RAD FACTS:
The song "Send me an Angel" performed by Real Life was played in the school dance scene with Cru and Cristian performing a freestyle dance called the "bicycle boogie" with BMX bikes on the dance floor. Cochrane HS in Cochrane, AB was used for this scene. In the movie you can spot the Cochrane Cobra logo on the wall.
The movie's soundtrack is mainly performed by John Farnham, including the film's signature songs "Break the Ice" and "Thunder in Your Heart".
Frank "The Tank" McClain is rumored to be the basis for the character of Cru Jones. He is said to be the most famous, BMX riding paperboy in the history of New Jersey. However, he never had the opportunity to compete against the best in the world at a "Helltrack" type of venue.
The opening credits include flatland and pipeline vert action from the big BMX freestylers of the day, some of whom make cameos at Helltrack as Cru's professional competition.
The infamous "pipeline" (now destroyed) provides some valuable historical riding footage of real and famous BMX'ers before BMX's post 90's X Games revival. This track was created in Calgary's, Bowness Park.
The character Bart Taylor was played by Olympic gymnast Bart Conner. He is the only male American gymnast to ever win gold medals at all levels in both national and international competitions
The BMX stunt riders were brought in from the USA and Canada. There was a large mix of BMX racers and BMX freestylers in the movie, hence the freestyle bikes being seen in the movie racing. Local Calgary pro's such as Scott Fleurie, Jeff Ingram, and Tyler Bolhorn can be seen in many of the scenes.
RAD was filmed primarily in Cochrane and Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Four actors from the movie have died since its release, including Jack Weston, the actor that played Sergeant Smith (H.B. Haggerty), Ray Walston, and the actor that played "Blob" (Rick McNair).
Mr. Duke Best is based on a real character from Clayton New Jersey. His name is Terry Bench....the bio-logical father of the afforementioned Frank "The Tank" McClain.
For the past 2 to 4 years, many Rad fans have signed an online petition to get the film released onto DVD. As of December, 2007, more than 400 000 fans had signed the petition.
In the past two years, actor Bill Allen has created a memorabilia website called BillAllenRad.com, offering fans silk-screened "Rad Racing" t-shirts and autographs signed by Bill himself. Also listed on the site is "behind-the-scenes" info about the making of Rad, a biography of Bill, and links to various interviews.
http://www.billallenrad.com