Episode 3: Eddie Fiola

BMX legend Eddie Fiola – the King of the Skateparks and the stunt double behind Cru Jones in RAD – sits down with me to talk about building Stingrays to look like dirt bikes, chasing down Bob Osborn for that first magazine shot, landing in RAD as Cru’s stunt double, and how all of that led to a long career crashing bikes for Hollywood.
In this episode of the RAD The Movie Podcast, Eddie and I go way back to:
• Growing up on Schwinn Stingrays, turning them into “mini motorcycles,” and dreaming of being Evel Knievel
• Discovering BMX magazines at the local bike shop and getting hooked on freestyle over racing
• The legendary run home-and-back to Lakewood Skatepark to convince Bob Osborne to shoot him – and how that turned into his first full-page color in BMX Action
• Touring, contests, and how being “the guy on top” made Hollywood start calling
• How Hal Needham and Sam Bernard found him through the mags and chose him as Cru’s stunt double for RAD
• Why Bill Allen had to dye his hair to look like Eddie (and not the other way around)
• Six wild weeks in Calgary filming Helltrack, dealing with crazy weather, and living by the daily call sheet
• How the fade of 80s BMX and the rise of mountain bikes pushed him into stunt work
• Working on Pacific Blue, Spider-Man 2 & 3, Contraband, and what it’s really like to be “the bike guy” on set
• The surreal day on The Hangover when Ed Helms sprinted over to geek out about RAD tricks – and tried to help get the movie released properly
• Why today’s riders stand on the shoulders (and wrecked joints) of the pioneers, and how learning to crash became a superpower in the stunt world
• Getting older in a young person’s sport, thinking about pension vs. pavement, and why Eddie still feels like he’s at the kids’ table – on a kid’s bike
If you love RAD, 80s BMX, stunt work, or just good stories from someone who was there when it all blew up, you’re going to love this one.
🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with the riders, cast, crew, and notable fans of RAD.

Transcript

Tony (00:32.644)
Edward Lynn Fiola. It's good to see you, man. How have you been? Well, it's good seeing you too. I've been great. No complaints from me. Very good. Very good. Have you been busy? You know, with the new shop out in Santee, I've been busy doing...

Eddie Fiola (00:36.174)
It's good seeing you too. I've been great. No complaints from me.

Eddie Fiola (00:44.974)
You know with the new shop out in Santee been busy doing you know welding and and Restorations on some cars, but just riding bikes and you know we have a new colorway out on the EF former Pro so it's a red. Yeah, yeah, so

Tony (00:55.16)
on some cars but just riding bikes and you know we have a new colorway out on the EF Orrera Pro. you have to send me that so I can I can actually put it in show notes and stuff so can't wait to see that. So I'm just starting this podcast it's a you know rad fan based kind of thing so being a fan I yeah I'm

Eddie Fiola (01:12.981)
Okay, cool.

Tony (01:23.77)
I'm very excited to have you on. Let's go way back to the beginning. How did you get involved in BMX?

Eddie Fiola (01:31.981)
You know, that's what everybody did back in the day. We rode skateboards, but it took too long to get anywhere. Your legs, your foot turned numb. You know, the sidewalks weren't all that smooth. There was acorns on the sidewalk. The street was rough. So bicycles was the way to go. you know, when we had bicycles, was mainly, you know, the Schwinn Stingrays.

Tony (01:34.959)
everybody did that.

rode skateboards but it took too long to get anywhere. Your foot turned numb, the sidewalks weren't all that smooth, was acorns on the sidewalk, the street was rough. So bicycles was the way to go. When we had bicycles, was mainly the Swin Sting Rays. We built them to look like motorcycles. We put the single seat on.

Eddie Fiola (02:02.027)
We built them to look like motorcycles. We put the single seat on, we put the box bars on, we put the mud flap and the gas tank. We did what we could to make it emulate more of a motorcycle, because that's what we all wanted. We wanted to be Evil Knievel, and we wanted to jump motorcycles. But what we did was ride BMX.

Tony (02:07.112)
put the box bars on, we put the mud flap and the gas tank, you know, we did what we could to make it emulate more of a motorcycle because that's what we all wanted. We wanted to be evil Knievel and we wanted to jump motorcycles but what we did was ride VMS. And how did you get involved in freestyle?

Eddie Fiola (02:30.349)
you know, so riding the Schwinn Stingray and eventually, you know, working your way up to a better and new bikes are coming out and things like that. The I go down to the bike shop and look at parts and, you know, put on the wish list and and the want list and see what I how many lawns I have to mow in order to get the money to

Tony (02:34.855)
So riding this Swin Sting Ray and eventually working your way up to a better and new bikes are coming out and things like that. I'd go down to the bike shop and look at parts and put on the wish list and the want list and see how many lawns I have to mow in order to get the money to get the parts.

Eddie Fiola (02:59.564)
to get the parts. Going down to the bike shops, there was always magazines. was BMX Plus, was Super BMX, was Bicycle Motorcross Action, there's all these magazines. Seeing Bob Haro and RL and those guys doing freestyle, I think

Tony (03:04.583)
you know, going down to the bike shops, there was always magazines. was BMX Plus, there was Super BMX, there was Bicycle Motorcross Action, there's all these magazines. And seeing, you know, Bob Haro and RL and those guys, you know, doing freestyle, which I think excited me more than racing.

