Beyond Photos

BMX Stunt Rider

I am here at the Incline Club in Lakewood, NJ with Augie Simoncini.  Augie is a stunt rider for “Hell on Wheels Productions”.  HELL ON WHEELS PRODUCTIONS is a leading action sports entertainment company where the world’s top riders come together.  This is part 2 of a 2 part interview.  Part one can be viewed here.

Now the Hell on Wheels guys are talking about a TV show and you shot a pilot.  How was that?

It was a big collaboration with a bunch of stuff that we have already done.  It was film from other shows and film from us on the road.  So it was the regular day to day stuff.  There were not any big fancy lights or anything. 

Is the pilot showing this month? 

We did something with Orange County Choppers.  That should be showing this month on their TV show.  I really don’t know too much about this.  I am really laid back.  Whatever happens happens.  I’m like just call me when we have to ride.  I don’t try to have too much stress.  I’m  just trying to be on my bike as long as I can before I have to settle down and have real responsibilities.  I am still just hanging out doing something that I am passionate about.   I don’t have a set 9 to 5.  Riding a bike is paying for stuff.  I don’t work.  I don’t have a daily schedule.  I think it is great.  It’s not really a job.  This is more like fun and recreation.  This is something that I am committed to and something that I like doing.  I would be riding everyday anyway.  It is something I love and something I care about.  It will always be a part of my life. 

How do you practice for this?  A lot of kids want to do this.  They want to be like you.  How do they break in?

I don’t really practice.  I just ride.  If there is something that I want to learn, I just put my head to it.  I just love doing it.  Even when I started, I loved doing it.  I am always motivated to try something new.  You try something within the boundaries of what you know you can do or what you think is possible in your head.  I don’t really consider that practice.  It is more just having fun. 

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Who do you ride for?

I ride for Felt Bikes, Staff BMX and I ride with a little crew called the Deadline.  It is a bunch of wild kids, my close friends.  It is me, Jesse, Brian Carter, and Garrett Reynolds.  He is another Scotty Cranmer.  He has more Gold medals than Scotty and he is only 18.  He is a street rider.  We are putting out a video called Water Street, named after the main street in downtown Toms River, NJ.  It will be out by the end of the year. 

We built a ramp in my garage.  My garage is a two car garage with nine feet ceilings.  We built a circular bowl with an opening in the middle.  It is not meant for riding back and forth.  You go round and round.  It was built by the guy who redid the Incline Club.  It all good.  You cannot go in through the garage door anymore.  You go in and you step down and the opening is 4 feet.  You have to duck into it.  My uncle says I’m nuts. 

What’s coming up for you?

I am going to Spain in September.  If Hell on Wheels calls I will do that and make some quick money and we are filming the video. 

How much longer will you be able to do this?

I am 22 and I am aching when I get out of bed.  I am hoping I have at least another 10 years.  I will be real happy with that.  I have seen dudes like 40 years old doing back flips.  He announces the bikes shows.  He has a full face helmet.  And he is 40 doing back flips.  He works for Jeff to.  He is out in Vegas.  I am hoping I can do this forever, in some part of the business.