"Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you´re racing, it’s life, anything that happens before or after is just waiting." (Steve McQueen, 1971)

Terence Steve McQueen was born on March 30, 1930 in Beach Grove, a small town outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. McQueen’s youth was hard and adventurous. His father was an artist and a stunt pilot in a travelling circus, his mother was a nineteen-year old alcoholic, who occasionally worked as a waitress. He grew up with his mother in poverty after his father abandoned them, he had to spend time in juvenile detention where he became a member of a gang who robbed and stole. He said later: “My life was screwed up before I was born.” His struggle to survive and the feeling of homelessness heavily influenced the rest of his life: he really didn’t trust anyone because he had been so often let down. Therefore, he looked for approval and acceptance with cars and motorcycles. Whoever doesn’t know the feeling of freedom and independence hasn’t had the wheel in his own hands!

At 17 he wanted to change his life so joined the military. Needless to say, they were happy to get rid of him after three years. After that he worked as a lumberjack, an oil driller and cowboy before he decided to follow his childhood dream: he went to New York and joined an acting school. The title of his first film “The Hell Inside of Me” is a fitting tribute to the first 26 years of his life. His breakthrough came in the western classic “The Magnificent Seven.” From then on, he thrilled audiences with his successful portrayals of “anti-heroes.”

All photographs are available for purchase in the Grand Prix Boutique!

  

Attention: All photographs are original black/white images from the original "Le Mans" photographer (Lion André de Lourmel). Buy Steve McQueen photographs in the GPO Boutique!

Steve McQueen is the style icon of the 60’s who embodies the lifestyle of his generation. His cool, laid back and nevertheless charming way is one of a kind. The “king of cool”, “super cool” and “womanizer” are just some of the labels he wore. His daredevil nature, though, made him want to spend every waking minute between takes to grab his BSA or cross machine and tear through the desert or past one of the burning police cars parked on the set. In the action thriller Bullitt he proved his skills behind the wheel in one of the most exciting chase scenes in film history, taking a 67 Ford Mustang he chased a 68 Dodge Charger at over 100 kph through the streets of San Francisco until the Charger was blown to smithereens at a gas station. Steve insisted that he do the stunt scenes himself, although his life insurance policy refused to take liability, thus vaulting him to the superstar legend he is today.

  

Attention: All photographs are original black/white images from the original "Le Mans" photographer (Lion André de Lourmel). Buy Steve McQueen photographs in the GPO Boutique!

The highlight of all male Steve McQueen fans is certainly the race car driver epic Le Mans from 1970. Steve fulfilled a dream with this movie, after already confirming his passion for racing in many races before. Since none of the big Hollywood studios believed in a film about the toughest race track in the world, McQueen decided to use his own money and his own company, Solar Productions. The filming lasted over a half year and it was intense work. Steve played the race car driver Michael Delaney, who despite a serious accident, comes back to start again at Le Mans. In the film, Michael Delaney drives Porsche 917 for the Gulf team- a partnership that really existed at the 24 hour race at that time. After the first weeks the film was in the theaters, the demand of Gulf team jackets rocketed, so much so, that the producer couldn’t keep up with the demand.

  

A myth was born. 34 years later Dakota has brought it back. The “Traditional Grand Prix Line” shows it is alive and well. Under the license of Gulf, an authentic collection has been created, out of canvass and leather and displaying original sponsor emblems from this time.

"It's only when I'm going fast in a racing car or on a bike that I can really relax!"
(Steve McQueen)