"Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting."
- Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) in Le MansIn 1963, the first Porsche 911 was unveiled at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt as the controversial successor to the legendary, and much loved, 356. At that time, no one could have imagined it would become the automotive icon it is today. But 40 years later, the 911 ignites a passion more powerful than ever.
Today, Porsche Tequipment and European Car Magazine are pleased to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 as we celebrate the release of the legendary "Le Mans" on DVD.
Steve McQueen's Le Mans, often considered the best racing movie ever made, captures the passion for speed on film. Initiated as a half-documentary movie about the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans portrays an American race car driver (McQueen) who returns to competition a year after an accident that leaves him badly injured. As McQueen prepares to face his chief rival in the famous Le Mans race, the film captures the personal intrigue and death-defying sportsmanship of the world's most famous and dangerous racing competition.
McQueen's car of choice in the film is the Porsche 917. Originally a Gulf-Wyer team car, it served as the camera car for the movie and was also driven by McQueen in the movie. The introduction of the 917 in 1969 dramatically improved Porsche's racing status, elevating the cars from mere class winners to the undisputed champions of Le Mans.
An experienced racing driver himself, McQueen did most of his own driving in the film, often exceeding 200 mph on the 8.5 mile course. In addition, star drivers including Brian Redman, Derek Bell and Masten Gregory (who together won Le Mans in 1965 with Austrian Jochen Rindt), participated as stunt men in the film, driving the fastest sports cars of that time, reaching top speeds of up to 400 km/h.
We would like to thank special guests Chad McQueen, Antonio Sabato, Sr., Antonio Sabato Jr and Vic Elford for joining us as we celebrate the racing history captured by this legendary and four decades of Porsche's signature car, the 911 a car that has evolved from a sports car into a way of life.
Editor's Note:All of us remember our first drive of a 911and some of us here may even remember their first drive at Le Mans. My first 911 drive was in an SC, back in 1978, and I stalled it twice before I crept it out of the parking lot in shame. However, once I mastered the stiff clutch and could tap out a decent heel-and-toe dance-and I learned to stay on the throttle through the corners-I fell in love. The passion has only intensified throughout the years; I'm still utterly captivated when driving any and all of the current 911 lineup. Looking back at that SC, technologically speaking it was Sputnik compared to the C4S "space shuttle" currently in european car's garage, but one thing hasn't changed. The 911 is still clearly the best all-around sports car in the world, and I'm sure you'll join me in wishing it another 40 years of evolution.
Greg N. Brown
Editor
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