McQueen's Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Legend

Description

Steve McQueen is one of the iconic legends of Screen - even 25 years after his death he is still a giant! He had a life-long love of fast vehicles, building his first hot rod before could legally drive, and in the army hopped up a tank's engines to make it go faster! He was a member of the American Motorcycle Team, touring the world before going onto an impressive life of racing: nearly winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1970, driving a Porsche 908; racing buggies in Baja, the Porsche 917 at Le Mans; rode motocross across the California desert, and entered races under the pseudonym "Henry Mushman" to avoid favoritism, and bringing his racing skills to bear in "Bullitt", "Le Mans", "The Thomas Crowne Affair", "The Great Escape", where he did all the driving, riding and stunt work! Von Dutch, Tom Nancy, motorcycle champion Malcolm Smith, stunt driver Bud Elkins were in his inner circle, along with other racing stars - James Dean, Paul Newman, James Garner, although none came close to this the greatest petrolhead star of all time who had so much influence he could tell a studio to produce a film of his favorite race - Le Mans. This is not a Hollywood biography, it is a book full of what McQueen knew and loved: fast cars, fast bikes, racing, and off-roading, and will appeal to his legion of admirers and racing fans everywhere!

Matt Stone, executive editor of Motor Trend" magazine, has been a professional automotive journalist and photographer since 1985. His voice is often heard on the syndicated Motor Trend" Radio Network, and he serves as the magazine's history, design, and motorsport expert. Stone has a Bachelor's degree from Cal Poly Pomona, with a major in business and minors in journalism and marketing. He enjoys anything with four wheels, though demonstrates a particular passion for sports, performance, and racing cars of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Stone is a Chief Class Judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and is a member of SPEED TV's Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction broadcast team. He serves his profession as an officer, board member, committee chairman, and past-president of the Motor Press Guild (MPG) trade association. Matt has authored and photographed several automotive books for Motorbooks, including the best-selling 365 Cars You Must Drive." A California native, Stone resides in Glendale.

"Born To Ride, "October 2007 "This compilation is a wealth of detail about the star's amateur racing career, his movie stunt work, and his car and motorcycle collecting. All of this information draws a fascinating picture of one outsized man's driving passion." "Musclecar Enthusiast, "January 2008 "It includes many never before published photos, including those from McQueen family albums ... a special treat for fans is a foreword by McQueen's son, Chad.""Antique Automobile", November/December 2007"Draws a fascinating picture of one outsized man's driving passion." Robb Report Collection, "December 2007"This 176-page book reads like a magazine and is filled with never-before-seen photographs." Classic & Sports Car "(UK), December 2007Book of the Month: "If you only have one book on the King of Cool in your library, this should be it." Playboy, " December 2007"Think of this book as a love story. It was good to be king." Men's Journal", January 2007 "Though both a ladies' man and a man's man, Steve McQueen was first and foremost a gearhead. He performed many of his own driving stunts. He raced across American deserts and European road courses on two wheels and four. He had the balls to pilot the terrifying Porsche 917 flat out down the Mulsanne straight and ride a Triumph through Paris traffic. "McQueen's Machines" is the first complete look inside the man's garage and, as a result, one of the few peeks inside his head."AutoWeek, "Oct. 29, 2007"Well-written, entertaining book ... all of the pertinent details are here." Motortrend.com, Nov. 26, 2007"A must have for any Steve McQueen fan." "Born To Ride, "October 2007 "This compilation is a wealth of detail about the star's amateur racing career, his movie stunt work, and his car and motorcycle collecting. All of this information draws a fascinating picture of one outsized man's driving passion." "Musclecar Enthusiast, "January 2008 "It includes many never before published photos, including those from McQueen family albums ... a special treat for fans is a foreword by McQueen's son, Chad." "Antique Automobile," November/December 2007 "Draws a fascinating picture of one outsized man's driving passion." Robb Report Collection," December 2007 "This 176-page book reads like a magazine and is filled with never-before-seen photographs." Classic & Sports Car "(UK), December 2007 Book of the Month: "If you only have one book on the King of Cool in your library, this should be it." Playboy," December 2007 "Think of this book as a love story. It was good to be king." Men's Journal," January 2007 "Though both a ladies' man and a man's man, Steve McQueen was first and foremost a gearhead. He performed many of his own driving stunts. He raced across American deserts and European road courses on two wheels and four. He had the balls to pilot the terrifying Porsche 917 flat out down the Mulsanne straight and ride a Triumph through Paris traffic. "McQueen's Machines" is the first complete look inside the man's garage and, as a result, one of the few peeks inside his head." AutoWeek," Oct. 29, 2007 "Well-written, entertaining book ... all of the pertinent details are here." Motortrend.com, Nov. 26, 2007 "A must have for any Steve McQueen fan." The "Columbus" Dispatch," Nov. 11, 2007 "McQueen was hard wired for cars and racing, with his love for all things mechanical and innate competitive nature that comes through in the book." Edmunds.com, Dec. 23, 2007 "Author Matt Stone skips all the Hollywood crap and gets right to the cars and motorcycles McQueen collected or made famous." Cycle World," January 2008 "Thumbs up to Steve McQueen for continuing to be the King of Cool, no matter that he puffed his last Marlboro 28 years ago. Hot on the heels of his 1963 Ferrari GT 250 Berlinetta selling for a record $2.3 million at auction comes a new book, McQueen's Machines" by auto writer Matt Stone. Nicely done, including a chapter on McQueen's motorcycles." Antique Automobile," November/December 2007 "Draws a fascinating picture of one outsized man's driving passion." Robb Report Collection," December 2007 "This 176-page book reads like a magazine and is filled with never-before-seen photographs." Classic & Sports Car "(UK), December 2007 Book of the Month: "If you only have one book on the King of Cool in your library, this should be it."