The pages connected to the ISDT 1964 produce heavy traffic for the site.
Photo of Steve McQueen ISDT 1964(Courtesy FIM / Paris Match)
Never more so in Hollywood did an actor maintain a loyal fanatical following as Steve. Not because he was particularly cookie or that his Shakespearean appearances were milestones. Its because for all the hype most stars get nobody knows who the heck they are off set. They lock themselves away at night in Beverley Hills and do what? we don’t know but Steve… he was a racer he raced anything if it had a motor, he collected it if it had a motor, he hung out with guys who dug motors. Steve was a Petrolhead and so much so he allowed his passion for motors flow into his work. The passion he had for his stuff makes his films stand out. It’s a bizzare coincidence that his birthday falls within a day of the anniversary of the break out in the real great escape, the film he piloted one of his beloved Triumphs to do many of his own stunts in the film not just relying on the great Bud Ekins to do his stunts and one of his hallmark pieces.
THE GREAT ESCAPE, Steve McQueen, 1963…Mandatory Credit: Photo by Courtesy Everett Collection / Rex Features
Steve met Bud in the US racing bikes in the Desert and in 1964 Steve helped finance the first official US team to enter for the ‘ Silver Vase’ Competition in the ISDT and although many greater riders rode that event and many even greater riders won this and other ISDT events. Steve’s participation adds considerably to the legend of the event that is not called the ‘Olympics of Motorcycling’ because some slick media mogul was short of a place to put that superlative. Steve rode it, he rode it as a racer equal to all, no special VIP schedule or facilities and he was pitched off when the goddess of racing decided he his time to pull his bike down from underneath him. No Medal but he remains a towering legend for the event and remains a marketable asset because he enjoys a significant fan base long after the pard fermé was empty.
Photo from Barbour Brochure with a view of his International jacket
See more images of Steve at the ISDT here
