6 replies to this topic

[Glengavel]

Legend has it that Steve McQueen and Jackie Stewart were supposed to take part in the 1970 Le Mans in a Porsche 917, but the plan fell through either because (a) McQueen couldn't get insurance or (b) the organisers threw out the entry because of McQueen's lack of experience. However, I have read that JYS wasn't a great fan of Le Mans anyway, so was it a genuine effort or wishful thinking or a publicity stunt or whatever?

 

[john winfield]

It might have been an optimistic, but genuine entry; see #26 in the wsrp site entry list.  I also read somewhere that the financial backers for the film threatened to withdraw if McQueen raced, although I don't know if that's true, nor what they thought of his earlier drive with Revson at Sebring.

 

http://www.wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1970.html#8

[JtP1]

The story of the time was that the film's insurers would not give Mcqueen key personnel insurance if he drove in the event and the finacial backers of Solar productions threatened to withdraw from the project.

[Glengavel]

I'm more curious about the supposed involvement of Stewart - how and why.

[beighes]

I vaguely remember a rumor that Sir JYS, drove the 917 during some of the filming. 

[mfd]

I vaguely remember a rumor that Sir JYS, drove the 917 during some of the filming. 

No he's not on the roll call of drivers listed in the book "French Kiss with Death"

 

Cinema Center had threatened to withdraw if McQ insisted on racing, although they did allow him to drive in the post race filming.

[sbrinley]

Why doesn't someone ask Sir JYS directly?