Steve McQueen, the man and his machines..

Steve McQueen was one of the leading movie actors of the 1960s and ‘70s, but he was also an avid motorcyclist and supporter of the sport. Among McQueen’s many contributions to motorcycling include financing the influential motorcycle movie, "On Any Sunday," in which he rode with buddies Malcolm Smith and Mert Lawwill. McQueen also supported a team of off-road riders that included himself and Bud and Dave Ekins, who competed in the 1964 International Six Day Trial in Germany. McQueen’s unabashed enthusiasm for motorcycling did wonders for the image of the sport during a time when the general public often looked at motorcyclists with disdain.













Steve McQueen with his Desert Racer













at bruce lee's funeral..

 

These are great shots. Also, thanks to Bill, I have some great shots of Steve in The Great Escape. One of which was just when he crashed his Motorcycle into that border fence.

Oh nad, the www.dukewayne.com site only became the Dukes site by a toss of a coin. The site owner like I am, is a huge fan of McQueens and had the coin landed on the other side? the Duke Wayne site might have an address like: www.thekingofcool.com ;-))

 

There are some parts of The Great Escape that are still held as truth even though they are myths. One was that McQueen actually did the jump over the wire. Even he perpetuated the myth for years.

During the climatic motorcycle chase, John Sturges allowed Steve McQueen to ride (in disguise) as one of the pursuing German soldiers, so that in the final sequence, through the magic of editing, he's actually chasing himself.
　
Although Steve McQueen did his own motorcycle riding, there was one stunt he did not perform: the hair-raising 60-foot jump over a fence. This was done by McQueen's friend Bud Ekins, who was managing a Los Angeles-area motorcycle shop when recruited for the stunt. It was the beginning of a new career for Ekins, as he later doubled for McQueen in Bullitt (1968) and did much of the motorcycle riding on the television series "CHiPs" (1977).


See:

The Great Escape (1963) - Trivia

Steve McQueen had such a deep respect for, and friendship with Bud, and he inherited Steve McQueen’s entire collection of motorcycles on Steve's death.

 

Whos the babe that's with him in the side car (5th photo down)?

What a cutie!

 

I wonder if that might not be Ali MacGraw. She and McQueen were together when he was letting his hair grow long. For about five years before his death if memory serves.

 

great pics Ray my favourite movie with his original 1876 winchester in 45-60 cal

 

I believe you are correct; I've got a book about Steve McQueen called "Steve McQueen: Portrait Of An American Rebel" and, IIRC, he was living up in the Hollywood hills at the time that picture was taken with Ali.

 

Yup, definately Ali. Is almost as she looked when she did either Winds of War or War and Remembrance. I forget which she was in? I think she was in Winds of....

 

There is a book on this subject ; -

McQueen's Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Legend: Amazon.co.uk: Matt Stone, Chad McQueen: Books


...which I have and would recommend to anyone interested. Some very photos and aaaahhhhhh - that Mustang......( sigh ! )

 

It's barbara McQueen ..nee Minty..


Barbara Minty posing for Harper’s Bazaar in the mid Seventies.

 

He still earns dollars for people today!! A small English bike company made a limited edition run, replica of his Triumph dirt bike. IIRC, about £16.5k???

They sold 'em all!!

 

top star, who had a short? but interesting life..



















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sniper - This is a little off-subject, but I love your signature; Errol is probably my favorite actor of all time. He had a natural charisma onscreen that no other actor has matched since then, and probably never will. Name another actor who was a complete unknown one day, and pretty much instantly became a household name after his first movie (Captain Blood).

 

thanks stitchy..the man was, and still remains, the greatest of swashbucklers...

 

{{{Gregory Peck}}}

Do I win somekind of a prize????? ;-))

 

Now as for someone beinga great Swashbuckler, I too agree that nobody can beat Flynn BUT, Louis Hayward and Robert Newton both come close. Burt Lancaster is a close 4th. Cornel Wilde is close behind Lancaster.

 

These are great and I love the shot of him in that Fast back.

 

short career, but great movies..

 

In a way, he mirrors Errol Flynn, they both were still huge box office draws and both did at about the same age.