Steve McQueen taking a break by the track in 'LE MANS'.
Say the name Steve McQueen to anymodern, red-blooded man that's worth his salt, and you’ll probably hear the reply, “Ahh, TheKing of Cool”, which, of course is true…
But what was it exactly about thisstylish petrolhead, reckless freebird, wild velocity freak and motoroilcovered madman? Was it his infectuous smile, permeating the veryessence of 60’s film and moto culture? Was it his larger than life andyet totally down to earth persona? His phenomenal presence and onscreenability?
Or was it the fact that he was just aregular guy with an insatiable thirst for anything with a powerfulmotor, who found a way to make epoch-defining movies while indulginghis one true love – driving powerful machines as fast as he could make them go?
Steve McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was THE American movie actor, aptly nicknamed “The King of Cool.”His “anti-hero” persona, which he developed at the height of theVietnam counterculture, made him one of the top box-office draws of the1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for hisrole in The Sand Pebbles.
His other popular films include The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Getaway, Papillon, and The Towering Inferno.In 1974 he became the highest paid movie star in the world. AlthoughMcQueen was combative with directors and producers, his popularity puthim in high demand and enabled him to command large salaries.
His other popular films include The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Getaway, Papillon, and The Towering Inferno.In 1974 he became the highest paid movie star in the world. AlthoughMcQueen was combative with directors and producers, his popularity puthim in high demand and enabled him to command large salaries.
The rough with the smooth - Fame and Imfany.
He was an avid racer of bothmotorcycles and cars. While he studied acting, he supported himselfpartly by competing in weekend motorcycle races and bought his firstmotorcycle with his winnings. He is recognized for performing many ofhis own stunts, especially the majority of the stunt driving during thehigh-speed chase scene in Bullitt. McQueen also designed and patented a bucket seat and transbrake for race cars.
Perhaps the most memorable were the car chase in Bullitt and motorcycle chase in The Great Escape, riding his 650cc Triumph TR6 Trophy motorcycle. According to the commentary track on The Great EscapeDVD, it was difficult to find riders as skilled as McQueen. At onepoint, due to clever editing, McQueen is seen in a German uniformchasing himself on another bike.
"Switzerland ???"
This was THE one defining scene that turned me on to motorcycles all those years ago.
McQueen arrives at the Swiss border, looks at the sign surprised, and goes "Switzerland ???"
I knew then that I wanted to experience the same feeling...
This was THE one defining scene that turned me on to motorcycles all those years ago.
McQueen arrives at the Swiss border, looks at the sign surprised, and goes "Switzerland ???"
I knew then that I wanted to experience the same feeling...
McQueen considered becoming aprofessional race car driver. In the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring race,Peter Revson and McQueen (driving with a cast on his left foot from amotorcycle accident two weeks before) won with a Porsche 908/02 in the3 litre class and missed winning overall by a scant 23 seconds to MarioAndretti/Ignazio Giunti/Nino Vaccarella in a 5 litre Ferrari 512S.
Thesame Porsche 908 was entered by his production company SolarProductions as a camera car for Le Mansin the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans later that year. McQueen wanted todrive a Porsche 917 with Jackie Stewart in that race, but his filmbackers threatened to pull their support if he did. Faced with thechoice of driving for 24 hours in the race or driving the entire summermaking the film, McQueen opted to do the latter.
However, the film wasa box office flop that almost ruined McQueen’s career. In addition,McQueen admitted that he almost died while filming the movie.Nonetheless, Le Mans is considered by some to be the most historically realistic representation in the history of the race.
Thesame Porsche 908 was entered by his production company SolarProductions as a camera car for Le Mansin the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans later that year. McQueen wanted todrive a Porsche 917 with Jackie Stewart in that race, but his filmbackers threatened to pull their support if he did. Faced with thechoice of driving for 24 hours in the race or driving the entire summermaking the film, McQueen opted to do the latter.
However, the film wasa box office flop that almost ruined McQueen’s career. In addition,McQueen admitted that he almost died while filming the movie.Nonetheless, Le Mans is considered by some to be the most historically realistic representation in the history of the race.
“Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting”
- Steve McQueen just waiting in 'LE MANS'.
- Steve McQueen just waiting in 'LE MANS'.
McQueen also competed in off-roadmotorcycle racing. His first off-road motorcycle was a Triumph 500ccthat he purchased from friend and stunt man Ekins. McQueen raced inmany top off-road races on the West Coast, including the Baja 1000, the Mint 400 and the Elsinore Grand Prix.
In 1964, with Ekins on their Triumph TR6 Trophys, he represented theUnited States in the International Six Days Trial, a form of off-roadmotorcycling Olympics. He was inducted in the Off-road Motorsports Hallof Fame in 1978. In 1971, Solar Productions funded the now-classicmotorcycle documentary On Any Sunday,in which McQueen is featured along with racing legends Mert Lawwill andMalcolm Smith. Also in 1971, McQueen was on the cover of SportsIllustrated magazine riding a Husqvarna dirt bike.
In 1964, with Ekins on their Triumph TR6 Trophys, he represented theUnited States in the International Six Days Trial, a form of off-roadmotorcycling Olympics. He was inducted in the Off-road Motorsports Hallof Fame in 1978. In 1971, Solar Productions funded the now-classicmotorcycle documentary On Any Sunday,in which McQueen is featured along with racing legends Mert Lawwill andMalcolm Smith. Also in 1971, McQueen was on the cover of SportsIllustrated magazine riding a Husqvarna dirt bike.
Steve McQueen and his 1940 Indian Chief, his personal 'Holllywood Bike'.
McQueen collected classic motorcycles.By the time of his death, his collection included over 100 and wasvalued in the millions of dollars. He owned several exotic sports cars, including:
* Jaguar D-Type XKSS
* Porsche 917, Porsche 908 and Ferrari 512 race cars from the Le Mans film.
* 1963 Ferrari 250 Lusso Berlinetta
* Porsche 356 Speedster
* Porsche 917, Porsche 908 and Ferrari 512 race cars from the Le Mans film.
* 1963 Ferrari 250 Lusso Berlinetta
* Porsche 356 Speedster
McQueen’s height is disputed. He wasofficially listed as 5′10″, but some people, including film criticBarry Norman, have said McQueen’s height was in fact only 5′7″. He hada daily two-hour exercise regimen, involving weightlifting and at onepoint running five miles, seven days a week.
However, he was also knownfor his prolific drug use (William Claxton claimed he smoked marijuanaalmost every day; others said he used a tremendous amount of cocaine inthe early 1970s). In addition, like many actors of his era, he was aheavy cigarette smoker. He sometimes drank to excess, and was arrestedfor driving while intoxicated in Anchorage, Alaska in 1972. Don’t trythis at home!
However, he was also knownfor his prolific drug use (William Claxton claimed he smoked marijuanaalmost every day; others said he used a tremendous amount of cocaine inthe early 1970s). In addition, like many actors of his era, he was aheavy cigarette smoker. He sometimes drank to excess, and was arrestedfor driving while intoxicated in Anchorage, Alaska in 1972. Don’t trythis at home!
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