Eddie Fiola (03:26.952)
Excited me more than than racing. I went to the racetrack I did race for a little bit but the only reason I rode at the racetrack is because they built jumps and we didn't have to dig so Yeah

Tony (03:30.585)
I went to the racetrack. did race for a little bit, but the only reason I rode at the racetrack is because they built jumps and we didn't have to dig. That's fantastic. You are absolutely one of the best storytellers that I know. tell me the story of, you getting, Bob Osborne to photograph you at pipeline.

Eddie Fiola (03:57.388)
man, that story goes way back. what has happened is that now I'm riding Lakewood skate park for the longest time. Every day after school, I'm there at the skate park. I didn't care about homework. I didn't care about anything else. But this one day, now I have a girlfriend and she wanted to walk to

Tony (03:58.983)
And that story goes way back. So, I'm riding Lakewood skate park for the longest time. Every day after school, I'm there at the skate park. I didn't care about homework, I didn't care about anything else. But this one day, now I have a girlfriend and...

She wanted to walk to the pipeline, or not pipeline, but Lakewood skate park. And across the way was a place called Apple Annie's and they had arcade games and so did the skate park. And so anyhow, we walked to the skate park that I rode every single day. So anyhow, as I'm there, as I get there, I see...

Eddie Fiola (04:22.4)
the pipeline or not pipeline but Lakewood skate park and and across the way across the way was a place called Apple Annie's and and they had arcade games and so did the skate park and and so anyhow we walked to the skate park that I rode every single day so so anyhow as I'm there as I get there I see this photographer and this

Tony (04:49.913)
this photographer and this other guy in full uniform that is in a hut.

Eddie Fiola (04:51.784)
other guy in full uniform that is in a hutch.

I've never seen Timmy ever at my skate park at Lakewood. I never seen him there. Not that he never went, but I never seen him and I was there every day. So to see this guy and this photographer, you know, taking pictures of him, I figured out that it was Bob Osborne.

Tony (04:59.418)
Nice. Nice.

Eddie Fiola (05:29.623)
And so seeing Bob there, knowing that he was the owner of Bicycle Motocross Action, I asked him how long he was going to be there for. I'm going to run back and get my bike, and you've got to watch me ride. And that's what I said. And I'm sure I'm just some grom kid that every kid out there wants Bob Osborne to take a photo of him.

Tony (05:30.134)
And so seeing Bob there, knowing that he was the owner of Bicycle Motocross Action, I asked him how long he was going to be there for. I'm going to run back and get my bike. And you've got to watch me ride. And that's what I said. I'm sure I'm just some grump kid. Every kid out there wants Bob Osborne to take a photo of him.

Eddie Fiola (05:59.423)
do whatever. So I run home. Now at this point in time, I'm thinking, you know, it's a daily event that I'm going to the house, but it's five miles. least that's what I thought it was. I thought it was five miles. Anyhow, as I'm running back, it's like Ferris Bueller's day off. I'm jumping over fences. I'm trying to beeline the backyards.

Tony (05:59.952)
do whatever. So I run home. Now at this point in time, I'm thinking, I'm, know, it's a daily event that I'm going to the house, but it's five miles. least that's what I thought it was. It's five, I thought it was five miles. Anyhow, as I'm running back, I'm, it's, it's like Ferris Bueller's day off. I'm jumping over fences. I'm trying to beeline the backyard. I'm going.

Eddie Fiola (06:28.339)
I'm going through swimming pools, backyards, fences, over cars, you name it, I'm doing it. I'm just getting as, so I can get a straight line to the house. Anyhow, get to the house, you know, do whatever I need to do at the house, get my stuff done, get my gear, get my helmet, get my bike, make sure the tires are pumped up. I, now, I can't take the back roads and I can't jump over fences. I've got to take the long way. And so I,

Tony (06:29.701)
swimming pools, backyards, fences, over cars, you name it, I'm doing it. I'm just getting this so I can get a straight line to the house. Anyhow, get to the house, know, do whatever I need to do at the house, get my stuff done, get my gear, get my helmet, get my bike, make sure the tires are pumped up. now, I can't take the back roads and I can't jump over fences. I've got to take the long way. And so I...

Eddie Fiola (06:56.55)
I hooked my bike all the way back to Lakewood skate park and as I get there, Bob Osborne has his bag on his shoulder and he's walking out of the skate park. I begged and pleaded with him, again, I'm just some grom and he says, okay, let me see what you got. He's got his bag sitting on there and I could

Tony (06:57.111)
I hooked my bike all way back to Lakewood skate park and as I get there, Bob Osborne has his bag on his shoulder and he's walking out of the skate park. And I just, you know, I begged and pleaded with him, you know, again, I'm just some grom and this, says, okay, let me see what you got. And he's got his bag sitting on there and I could,

Eddie Fiola (07:25.994)
I could vividly remember riding from the back door of the skate park, entrance to the park, riding into a flat land area, down a little 45, up a little 45, past the fence, into the snake run, going backwards, going uphill, jumping one of the jumps, pumping down, jumping another jump.

Tony (07:26.627)
I could vividly remember riding from the back door of the skate park, entrance to the park.

Tony (07:42.083)
Nice. Nice.

Eddie Fiola (07:54.506)
and then ending up doing a 360 or a 540 but landing so I could see where Bob was at the entrance of the park. And when I landed, you could see him take his bag down and start pulling cameras out. that was it. That was my first time getting in the magazines and he spent a good couple hours with me because

Tony (08:12.357)
That was that was it. was my my first time getting in the magazine. And he spent a good couple hours with me because I I'm sure and I don't remember word for word what I said, but I'm sure that I I said, hey, not only do I write here, I write over there and I write this and I write that and take a bunch of photos. And he did so I he he didn't guarantee me that I was going to be in the magazine. Sure.

