The Making of Steve McQueens "Le Mans"

Restaging the apron before the race. This is the shot Steve refused to do on race day when he had thousands of free extras.

The cars are lined up on the tarmac for the movie version of the start of the race.

Getting ready to ride with Steve down the track on a pair of Kawasaki motorcycles I had promoted for the set.

Solar's Porsche 908/2, car #29, on the tarmac prior to the start of the race. The cameras were mounted under the custom cowling front and back. Directly behind are two John Wyer Porsches and two Ferraris.

Steve putting on Nomex face protector surrounded by the press and French gendarmes.

Cars being pushed out to their starting positions.

Today McQueen and Le Mans are considered an iconic match by racing and cinema buffs.

Honorary Marshal, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, drops the flag and the race begins. Shot from behind one of John Wyer's Porsche 917S.

John Wyer Gulf Porsche 917K, car #21, driven by Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen. They finished only 22 laps, placing 48th overall.

Filming the re-staged crash. Drivers leaving Porsche 911 and yellow Ferrari 512S, car #11. Alfa Romeo T33/3, car #35, and Matra-Simca MS650, car #30, are flagged by, followed closely behind by Ferrari 512S.

Jo Siffert and Brian Redman in Porsche 917K, car#20, followed closely by Porsche 917L, car #25 with Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens, Jr.

Re-staging a late pit stop for Ferrari 512S, car #8. The grime on the car indicates the stage of the race. One day they'd need to be clean, the next day dirty, and vice versa. Matching these cars as the race progressed was a difficult task.

Steve resting on a Ferrari between takes.

Steve in Porsche 917K, car #22. Ferrari 512S, car #8, against the pit wall. If you look closely you can spot Derek Bell (facing the camera) standing next to a Shell technician.

Steve looks over the door of his Gulf-Porsche 917K.

The official Time clock shows 4:00 p.m. at the start of the race

The intensity in Steve's eyes burns through as he waits for the flag to drop and the race to start.

As the flag drops, the cars roar into action led by the eventual winner, #23 Porsche 917K.

Steve walks through the Porsche pit to pick up his helmet and head for his 917.

Cars in starting grid to re-stage the start of the race.

Steve making small talk with fellow actors an mechanics.

Steve and Derek Bell enjoy a Coca-Cola between shots. Gino Cassani, who played the Ferrari team manager, is on the right.

Steve talking to Lee Katzin (in the blue suit) about the next set up.

Recreating a night pit stop. Steve sits on his Porsche 917K. The car was aged to correspond with the time in the race.

Martini racing team Porsche 908/2L, car #27, with Rudi Lins and Dr. Helmut Marko (finished 3rd overall) leading the Ferrari 312P, car #57, of Tony Adamowicz and Chuck Parsons.

Cars stacked up as they enter the Ford chicane. The chicane was added to slow down the cars before they neared the grandstand and the pit area.

John Sturges and Steve relax on the track in front of a Porsche 917, when they were still speaking.

We use our movie magic to create rain for the filming of a Ferrari pit stop.

Steve had no trouble with the ladies.

Ferrari-Mix-Overlapping-Photo.