BMX SUPERSTAR ON HO
The Glasgow- born rider went on to find fame and fortune in the United States following the ad snub in Australia.
Now, John’s rags-to-riches story is the subject of a new Hollywood biopic backed by Steven Spielberg.
US actor Shane Graham will play the biker, while rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges will star as his adoptive dad.
NCIS and Dawson’s Creek actress Sasha Alexander also stars in the film.
But John, who l ived in Glasgow’s Drumchapel council estate, says his life would have been so different had he landed the role of a Scottie dog plugging a brand called Chumpy Chunks.
He was told his Scottish accent wasn’t broad enough when he lived in Sydney and they gave the job to an Australian actor instead. He said: “I might never have become a name in the BMX world if my acting career had worked out. “It was a pretty big slap in the face – losing out on a job to an Australian because I was deemed ‘not Scottish enough’.
“Pedigree Chum were launching a puppy food in Oz called Chumpy Chunks and I was auditioning to play a Scottie dog.
“The ad had a Great Dane leaning against a fence sleeping and I had to do my lines.
“I read them out in my Scottish accent and everyone outside the glass booth was laughing. They all said, ‘Oh my God. You are the dog.’
“But Pedigree Chum said, ‘He dodoesn’t sound Scottish enough.’ ThThey ended up using an AuAustralian putting on a Scottish acaccent instead.
“At that point, I just thought, ‘ FF*** you all, I’m out of here.’ I mmean, I was the most authentic ScScottish voice in the whole city – mmaybe even the whole country.
“That’s when I left acting and gogot back into biking. “I finally saw there was a full-time career in BMX. It hit me like a bolt from the blue that I could make a living out of it.”
The cyclist moved to the US to work for top BMX maker Haro and is now the face of the famous brand.
Remarkably, John’s dramatic life is the inspiration behind new Hollywood movie Ride, due out next year. It tel overcame a tough upbringing at of a violent father in Drumc become a BMX hero.
Spielberg agreed to allow ET used in the film after hearing started biking after being inspi alien blockbuster.
The BMX ace was born John changed his name when he wa after escaping his abusive up His dad threw him on a fire at