40 Years Ago Today ...

November 7, 1980: The "King of Cool" passed away from the Big C. Long live the memory of Steve McQueen.

Your thoughts on the Cool Guy?

I remember that quite well. I had just finished high school in June of '80 and I recall the news reports about the treatments McQueen was getting. 

Here's a great pic from happier days. Not sure if Steve had just sold the Speedster to Bruce Meyer or if Bruce just sold it back to Steve. But Steve's dog seems to be enjoying the transaction. It's a beautiful Speedster. Nice dog too. Bruce seems happy despite the dog's nose in his crotch.

And one of my favorite coffee cups:

In reply to Gary :

I have the book about SM's cars. This pic is in the book and I always think that guy sold the car back too cheap.  Good book BTW.

In reply to Datsun310Guy :

I have the book too, and yes, your thought is most likely correct. But Bruce Meyer is a great guy, and I can understand why he did it for Steve.

Bruce didn't need the 'scarole from the sale. He was already a successful real estate developer in LA. And he went on to much bigger things. I had the good fortune to meet him four years ago in his private museum on Beverly Blvd.

(That's me in Oct. 2016 with Bruce when I was 40 pounds heavier).

Icon. 

One of my favs. 

Josh Randall:

I thought he was cool.  A little less so after watching The Man & Le Mans. I don't think he appreciated racing like Paul Newman,  he just wanted to show how dangerous he was and drive powerful cars.

The only thing that tarnished my love for all things Steve mcqueen was actually the Pedersen museum...

I was there 3 years ago and they had the "vehicles of Steve McQueen"  except every motorcycle or car that they had on display was with a little sign that said basically...   "Not his actual vehicle, but one just like it...."

I expected more from that museum....

I watched a Peckinpah movie with him and McGraw not so long ago.

Thought to myself some those scenes wouldn't get made today.

Wait a minute. You aren't seriously suggesting that if I get through the wire... and case everything out there... and don't get picked up... to turn myself in and get thrown back in the cooler for a couple of months so you can get the information you need?

He may not have been a true fan of motor racing, but he was apparently an exceptional motorcycle racer / rider.

James Garner was probably a more serious car racer than McQueen but Steve was an exception motorcyclist. You don't compete successfully in the International Six Days' Trial unless you are talented.

His input heavily influenced the chase in Bullitt as well.

The guy had a rough childhood and struggled with relationships throughout his life. But his on screen presence...yes, King of Cool.

I was trying to think of what happened in 1970 on this day . . .

Oops.  Seems like I misplaced a few years.  

Total Bad a**.

I was responsible for his arrest for drug possession.  We were doing"training" flying along the California border during the peak of the Drug smuggling and my radar operator made contact with an airplane without a registered flight plan using our APS  88 radar  I reported the plane to my contacts and was told later that I would need to testify. Turned out the pilot was flying Steve McQueen  up from Mexico. 

In reply to frenchyd :

No E36 M3? Well, hell, that's something.

I have the DVD. I need to get off my ass and watch On Any Sunday.

In reply to Appleseed :

One of my very favorites !!