I always admired Steve. I used to hang out at Bud Ekins Triumph on Sherman Oaks Blvd. on Saturdays where I bought my 1962 TR-6. I would watch Von Dutch paint tanks, bob fenders, etc. and McQueen would show up with his 650 desert sled in the back of a truck and he and Dave Ekins would get their bikes ready for a Sunday AMA Dist. 37 Hare and Hound somewhere in the vast So.Cal. desert. It was guys like him that got me interested in riding off road just 3 years later. He really was a good rider and he and Bud Ekins and Cliff Coleman went to Europe to ride what was then called the ISDT and did great bringing back some gold medals though I don't remember if Steve actually won a gold. Anyway, that's my two bits worth. A special guy, the likes we don't see today in the movie industry. 55yak
Here's Bud's brother Dave Eakins and Robertson taken in 1962.The image source is the Eakins family via the Petersen Museum.
I also like a couple of his movies that haven't been mentioned yet (unless I missed them); Hell is for Heroes, and Nevada Smith. I have a friend who worked for the telephone co. in Bishop, CA back in the mid-60's when they filmed Nevada Smith. He told me that each day, at the end of shooting, the cast and crew would all roll into town in motorhomes and limos. Then, sometime later, an old Chevy p.u. would roll in and go straight to the downtown bar. It was McQueen. He was still dusty, had his cowboy hat and boots on, and would sit and have a few cold ones and talk to anyone there. Just a regular guy after a hard day's work!
The car show is actually saturday, June 1. Never been before, heard it's a lot of Porches and Mustangs - This year a lot of motorcycles honoring the Great Escape movie. Hope to have my 31 mordor highboy there (construction zone warning)
^^^^^^^^^^^^The cool ones rode Triumphs^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Steve McQueen James Dean Marlon Brando Clint Eastwood Evel Knievel
"That pussy Alec Baldwin SUCKED in the remake... Steve McQueen, Steve McQueen. The coolest dog gone mother scratcher on the Silver Screen" From the song Steve McQueen by the Drive by Truckers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSzUBvwe6kg
I have been a long time fan. His love for triumph motorcycles and cool movies are timeless. He also insisted on all his own movie stunts that involved motorcycles. Bad ass!
Add to the list,Keenan Wynn Jr,Lee Marvin,Rod Taylor,Robert Stack,Paul Newman and Ann Margret. McQueen said it was Wynn who got him interested in Triumph off road bikes.
He actually prefers to remain anonymous, and would rather people didn't link him to his dad because that's not who he is.
I suppose it is tough to be your own person and not be carried away with the flow.Being an individual and working at it are very admiral endeavors!