Photography, Racing & Random Thoughts…
Posts tagged Steve McQueen
Green Rat
Nov 4th
1957 Jaguar XKSS, in British Racing Green. (image © 2012 Victor Varela)
The Jaguar XKSS was a road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type racing car.
After Jaguar withdrew from racing, they offered the remaining, unfinished D-Type chassis as the road-going Jaguar XKSS. The conversion from race car to street was made by adding an extra seat, another door, a full-width windscreen and folding top, to make the car practical for street use.
In total 16 XKSS variants were made, with most being sold in the USA, before the fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in 1957, destroyed the remaining chassis.
Actor Steve McQueen owned a Jaguar XKSS for personal use, painted British racing green. He referred to the car as the “Green Rat”.
Thunderbolt.
Jun 4th
Image Copyright © 2011 Victor Varela
BSA 650 Thunderbolt – Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show, Boys Republic, Chino Hills, California – June 4th, 2011
Camera: Canon G11
ISO: 100
Sec: 1/80
F/stop: 8
Lightroom Exposure, saturation
See the rest of the images I captured here: Steve McQueen Car Show
Vic
License for Speed.
Aug 2nd
Steve McQueen’s FIM license
Before it was deemed cool for an actor to race cars or motorcycles, there were guys like James Dean and Steve McQueen who did it just because they loved the thrill of speed and racing. Their thespian profession was merely a means to an end; a way to satisfy their lifestyle which included racing things with 2 and 4 wheels.
The late Paul Newman was cut from the same cloth. although his lifestyle was less reckless and more centered on his family, acting and racing. His need for speed was just as intense, as is evident by his remarkable achievements as both a driver and a team owner, well into his 80′s.
Here’s to Steve, Paul & James, and to those who raced for the passion of speed and not for the sake of fame or to try and be cool. Cool, after all, was in their DNA.
Vic
