Having an obsession with racing where it counts Le Mans ('71)

Recently I just say the film Le Mans again starring Steve McQueen. It's a movie I haven't seen for about 6 to 7 years . Critically acclaimed actor McQueen was always known for his love of the speed of cars plainly seen in his role in Bullitt in 1968 not to mention his personal collection of cars including many Porsches dating from mid 60's to early to mid 70's later on. In the film Le Mans Steve McQueen plays American Michael Delaney a famous racer of the ultra popular and heavily culture influences 24 hours of Le Mans. Driving the 1971 Porsche 917 he drove heavily against his German arch rival in racing and still personal friend Erich Stahler played by Siegfried Rauch in the Ferrari 512LM . He looks back on his past knowing that he was in a accident that made a widow out of a woman and now he seeks to mend what has been broken and in the awkwardness of it all is the racing... For this film director Lee H. Katzin went to the Paris 24 Le Mans and actually filmed the 1970 24 hour endurance race. Even when the race was completed he got the cooperation of the teams and drivers to do extra laps for him. In terms of normal racing Lee H. Katzin pioneered the use of cameras on cars which was never done for professional racing for the media until he did it. After the race was completed editing begun to make the story work with the actual results of the 1970 Le Mans race. When it was completed it became the landmark for films on racing and put a new light on this incredible European-based race for people that never knew this monumental event existed or didn't know enough about it. Besides the fact that this film was amazing in terms of cinematography, Steve McQueen actually did most of his own driving in the Porsche 917 in which he actually drove in excess of 200 MPH to the dismay of his personal agents. For hardcore car enthusiasts this is and will always be the end-all be all of all racing films. May one of the the coolest men of all time rest in peace: Steve McQueen.

Photo Gallery for "Le Mans"

Photo Gallery II for "Le Mans"

Photo Gallery for "Bullitt"

Some of the Steve McQueen Cars:

1959 356 "Bathtub" Porsche

1957 XKSS Jaguar

1967 275 GTS Ferrari

1960 Lotus 19