Eddie Fiola (08:21.034)
I'm sure and I don't remember word-for-word what I said, but I'm sure that I I said hey not only do I ride here I ride over there and I ride this and I ride that and take a bunch of photos and and he did so I He he didn't guarantee me that I was going to be in the magazine and I had no guarantee and He said that the pictures that he takes today Might not even make it in the magazine

Tony (08:41.581)
and he said that the pictures that he takes today might not even make it in the magazine. if they do, if they do, it'll be three months. Now that's something I didn't know that happened. I didn't know they had three months leeway. that was, know, you mean this didn't happen last week? You know when I'm reading the magazine? Right. So.

Eddie Fiola (08:48.842)
And if they do, if they do, it'll be three months. Now that's something I didn't know that happened. I didn't know they had three month leeway. that was, you mean this didn't happen last week, you know, when I'm reading the magazines? Yeah, so anyhow, a month or two go by and I'm.

Tony (09:10.98)
Anyhow, a month or two go by and I'm going to the bike shop. I'm looking through the magazines here and there and this and that. A couple more months go by and all of a sudden I open up the magazine and there I am, a full-page color, which was different than what Bob Osborne normally takes. Because if you looked at the earlier magazines, everybody, every...

Eddie Fiola (09:15.049)
going to the bike shop, I'm looking through the magazines here and there and this and that and a couple more months go by and all of sudden I open up the magazine and there I am, a full page color which was different than what Bob Osborne normally takes because if you looked at the earlier magazines, everybody, everybody was in uniform.

Tony (09:40.932)
right The only guy I know that wasn't the only not uniformed section was trashcan Morgan and he only had like combat boots, but he still wore, you know, all the cool horror gear. I was lucky enough, you know, that I was in a pair of Levi's and a radio shirt and

Eddie Fiola (09:41.533)
Tinker Juarez was in uniform, Timmy Judge was in uniform. The only guy I know that wasn't, the only not uniform section was Trashcan Morgan. And he only had combat boots, but he still wore all the cool horror gear. I was, luckily enough, that I was in a pair of Levi's and a radio shirt and

Tony (10:10.581)
and you know, sweaty old pads and I got in. So what year was that?

Eddie Fiola (10:11.974)
sweaty old pads and I got in.

Early 80s, think it was 1980 actually. I think later on as sponsorships and all this other stuff, 82 was my first cover of a magazine, which was also Bicycle, Motorcross,

Tony (10:20.131)
early early 80s I think it was 1980 actually. Wow. And I think later on as you know sponsorships and all this other stuff, 82 was my first cover of a magazine which was also Bicycle Motorcross Action. Fantastic. That's so great.

Eddie Fiola (10:46.697)
Yeah.

Tony (10:51.884)
During the 80s, you were touring quite a bit, doing contests and all that. How did the RAD gig come up? How did you get selected for RAD?

Eddie Fiola (11:06.256)
All right, now writing in the 80s, eventually getting sponsored here and there, being in the magazines. Not only did I do magazine stuff, but I also did commercials and we'd go on auditions. And it wasn't that we had any agents or anything like that, but the people who wanted BMX writers would contact the magazines. The magazines said, well, this guy, this guy, this guy are on top.

Tony (11:09.219)
Now, now riding in the 80s, eventually getting sponsored here and there, being in the magazines. Not only did I do magazine stuff, but I also did commercials. I mean, we'd go on auditions and it wasn't that we had any agents or anything like that, but the people who wanted BMX riders would contact the magazine. The magazines said, well, this guy, this guy, this guy are on top. So you want their numbers and.

Eddie Fiola (11:36.381)
So do you want their numbers? And that's how we got called for these auditions. I would go Mike Dominguez, Brian Blyther, Hugo Gonzalez, all the guys that were on top at this point in time would go to these auditions. Scottie Freeman, depending on what they wanted and what look they looked for, sometimes they're looking for the kid next door. That would be Scottie Freeman. Sometimes it didn't matter what they look like, and they just wanted the, you know,

Tony (11:39.553)
That's how we got called for these auditions. I would go Mike Dominguez, Brian Blyther, Hugo Gonzalez, you all the guys that were on top at this point in time would go to these auditions. Scottie Freeman, you know, depending on what they wanted and what look they looked for, you know, sometimes they're looking for the kid next door. That would be Scottie Freeman. Sometimes it didn't matter what they looked like, and they just wanted the, you know, the talent and, you know, a guarantee that...

Eddie Fiola (12:04.968)
the talent and a guarantee that they're going to hit their mark and do what they need. Now, being on top at this point in time, I guess that Hal Needham and Sam Bernard were thinking that

Tony (12:08.995)
they're gonna flip their mark and do what they need. So anyhow, now being on top at this point in time, I guess that Hal Needham and...

What's the other guy's name that said, did the script? Sam. Sam. Sam Bernard. We're thinking that they need to do a BMX movie of some sort. So they got a hold of the magazine. They, the magazine said, well, this guy right now is on top. And so they came out and talked to me, came up to the skate park, came to my house, asked me a bunch of questions. And.

