Steve McQueen: Actor or Racer? Santa Barbara 1959

Steve entered his first 'official' motorcar race at Santa Barbara in May of 1959, driving a 1600 Super Porsche. He related his memories of the event to writer William Nolan: "They ran it at the airport - and there was a real mix of cars, big and small, in my race. I had no idea where I'd finish. I remember storming off the line like mad when the flag fell, passing a gaggle of Porsches and Triumphs - until after about four laps there I was, leading everybody! That shook me. I was skidding around the circuit between cars, going as deep into the turns as possible before breaking, on the ragged edge all the way, and I thought, 'Man, what are you doing out here?' But I hung on and won. After that I was hooked."

May 1959 Race Program

September 1959 - Steve racing his Lotus Le Mans Mark XI

Returning that September in a much faster Lotus Le Mans Mark X1, he engaged Frank Monise in a wheel to wheel battle for first position. Day one of the two day event saw him come in second, but on day two catastophe struck when he took a sharp turn to fast, spinning the car and killing the engine. It cost him the race and he finished in 4th position.

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