| Introducing RAD for the next generation. An ultimate | | | | Jones life, who’s dad had also passed away |
| BMX racing movie released in 1986, featuring local kid | | | | several years earlier. |
| Cru Jones and Helltrack - Cochrane’s new BMX | | | | As a sponsored youth, life was busy as he travelled |
| track that is not to be messed with. It is the | | | | alone from show to show in the 80’s as his |
| “ET” movie of BMX. | | | | mother, a single parent, was looking after his two |
| Filmed in Canada, the popularity for this movie has | | | | other siblings. Although Eddie didn’t really think |
| never waned and to date, countless reviews and | | | | much of it at the time, he only thought about riding |
| comments are still being posted on internet sites | | | | his bike. Life consisted of travelling to specific areas |
| worldwide. | | | | for tours, riding for the entire show, packing up, |
| Meet Eddie Fiola. Famed for the stunts of Cru Jones | | | | sleeping and then driving to the next show. But he |
| and flat land scenes before and after the movie, | | | | doesn’t miss it. |
| Eddie has experienced a succesful career in BMX, | | | | “I like to play around now. My favourite tricks |
| which has opened doors as a stuntsman. He’d | | | | are backflips as they’re fun but 360º are my |
| originally picked up the skateboarding scene before | | | | favourite’. Moonwalks on a bicycle also come up |
| swapping the board for the bike, mainly because it | | | | high on his list and he can be seen on various |
| was easier to get from A to B. Competitions at the | | | | old-school You Tube videos. Many of the old tricks |
| time were only for skateboards in swimming pools. | | | | he does these days awe inspire the kids into thinking |
| In the beginning, Eddie began his passion in the racing | | | | they’re new. |
| scene (beginner and expert) before focusing on | | | | These days, Eddie Fiola works long hours as a |
| freestyle and flatland. His first sponsor at the age of | | | | Stuntman and Film Stunt Coordinator, particularly on |
| 16 was Premier Helmets after he met Fred Blood (SE | | | | movie sets. His impressive resume include stunts on |
| Racing/General) who introduced him to Denise Barter | | | | Superman 2 & 3 and The Dukes of Hazzard. |
| (now Director of Marketing for Premier Helmets – | | | | “Being able to see and do stunts and then watch |
| who were founded in California in 1961 and moved | | | | the movie, is amazing” he says. |
| their production to Italy in 1987) and Harry Larry | | | | One of his most popoular television ads to feature in |
| (talented BMX racer who later became the | | | | Australia, showed him chasing a cheetah through the |
| Production Manager for the Diamondback Company). | | | | Texan (Tahone) Pass – in California desert, after |
| “Riding in general is great in the first place” | | | | it’d stolen his Mountain Dew. When he catches |
| says Eddie, talking from his Californian home. | | | | up with the cat, he tackles it to the ground, retrieves |
| “You’re paid to ride. My first show paid | | | | the can from the bottom of its stomach and states |
| food, $25 and I got to ride all day”. | | | | “bad cheetah”. After the six days of filming |
| Eddie believes RAD is loosely based on his life, as | | | | this scene, the three boys who drank the can at the |
| director Hal Needham had paid him a visit to his home | | | | end and said “see . . . that’s why I’m |
| several years earlier. He’d been interested in | | | | not a cat person”, were lucky enough to go to |
| Eddie’s life and had asked him many questions, | | | | South Africa just for that scene, leaving Eddie to |
| which put together, paints a similar picture of Cru | | | | stay home in California! |