Eddie Fiola (12:34.918)
They need to do a BMX movie of some sort. So they got a hold of the magazine. They, the magazine said, well, this guy right now is on top. And so they came out and talked to me, came out to the skate park, came to my house, asked me a bunch of questions. And later on, I don't know how long, what the timeframe was in between, but later on they said,

Tony (12:56.515)
later on I don't know how long what the time frame was in between but later on they said hey we've got this movie they've got a script they've got this thing we want you to be the stuntman and do you know most of the stunts that you can do we have this one guy that can do a backflip and then they told me about this outrageous unbelievable track that they were going to make and I'm to be like yeah no one's gonna ride that

Eddie Fiola (13:03.878)
Hey, we've got this movie, they've got a script, they've got this thing. We want you to be the stunt man and do most of the stunts that you can do. We have this one guy that can do a backflip. then they told me about this outrageous, unbelievable track that they were going to make. And I'm going, yeah, no one's going to ride that. So anyhow, they contacted the magazine. The magazine contacted me. They got ahold of me.

Tony (13:26.626)
So, anyhow, they contacted the magazine, the magazine contacted me, they got a hold of me, and that's pretty much how I got chosen to play the part of Cruz Stuntdouble. So, is the story true that Bill had to dye his hair to match yours?

Eddie Fiola (13:33.413)
That's pretty much how I got chosen to play the part of Cruz stunt double.

Eddie Fiola (13:47.527)
It was easier to darken his hair than it was to lighten my hair. mean in order to bleach my hair it would turn orange or something. To darken his hair literally they could have sprayed on some black spray paint hair color and it would have been fine. And 95 % of the time we're wearing helmets. So he didn't have to...

Tony (13:49.282)
Easier to darken his hair than it was to lighten my hair. Right. mean in order to bleach my hair it would turn orange or something. To darken his hair literally they could have sprayed on some black spray paint hair color. Right. And it would have been fine. And 95 % of the time we're wearing helmets. So he didn't have to darken his hair up all that much.

Eddie Fiola (14:16.31)
darken his hair up all that much. Yeah, so yeah, they had to make him look like me.

Tony (14:19.714)
yeah. So yeah, they, they, they had to make him look like me. Well, he is your acting double. So. Yes. Yeah. understand the concept of why they had him act in it instead of me. They never asked me if I could ask. And I didn't know if I could or not. So, but I don't think I look like.

Eddie Fiola (14:30.563)
Yes, yeah. Well, here's the thing is that I understand the concept of why they had him act in it instead of me. They never asked me if I could act. And I didn't know if I could or not. But I don't think I look like Talia Shire's kid.

Tony (14:48.833)
how you tie your shit.

Eddie Fiola (14:53.831)
Since Talia was going to be the mom no matter what, they had to have somebody that looks like her kid. And to have the sister that looks like Bill, then it works out.

Tony (14:54.338)
Since Talia was going to be the mom no matter what, they had to have somebody that looks like her kid. And to have the sister that looks like Bill, then it works out.

Yeah, everybody had helmets on, during all the qualifying runs, Scott Clark had his, his, mouth guard hanging down so you could see his face. I would love to ask him about that.

Eddie Fiola (15:19.92)
Hahaha

Eddie Fiola (15:24.196)
Yeah, hey, I heard he's around.

Tony (15:24.627)
But heard he's around. All right. Well, maybe I'll have to call one of the magazines and see if I can get his number. If there are any magazines left. wait.

Eddie Fiola (15:32.43)
Yes. Call Bill Ryan. Call Bill Ryan. Bill Ryan knows everybody.

Tony (15:40.828)
Okay, all right. Will do. So, was RAD the thing that got you into doing stunt work?

Eddie Fiola (15:51.14)
no. So the thing that got me to get into stunt work was when BMX started on its way down. in 88, 87, 88, I wasn't on top anymore. BMX is on its down curve. Mountain biking was coming in. I was still doing commercials here and there, but mountain biking was coming in and I started round.

Tony (16:00.945)
I Back in 88 87 88 I wasn't on top anymore BMX is on it. It's down curve Mountain biking was coming in I was still doing commercials here and there but mountain biking was coming in and I started riding a mountain bike but doing BMX tricks on it so when

Eddie Fiola (16:20.088)
riding a mountain bike but doing BMX tricks on it. when you know and and I got the commercials I got the gig so whatever it took I got it because they didn't you know it's weird when you show up to these auditions everybody says they're an expert everybody says they're a pro but when you see them show up on their brand spanking new huffy that they just bought saying yeah I ride mountain bikes no you don't.

Tony (16:27.124)
You know, and I got the commercial, I got the gig, so whatever it took, I got it. Because they, you know, it's weird when you show up to these auditions, everybody says you're an expert, everybody says you're a pro. But when you see them show up on their brand spanking new Huffy that they just bought saying, yeah, I ride mountain bikes. No, you don't. why are your forks on backwards?

Eddie Fiola (16:49.968)
So why are your forks on backwards? So anyhow.

Tony (16:55.199)
There's a whole Instagram account about that one called Your Fork is on Backwards.

Eddie Fiola (16:58.189)
Yeah. So.

So anyhow, the...

Tony (17:03.294)
So anyhow, the...

Eddie Fiola (17:06.499)
what you know I got a phone call from a stunt coordinator Gary Baxley and he knew that I did bicycle stuff in the industry I have done some commercials and I've done some BMX things in the movies and I was known as the bike guy so Gary Baxley had

Tony (17:07.178)
what you I got a phone call from a Spunk coordinator, Gary Baxley and he knew that I did bicycle stuff in the industry. have done some commercials and I've done some DMX things in the movies and I was known as the bike guy. So Gary Baxley had contacted me and he was doing this

Eddie Fiola (17:33.721)
contacted me and he was doing this TV show called Pacific Blue and it was literally Mountain bike cops at the beach doing BMX tricks. We got to jump we got to do tricks We we were you know doing some downhill stuff that that before yeah Extreme mountain biking was even even there. So we we were the the guys, you know

Tony (17:36.731)
TV show Pacific blue and it was literally Mountain bike tops at the beach doing BMX tricks. We got to jump we got to do tricks We were you know doing some downhill stuff that before Extreme mountain biking was even even there so right we were the guys, you know in the forefront doing stuff that nobody was doing yet

Eddie Fiola (18:01.985)
in the forefront doing stuff that nobody was doing yet. Matter of fact, I remember doing a backflip on a full suspension before anybody else.

