Steve McQueen

A lifelong obsession with speed

'I'm not sure whether I'm an actor who races or a racer who acts.’

McQueen grew up in Indianapolis, his father was a stunt pilot. Racing was in his DNA and all around him. As a teen he collected hubcaps. His childhood ambition was to race at Le Mans, but it was a tough ride to get there.When he did, he forged a legend.

The need for speed was in his blood. At first he got his fix from motorcycle racing. As his acting career surged ahead, he needed bigger kicks. What better than racing cars? He trained with the best, with the likes of John Cooper and Richie Ginther: they saw he was a racing driver at heart.

'I'm not sure whether I'm an actor who races or a racer who acts,’ he once said. He was awesome at both. One thing’s for sure: it takes guts to race. It takes more guts to race with a broken foot. He did, and came second in the Sebring 12 hours. But that was just a taster for the main event.

The toughest actor in the toughest race

The film is a classic two-man clash

He was made of steel: no stunt was too much for this ex-marine. When bored, he stunted for fun. Only his insurers held him back from competing at Le Mans. He didn’t compete, but he created a myth.

No event rivals it. For 24 hours, the greats of racing hurtle round the fabled circuit. Over and over they burn up the track, refuel, change drivers. The pressure is sky-high, the camaraderie is immense. McQueen dreamed of immortalizing this epic race. He made his dream reality.

The film is a classic two-man clash: McQueen as Delaney versus Stahler. Two mighty marques: Porsche pitted against Ferrari. Real footage merges life and fiction, and the adrenalin high is constant. McQueen captured the spirit of Le Mans-for ever. You can smell the rubber, and taste the fumes.

The legend lives on

Some things just get better with time.

Half way through, Delaney crashes. The crash is so real, your neck hairs bristle. Has our hero’s dream crumbled? No way. He drives another car, and maneuvers to block Ferrari. He could have come in first, but sacrifices first place to make sure his team wins. That's true heroism.

Le Mans was a film of firsts. The first-many say the only one-to capture racing's essence. The first time a racing car was fitted with a movie camera, and not just any old car. It was the Porsche 908/2 McQueen drove in Sebring: art mirroring life again.

The film was forty years ago, but, like wine, some things improve with age. Le Mans is cult, a must-have movie. Just as cult is the Monaco timepiece McQueen wore: like him, it's a hero. Some things just get better with time.

The legendary timepiece worn by Steeve Mc Queen