Steve McQueen – Le Mans in the Rearview Mirror
By Don Nunley with Marshall Terrill
How much is there to be known about Steve McQueen’s fascination—should we say obsession—with Le Mans? First we had the movie itself, which though not very well received when new has become perhaps the ultimate cult classic, then in recent years his son Chad took us deep behind the scenes of that epic shoot with the 2015 documentary Steve McQueen, the Man & Le Mans.
There have also been a number of books on the subject of McQueen’s passion for motorsports, the latest of which is Don Nunley’s Steve McQueen – Le Mans in the Rearview Mirror with Marshall Terrill. Nunley’s credentials are sound—he grew up in the industry and served as prop master for the original film—and he paints a bleak picture of the actual filming, noting that the primary emotion when the project wrapped was one of relief. He now operates a product placement agency. Terrill has authored more than 20 books about the film industry, including Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool.
Unsmitten by either the racing at Le Mans or the film’s star actor and driving force, Nunley’s assessments are not always flattering to McQueen, though it’s perhaps more a matter of perspective than animosity. His observations surely merit attention and consideration. That said, this book is filed with more than 400 behind the scenes photos that should be like manna from heaven for the dedicated racing fan.
Available for US$79 / £59 from enthusiast bookstores, or direct from publisher Dalton Watson at www.daltonwatson.com