Tony (18:06.079)
Matter of fact, I remember doing a backflip on a full suspension before anybody else. Crazy. Yeah.

Eddie Fiola (18:13.699)
Yeah, yeah.

Tony (18:17.158)
All right. So since we're on the topic of stunt work, tell the story of working on The Hangover.

Eddie Fiola (18:29.209)
great, great movie. The Hangover. So I'm now working in the movie business. I am just another stunt guy. I've worked for a couple different movies, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Contraband, a bunch of different things, couple TV shows. And the stunt coordinator on The Hangover was Darren Prescott. Now Darren,

Tony (18:30.303)
Great, great movie. The Hangover. So, I'm now working in the movie business. I am just another stunt guy. I've worked for a couple different movies, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Contraband, a bunch of different things, a couple TV shows. And the stunt coordinator on The Hangover was Darren Prescott. Now Darren...

Eddie Fiola (18:59.062)
and I had met at this stunt camp, more or less, but he rode, Darren actually rode BMX back in the day and did freestyle and he knew that I did stunts also and we now are friends and he needed another guy to come in and do a stunt which he had five or 10 different stunt people

Tony (18:59.795)
and I had met at this stunt camp, more or less, but he wrote, Darren actually wrote BMX back in the day and did freestyle, and he knew that I did stunts also, and we now are friends, and he needed another guy to come in and do a stunt, which he had five or 10 different stunt people.

Eddie Fiola (19:28.45)
that we're on Las Vegas Boulevard and we're supposed to be on the sidewalk and the cop car, this is in the script, the cop car is supposed to be driving down the sidewalk and people are supposed to be jumping out of the way as they fly by doing 25, 30 miles an hour, kind of like the old Laurel and Hardy when you see people flying up and out of the air when the car's driving down the right.

Tony (19:29.149)
that we're on.

ross vega bill of art and we're both be on the sidewalk and that are this is in the script the car are both be driving down the sidewalk and people are supposed to be jumping out of the way as they fly by doing 25-30 miles an hour kind of like you know the old laurel and hardy when you people flying right you know the cars driving down there right so so it's that type of stunt where we're supposed to

Eddie Fiola (19:57.688)
So it's that type of stunt where we're supposed to do a near miss. So anyhow, again, I'm just another stunt guy, not doing anything special. has nothing to do with bikes whatsoever. I go on set and the production assistant, the PA, contacts me and says, hey,

Tony (20:03.208)
do a near miss. So anyhow, again, I'm just another stunt guy, not doing anything special, has nothing to do with bikes whatsoever. I go on set and the production assistant, the PA contacts me and says, hey, your wardrobe is at this trailer, hair and makeup is at this trailer and your trailer is over there. And do you ride?

Eddie Fiola (20:22.467)
Your wardrobe is at this trailer hair and makeup set this trailer and your trailer is over there and Do you ride bikes or something? Are you famous? What I don't know the the PA I don't know who this person is but I'm going I ride a little bit here and there and she goes I go Why do you ask he says well?

Tony (20:32.286)
I don't know the PA, I don't know who this person is, but I'm going, I ride a little bit here and there and she goes, I go, why do you ask? He says, well, one of our actors, one of our main actors is a huge fan of yours. who's that? And they say it's Ed Helms. Now I know,

Eddie Fiola (20:47.35)
One of our actors, one of our main actors is a huge fan of yours. who's that? And they say it's Ed Helms. Now, I know the face of Ed Helms. I didn't know his name. I didn't know who Ed Helms was, but I've seen a bunch of the movies that he played in. anyhow, still.

Tony (21:02.811)
the face of Ed Helms. didn't know his name. didn't know who Ed Helms was. But I've seen a bunch of the movies that he played in. anyhow, still couldn't put the name with the face and just said, cool, yeah, Ed Helms, be an X-Man. I'm on set now. it's the day of doing the stunt. And the cop car is...

Eddie Fiola (21:14.381)
couldn't put the name with the face and just said, cool, Ed Helms, BMX fan. I'm on set now and it's the day of doing the stunt and the cop car is driving down the sidewalk and things have changed. It's no longer a high speed miss. It's low speed, they wanna go slow.

Tony (21:32.232)
driving down the sidewalk and things have changed. It's no longer a high speed miss. It's low speed. They want to go slow. Now they're talking on the mic. saying things are being switched up as they go. And they do this three or four or five times. And eventually the battery in the camera is dying out. And so

Eddie Fiola (21:42.623)
Now they're talking on the mic, they're saying things are being switched up as they go. And they do this three or four or five times and eventually the battery in the camera is dying out. And so we do our near miss and things like that. We're walking out of the way. And now that they have to change the battery, the actors are all getting out of the car, out of the cop car.

Tony (22:01.147)
We do our near miss and things like that. We're walking out of the way and now that they have to change the battery, the actors are all getting out of the car, out of the cop car. And I'm standing with all the other stunt guys and all of a sudden Ed Helms comes running over towards me and says, dude, you know that trick you do in the very beginning of Brad when you got your bike down on one pedal and you swing your leg around and I have it, I can do that.

