24h Le Mans
On 12 July, production of the movie about Ferrari and Ford's duel at the 24 Hours in the mid-to-late 1960s made a stop in Le Mans. In anticipation of the film, here is a two-part look back at 24 stories about Steve McQueen's 1970 "Le Mans," now considered a classic, with this second installment focused on off-track events.
- The Porsche 911 driven by Steve McQueen in the opening scene of "Le Mans" (3 minutes 40 seconds into the movie) was auctioned off for $1,375,000 by RM Sotheby's on 20 August 2011 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance in California.
- Only nine and a half years old at the time (he was born 28 December 1960), Steve's son Chad McQueen won the Critérium du Jeune Conducteur at the 1970 24 Hours.
- The owner of the driving school at the Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands - and in charge of spinouts and other racing car mishaps during filming - Dutchman Rob Slotemaker came to Le Mans with a very assiduous student of his: Jan Lammers, then 14 and a future winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (in 1988 with Jaguar).
- Solar, Steven McQueen's production company, built a village near the Houx camping grounds, complete with canteen, administrative services, payment office, projection room, etc.
- The kitchen appliances used by Hans Arn, the Swiss caterer for the Solar village, included one of the first models of what is now considered standard in any home: a microwave.
- The original score for the movie "Le Mans" was created by Michel Legrand. The French composer had already worked with Steve McQueen in 1968 on "The Thomas Crown Affair," winning an Oscar for best original song. They joined forces a third time in 1980 for "The Hunter," the actor's final film.
- During the filming of "Le Mans", the rock world was marked by the Isle of Wight Festival (26-30 August), Elvis Presley's concerts at the International Hotel in Las Vegas (starting 31 July) and the deaths of two legendary artists: guitarist Jimi Hendrix (18 September) and singer Janis Joplin (4 October).
- The premiere of "Le Mans" took place in Indianapolis, city host every May of the Indianapolis 500. Steve McQueen was born in Beech Grove, a suburb of the Indiana capitol.
- In the closing credits, the movie is dedicated to Brit David Piper (eight participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans), one of the drivers hired by Solar. Today 88 years young, he had been injured during filming.
- After "Le Mans," Steve McQueen went on to make seven more movies: "Junior Bonner," "The Getaway," "Papillon," "The Touring Inferno," "An Enemy of the People," "Tom Horn" and "The Hunter."
- Steve McQueen passed away on 7 November 1980. At the time of his death, his personal collection boasted 55 cars and 210 motorcycles.
- In the role of Carroll Shelby in the Ford vs. Ferrari film (the production of which made a stop in Le Mans on 12 July), actor Matt Damon was born on 8 October 1970 while Steve McQueen's movie was entering its final month of shooting at Le Mans.
Steve McQueen in 1970: filming at the 24 Hours of Le Mans! (1)
PHOTOS (Copyright - Archives/ACO): In 2010, 40 years after filming "Le Mans," the Porsche 908 used for in-race shots hit the 24 Hours track once again for the 5th edition of the Le Mans Classic (above). In the gallery below: the Gulf Porsche 917 K of David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood in 1970 (#22, retirement); the Ferrari 512 of Mike Parkes and Herbert Müller (#15, retirement) in 1970; the Porsche 917 K of Richard Attwood and Herbert Müller (#19, second at the 1971 24 Hours).
