Steve McQueen – A Passion for Speed
By Frederic Brun
This is not a racing book, rather one about a man who enjoyed his racing as but one aspect of his broad perspective on life. It traces that life from its severely humble origins to its global icon end, touching upon its subject’s various interests and passions, one of which was speed.
Within that narrative, McQueen is profiled using the movies he made in which he was able to indulge his lifelong obsession with wheeled travel, whether it was that stolen Wehrmacht motorcycle in The Great Escape, his Meyers Manx from The Thomas Crown Affair, the Bullitt Mustang or a Porsche 917 in Le Mans. Plus there’s his remarkable real-world run to 2nd place at Sebring in 1970 alongside Peter Revson.
One of the book’s crucial quotes explains McQueen’s attraction to the elemental nature of motorsport: “I enjoy racing in any form because the guy next to me couldn’t care less what my name is, he just wants to beat me.” Seems he wanted to escape the trappings of stardom and find validation in a meritocracy where only ability matters and neither position nor politics carries any weight. If you have any interest in Steve McQueen you will enjoy this book.
Available for US$40/£25 from better bookstores or direct from publisher Motorbooks by visiting www.motorbooks.com
