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Steve McQueen, the man and his machines..

Discussion in 'Free Fire Zone' started by sniper1946, Aug 5, 2010.

  1. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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    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.


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    Steve McQueen with his Desert Racer

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    [​IMG] at bruce lee's funeral..
     
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  2. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    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 ;-))
     
  3. brndirt1

    brndirt1 Saddle Tramp

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    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.
     
  4. ULITHI

    ULITHI Ace

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

    What a cutie!
     
  5. brndirt1

    brndirt1 Saddle Tramp

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    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.
     
  6. Pierre

    Pierre Member

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

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  7. Stitchy

    Stitchy Member

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    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.
     
  8. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    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....
     
  9. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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  10. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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    It's barbara McQueen ..nee Minty..:)

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

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  11. Hilts

    Hilts Member

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    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!! :cool:
     

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  12. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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

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    [YOUTUBE]phN5Jd-cbPc[/YOUTUBE]
     
  13. Stitchy

    Stitchy Member

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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).
     
  14. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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

    C.Evans Expert

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    {{{Gregory Peck}}}

    Do I win somekind of a prize????? ;-))
     
  16. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    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.
     
  17. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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  18. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    These are great and I love the shot of him in that Fast back.
     
  19. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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    short career, but great movies..
     
  20. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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

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