Eddie Fiola (22:12.734)
I'm standing with all the other stunt guys and all of sudden Ed Helms comes running over towards me and says, dude, you know that trick you do in the very beginning of Rad where you got your bike down on one pedal and you swing your leg around and I have it, I can do that, I practice that trick. I used to ride BMX, I had a quarter pipe, I did all these things.

Tony (22:30.269)
That's Officially.

Eddie Fiola (22:38.058)
Right? So now we're talking about BMX and I'm talking to Ed Helms and at this point, know, RAD wasn't released on DVD yet. And the only pirated, yeah, only pirated DVDs out there. So I had mentioned to him that we were trying to figure out how we could buy the rights from Talia and that we could release it.

Tony (22:58.832)
that we were trying to figure out how we could buy the rights from Talia and that we could release it on DVD or legally or do something and Ed says, well, the director goes to breakfast with Talia all the time and he's waving over the director. Again, I'm just another stunt guy on set.

Eddie Fiola (23:06.769)
on DVD or legally or do something. And Ed says, well, the director goes to breakfast with Talia all the time and he starts waving over the director. I'm just another stunt guy on set. And now the director's coming over to talk to me and Ed Helms. And we're going to talk about the movie Rad. And it was just so surreal.

Tony (23:26.779)
and now the director's coming over to talk to me and Ed Helms and we're going to talk about the movie Rad and it was just so surreal and so I explained to the director and I go yeah we're trying to get this and she doesn't do this and she doesn't want this and I don't know what she wants and the director pulled out his phone and he says I'll call her right now I'll get you the rights right now and

Eddie Fiola (23:36.922)
And so I explained to the director and I go, yeah, we're trying to get this and she doesn't do this and she doesn't want this and I don't know what she wants. And the director pulled out his phone and he says, I'll call her right now. I'll get you the rights right now. And she never picked up. And that's as far as it got. So.

Tony (23:56.804)
never picked up. Were you treated like royalty on the set after that? I mean did the other stunt guys look at you with a different view?

Eddie Fiola (24:04.162)
Eddie Fiola (24:08.906)
I never really asked anybody, I just did my thing. Darren knows who I was or who I am or what I did back in the past. There are other stunt people that understood that I was something somewhere else. The Hangover was a really cool...

Tony (24:10.876)
I never really asked anybody, I just did my thing and...

Darren, no.

back in the past but you know and there are other stunt people that understood that that I was something somewhere else but yeah the the the hangover was a really cool thing to meet somebody and it also gave me a chance to realize that you know even even you know movie stars rode BMX

Eddie Fiola (24:37.601)
thing to meet somebody and it also gave me a chance to realize that you know even even you know movie stars rode BMX at one time you know basketball players basketball players and and porn stars and all these people you know they all rode BMX at one time and you know it wasn't just BMX and that was it so

Tony (24:49.207)
Right. Basketball players, basketball players and porn stars and all these people, you know, they are World BMX at one time. You know, wasn't just BMX and that was it. It's it's pretty amazing. that's that's some of who I want to get on the podcast is some of the notable fans. I think that's going to be a fun conversation. I almost want to have you.

Eddie Fiola (25:17.067)
Well, I can get you Tommy Gunn's number.

Tony (25:19.504)
Go ahead. I can get you Tommy Dunn's number. Okay. Please, please. So going back to the movie, at the 25th anniversary showing at the Arm and Hammer, you and Martin sat behind me and Mikey, and you were just telling tales of behind the scenes stuff. What's that?

Eddie Fiola (25:25.569)
All right. Yeah.

Eddie Fiola (25:39.689)
and you're breaking up.

Eddie Fiola (25:45.834)
You're breaking up. Okay, I can hear you now.

Tony (25:49.34)
okay. Okay. At the 25th anniversary showing at the Arm and Hammer Museum in Westwood, you and Martin sat behind us and were just telling us the most incredible behind the scenes facts about the making of the film, which ultimately became the audio project that we recorded in your living room with all the behind the scenes stories. So I...

Eddie Fiola (26:13.237)
Yes.

Tony (26:18.715)
It's just, mean, tell me a little more of your experience making rad.

Eddie Fiola (26:27.264)
Experience making rad

You know, we got hired as the BMX guys that did all the tricks. I think it was six weeks in Calgary, Canada. what was weird is when we showed up, we had never seen what the track was supposed to look like.

Tony (26:35.13)
You we, we got, we got.

Tony (26:41.562)
BMX guys that did all

Tony (26:47.13)
I think it was six weeks in Calgary, Canada. And what was weird is, and we, when we showed up, we had never seen what the track was supposed to look like. And then we all got on this bus and we drove out to the track and all of a sudden, all you see is this huge white.

Eddie Fiola (27:02.656)
And then we all got on this bus and we drove out to the track and all of a sudden all you see is this huge white billboard looking thing. And from the distance where we came in at, it looked like just the billboard. That did not look like a starting gate. It looked like a flat wall. And so it was, you know, I thought it was the back.

Tony (27:16.783)
billboard looking thing and from the distance where we came in at it looked like just a billboard that did not look like a starting gate it looked like a flat wall and so it was you know we thought i thought it was the backdrop of the track back but it was an actual starting gate so you know

Eddie Fiola (27:32.425)
drop of the track, but it was actual starting gate. It's hard to explain. When you go to a movie and you work on a movie, every day they hand you these call sheets and they tell you what's going to happen the very next day. I would have all of these

Tony (27:43.862)
It's hard to explain, you when you go to a movie and you work on a movie, every day they hand you these call sheets and they tell you what's going to happen the very next day. And I would have all of these stickered onto my hotel wall. What day is coming up? What's going on this day? Where we're going to film? What day do we have off?

