Rick English is a Hollwood stunt man, getting paid to do skids, wheelies (and big highsides) in pursuit of box office success. He ushered PB behind the curtain for a look into a world where riding elbow-to-elbow with Tom Cruise is part of the day job.
CONSIDER yourself a bit of a film buff? Reckon you can see through CGI and special effect action scenes in movies? Well, defeating such cynicism and providing ever more spectacular footage is what keeps Rick English in work as a bike-riding stunt man, listed on the British Stunt Register for directors and film crews worldwide to hand-pick if he suits the flick they’re producing.
And he often does: his CV includes Bond films, Mission: Impossible, Kingsman, Ghost Rider and more... he’s also appeared on TV, and in commercials, too – when PB caught up with him on a practice day, he’d just picked up a battered scooter in preparation for playing a London scooter scally for a major high street brand. If you need a wheelie, powerslide or a VMAX ridden through the desert, he’s your man. So how the hell does an ordinary bloke from the south east wind up working with Hollywood bigwigs?
“When I was about seven, I watched TV stunt man series ‘The Fall Guy’ and the Burt Reynolds film ‘Hooper.’ Reynolds in particular was a bit of a hero of mine. In the opening scene of that film, you see him pulling on his armour, his leathers, taking a swig of whiskey and then getting on his bike to shoot a crash scene. I thought that was the coolest thing, and I knew right then that’s what I wanted to do.
“I did fall into real life for a short time, and initially I had a job as a personal trainer. But all the time I was riding bikes, doing a bit of club racing, and still thinking about getting into films, but initially through my interest in martial arts.
“I started to work in a gym in London’s west end and you’d get a lot of actors and directors coming in – I got my first foot in the door that way.”
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2018-Ausgabe von Performance Bikes.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2018-Ausgabe von Performance Bikes.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Down Under On Top
In 1987 Wayne Gardner became the first Australian to win the 500cc world championship. Thirty years later, the Wild Man from Wollongong recalls that amazing year of V4 dominance...
Cheste Pains
In 1987, PB’s editor sent three grown men to the Bol d’Or on two-stroke 125s, resulting in a tale of misery, hilarity and adventure. 30 years later, we’re doing it again – but this time, it’s four-strokes, and the destination is mid-Spain, in winter...
Factory Fugitive
Against all odds, this HRC RC45 was saved from the crusher and ended up in the hands of PB reader Mick Loughlin, who ensures this Suzuka exotica still gets a pasting.
The Losing Battle RC45 Vs 916
Both Honda and Ducati debuted new WSB bikes in 1994, igniting a superbike development battle that Honda could never win...
Remy: A Chip Off The Old Block
Wayne Gardner is now in the thick of his second Grand Prix career, as father and coach to elder son Remy.
It's All About The Battery
JAPANESE COMPANY MUGEN (owned by Soichiro Honda’s son, Hirotoshi) currently makes the world’s fastest EV race bikes.
Got Them Over A Barrel
Michael Rutter has had one of the seasons of his life in British Superstock and on the roads. His team had no option but to agree to do it all again next year...
Winter Of Malcontent
GSX-R fights the seasonal blues.
Franco Says Relax
Next year Moto2 ace Franco Morbidelli will be the first VR46 rider to make it to MotoGP. But the young Roman is more laidback than any title challenger has a right to be – is that something to do with his teacher?
Working Double Time
Rutter’s man reveals the demands of racing in both British Superstock AND British Superbikes