Wheels and commotion

Between reaching speeds of 170 miles-per-hour and recovering from bodyslams courtesy of Will Ferrell, David Sadowski knows how to negotiate danger. Such are the circumstances when your life involves motorcycle racing and being a Hollywood stunt double. Over two months since his professional motorcycling career began at the prestigious Daytona 200, the 18-year-old Grass Valley resident and Bear River High School senior found some obvious common ground between the two professions. "They both have the crazy-aspect going for them," he said. "But they're still two different things. Once that green flag drops on the track, the butterflies you already have go away. On the movie set, you have to be on your game all the way. They're filming and you gotta give them what they want on that first try.Your heart gets pounding all the way through." Younger brother and Bear River High junior Matt Sadowski turns 17 tomorrow. The pair moved with their dad - former motorcycle champion and Speed Channel television commentator David Sadowski, Sr. - from suburban Atlanta to the foothills in August of 2004. The family wanted young David to continue a racing career that truly began when he began riding motored bikes at the age of two. The stunt career only began in 2005. A family friend knew Hollywood stunt coordinator Gary Davis, who was searching for a doppelganger for Jon Heder - better known to many as Napoleon Dynamite - in the upcoming movie "School for Scoundrels." The flick involves a character (played by Heder) who can't muster up the confidence needed to impress his attractive neighbor. He enrolls in a self-esteem class taught by Billy Bob Thornton's character, who in turn pursues Heder's love-interest. Sadowksi and his floppy mane of blonde hair easily passed the audition. Not nearly as simple was his opening stunt, which involved having his head dunked into a toilet like a donut into a cup of coffee. "My first scene involved getting a swirlee," Sadowski said. "But I did get to tackle a double for Billy Bob Thornton on a tennis court." The work was made all the more satisfying by another sports-related accomplishment. In between filming "School for Scoundrels" in November of last year, Sadowksi also earned professional motorcycle racing license. In addition to beginning each NASCAR season with that circuit's most prestigious race, the historic Daytona International Speedway track on Florida's Atlantic coast also hosts a huge race that kicks of the American Motorcycle Racing Formula Extreme Class season.Sadowski placed 35th at March's Daytona 200 after starting the race 66th. The accomplishment was made all the more satisfying because his dad won the same race in 1990."I threw him in the frying pan so to say," David Sr. said. "I had some advice for him when he was at the starting grid. I told him that he had to drive the bike like a school bus driver who has 14 kids in the back, and they all want to see their mommy after one day."The heir-apparent finished the race on just one set of tires."You're going about 170, with G-forces sucking you down to the bike, and there's no other feeling like that in the world," he said. "Turning is like going in a straight line. It's like having weights on your back, sucking you to the bike."Last month saw Sadowksi again serve as Heder's double. The movie "Blaze of Glory" also stars Ferrell and has the two actors portraying feuding figure skaters who must team up on the ice as a pairs team. Sadowksi says he "took some hits" during fight scenes. Ferrell slammed the teen stunt double's head through a syrofoam tree branch, while Sadowski also got to know the nuances of an icy surface."I had to fall on the ice a few times," he said. "These guys try to be in character most of the time. Will Ferrell is a non-stop comedy act. He's all one-liners."And Heder?"He's kind of geeky, but he's a cool guy," he said. "I don't want to bust on my actor."