Eddie Fiola (28:02.034)
Stickered onto my hotel wall What days coming up what's going on this day where we're gonna film what days we have off what days we're not filming and then depending on the weather Some days it would be raining and we couldn't film at all any BMX stunts So they would film all indoor things that they could film

Tony (28:13.05)
what gave were not filming and then depending on the weather some day it would be raining and you couldn't film at all any BMX done so they would film all indoor things that they could film. One boat was 85 degrees the very next day there's snow on the ground. Oh boy. I don't know what that's called but they had a name for it in Canada and it happened and it was just weird.

Eddie Fiola (28:27.683)
One day it was 85 degrees, the very next day there's snow on the ground. So I don't know what that's called, but they had a name for it in Canada and it happened and it was just weird.

Tony (28:44.97)
Well, and it was meant to be Anytown USA.

Eddie Fiola (28:49.693)
Yeah, right, right. So it was good. It was an experience.

Tony (28:53.273)
Are you thinking about going to the... What's that? I said it was great and it was a great experience. And yes, I am thinking about going to the Corpius out in Calgary. Yeah, Cochrane maybe. I think. So yeah, it's... I want to go too. I mean, I just think it's... Yeah, it'll be good. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, so...

Eddie Fiola (28:56.657)
I said it was great and it was a great experience. And yes, I am thinking about going to the 40th out in Calgary.

Eddie Fiola (29:08.073)
Yeah.

Eddie Fiola (29:14.461)
Yeah, it'll be good.

Tony (29:22.411)
Anything else going on these days?

Eddie Fiola (29:25.767)
Hmm You know, I'm I'm 61 I don't feel old I don't think I look old but my body My body is kind of on the you know, I've got two hips You know, I've got some back problems and wrist problems Some you know, I'm not complaining. I love riding my bike but you know

Tony (29:34.07)
No you don't.

Tony (29:40.013)
hits. I've got some back problems and wrist problems. I'm not complaining, I love riding my bike.

Eddie Fiola (29:53.439)
I think I need to hit the ground anymore. Nor do I want to hit the ground anymore. If they're paying job, I guess I'll do it. It's funny is that our industry, the stunt industry says that I'm supposed to work until I'm 65 in order to collect my pension in full.

Tony (29:54.435)
don't think I need to put the ground anymore.

I hear that.

Tony (30:04.089)
mean, I'm, if they're paying job, I guess I'll do it, but it's, it's not something as funny as that, you know, our, our industry, the stunt industry says that I'm supposed to work until I'm 65 in order to collect my, my pension in full. Um, right. So that means I literally either hit the ground or drive or do something stunt wise and whatever. But, uh,

Eddie Fiola (30:23.241)
So that means I literally either hit the ground or drive or do something stunt wise and whatever. we're just trying to get by and I just don't want to get hurt anymore.

Tony (30:31.821)
We're just trying to, you know, get by and I just don't want to get hurt anymore. Well, stick to more stunt coordinating instead of stunts. Yeah, you know, and there's another thing is like, I like, I have one feather. have one feather. Not many feathers. I don't like to be in charge of anything. I want somebody to tell me what to do. Put the ground here, fall here, here goes here.

Eddie Fiola (30:42.972)
Yeah, you know and that and there's another thing is like I like I have one feather. I have one feather Not many feathers. I don't like to be in charge of anything I want somebody to tell me what to do hit the ground here fall here here go here and that's it It's kind of like being in the army not that I've ever been in the army or any of the things that but I if somebody tells me what to do I can pretty much do it to

Tony (31:00.512)
Yeah, well

Eddie Fiola (31:11.505)
To be in charge, means I have to have responsibility. I guess I just don't want to grow up because that's where grown-ups are. I'm still at the kids' table.

Tony (31:28.877)
And you're still riding a kid's bike. So it's perfect. is every time I watch you ride. It's just so much fun. I, one of the things that I remember about like the AFA contests, you know, you always looked like you were having the best time of anybody there when you were riding.

Eddie Fiola (31:30.96)
Yeah, yeah.

Eddie Fiola (31:51.176)
Yeah, what's funny is that people ask, what do you think when you go into competitions? I say that I don't think it's a competition. When I show up, I think it's a big reunion. And I just want to ride with all my friends. And I don't think of it as a competition. I'm not competing against you or you or you. I'm just having fun. Now the guy that has the most fun looks like he's going to win. So I guess I had a lot more fun than everybody else.

Tony (31:52.28)
What's funny is that people ask, what do you think when you go to...

Tony (32:19.16)
Well, you came out on top. So, and it was always fun to watch that and it's still fun to watch you right now. You are such a showman.

Eddie Fiola (32:25.713)
What's... Todd Huffman got ahold of me the other day and he said he was rummaging through some old videos, some old beta tapes or something like that and he had it digitized and it's Del Mar skate park, myself,

Tony (32:35.318)
He said he was rummaging through

video

Eddie Fiola (32:55.429)
Mike Dominguez, couple other horror writers, and I'm wearing, and this is so far before GT, I'm wearing an MF jersey. And watching some of the video where,

Tony (33:09.855)
I'm wearing an MF jersey. Okay. Watching some of the video where

Eddie Fiola (33:17.498)
We're barely getting out. We're doing, you know, four, three, four foot air, five foot airs. And that was our max. But back then that was the best that there was.

