

During the dance scene when Cru is sitting on his handlebars you see a close up of Lori sitting backwards on her handlebars. When they cut back to a wide shot of Cru, you see Lori spinning on her back tire, but when they cut back to her she is again sitting on her bars as before.

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