Tony (33:18.359)
We're barely getting out. We're doing, you know, four, three, four foot air, five foot airs. And that was our best. But back then that was the best that there was. So, you know, just after watching some of the X games or some of the Red Bull rampages on the stuff that these guys do nowadays, like, it's so funny that we thought we were good.

Eddie Fiola (33:31.92)
So, you know, after watching some of the X games or some of the, you know, Red Bull Rampage and the stuff that these guys do nowadays, it's like, it's so funny is that we thought we were good. We were for the date, but, you know, looking back upon it, man, we sucked.

Tony (33:49.297)
We were for the date, but know, back upon it, man, we saw it. No, not at all. Not at all. The kids today would not be where they are without you innovating and starting all of that. I mean, they're standing on your shoulders. That's why your back hurts.

Eddie Fiola (34:04.238)
Right, no I understand, Yes, yes.

Tony (34:13.409)
So I take nothing away from those guys because the level of writing now, it's just, I mean, we couldn't have imagined that as kids. And these guys are doing it. When the video games came out and you could do a double backflip tail-flip twist and land back in the halfpipe on a video game, was purely luck that you landed it. Right.

Eddie Fiola (34:23.354)
No, I mean, when you, when the video games came out and you could do a double backflip, tail whip, flip, twist, and land back in the halfpipe on a video game, that was purely luck that you landed it in the video game. Now, now they're doing it for real. So.

Tony (34:43.382)
Now they're doing it for real. Although, you guys didn't have Rezzy to land on. Or airbags at the end of the run.

Eddie Fiola (34:52.208)
We didn't have airbag, we didn't have test facilities, we didn't have anything. We didn't have, no, no, had mentioned to me, you know, how come BMX riders don't wear big knee pads like skateboarders? How come the BMX guys don't, you know, bail off if they're not gonna make it? It's because we,

Tony (34:58.494)
No foam pits. Somebody somebody had mentioned to me, you know, how come? BMX writers don't wear neat big knee pads like skateboarders. How come how come the BMX guys don't you know bail off if they're not gonna make it just because We we died trying to make we wouldn't yeah not make it there wasn't a

Eddie Fiola (35:20.284)
died trying to make it. We wouldn't not make it. You wouldn't throw your bike unless it was guaranteed you were going to die. Like if you came up short on a double, sure, about here you're going to jump off and you might make it to the other side. But if you almost are going to make it, you're hanging on until you do. And the same with the half pipe or the pools. It's like we hung on until we hung sprocket.

Tony (35:27.104)
Right. Right.

Eddie Fiola (35:50.21)
and we still tried to make it.

Tony (35:55.178)
Yeah, and some of those crashes were pretty spectacular.

But that's how it was done.

Eddie Fiola (36:04.954)
Right. you know, and that being said, that just helped my stunt career that I have fallen enough times to figure out how to fall without getting hurt and going into a going into an industry where they're asking you to fall. You like you want me to fall here at any time. I could just lay the bike down or flip over the handlebar. I can do that any day of the week.

Tony (36:12.022)
That just helped my stunt career that I have fallen enough times to figure out how to fall without getting hurt. Right. going into a going into an industry where they're asking you to fall. You like you want me to fall here at any time? I can just lay the bike down or flip over the handlebar. Oh, I can do that any day of the week. But to not know what's going to happen. That's the worst part. Yeah.

Eddie Fiola (36:35.312)
But to not know what's going to happen, that's the worst part.

Tony (36:42.388)
Yeah, that's the surprise you don't want.

Eddie Fiola (36:45.476)
I've seen more guys get hurt on stupid little stuff because they weren't expecting it. At least when we're up in the air, there's a possibility of not making it. There's a jump that's a possibility of not landing it. There's possibilities. But if you're riding down the street with one hand and your other hand has a cup of coffee or a Coke or whatever and you're riding down and all of sudden you hit some railroad tracks and it flies out from underneath you, you are hitting the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Tony (36:49.59)
and Yeah, yeah, there's no

No good way out of that one, for sure. All right, man. Well, I will probably come back to you and interview you again further down the road. But thank you very much for joining in and hopefully I'll come down and see you guys at the shop one of these days.

Eddie Fiola (37:20.697)
Hahaha!

Eddie Fiola (37:39.547)
Very cool. See this guy right here. Tommy Gunn.

Tony (37:43.581)
See this guy right here, Tommy Don.

Yep. All right. So in there, he says he goes from he started off writing DMX. He wanted to write DMX. wanted to. had pictures of me on his wall and we had spoken and I gave him the catchphrase that, he went from DMX to XXX.

Eddie Fiola (37:49.499)
Alright, so in there he says he goes from, he started off riding BMX, he wanted to ride BMX, he had pictures of me on his wall and we had spoken and I gave him the catchphrase that yeah, he went from BMX to XXX.

Tony (38:10.805)
There we go. And you're not talking the Vin Diesel version.

Eddie Fiola (38:11.493)
So.

no no no so so if he's got a couple of hb o things are or netflix and and he's got a couple books out so but yeah you should talk to him he'll he'll love talking about bmx with you

Tony (38:26.621)
HBO things or Netflix and and you've got a couple books out so but yeah you should talk to him. Bill loves to talk about BMXs. Okay yeah yeah get me his info.

Eddie Fiola (38:41.21)
All right. Cool. So.

Tony (38:44.062)
Cool.