Okay, you are definitely the coolest dude on wheels that I actually know. But if I have to pick someone else, it has to be Steve McQueen, although there are some damn fine competitors on the list.
In '06, his final wife Barbara decided to have Bonhams & Butterfields auction off some of his stuff. Motorcycles, guns, antiques, sunglasses, his chaps and a script from "Tom Horn", credit cards and all kinds of stuff . . . that I either couldn't afford, or had no interest in.
Well one (actually 3) of the items I thought were very cool were his "vanity" license plates that were on his cars when he died. The cars were registered in Idaho, and the plate numbers were MCQ3188; the MCQ being obvious, and the 3188 being his ID number when he was at the Junior Boys Republic reform school in the 1940's. (I guess there's some things you never forget)
Anyhow, the auction house estimated the plates would go for $100-$150 each (and it's not that my memory is so good - I still have the beautiful 120 page full color catalog from the auction) . . . so I pre-bid $700 for one plate to lock it in. I figured, what could possibly be cooler than one of McQueen's own license plates, especially given the significance of his initials and reform school ID.
Well, long story short, the auction house called me the next day. The cheapest of the three went for $5,000. I guess a lot of people think Steve McQueen was a very cool guy.
For that matter I expected at least a Roy Brittan or a Mike Hailwood. Then I get to Malcolm Campbell and Count Zobrowski and realise that really I think the one most missing from the list- my number one is- not Moss, but Dennis Jenkinson.
It's actually very tough. Also missing is Craig Breedlove, Mickey Thompson, and since we're talking wheels . . . Lance Armstrong. Yes, Malcolm Campbell slipped my mind. I know you're not supposed to speak of the dear departed thusly, but . . I didn't think Evel was very cool, quite the opposite.
The real problem is there have been so many cool people involved in motoring, motorsport and motor journalism.
And just so you know . . . I put Hunter Thompson on the list because of his "Song Of The Sausage Creature". I personally rate Steve McQueen "the coolest", but I voted for Rollie Free; anybody with the cojones to ride a Vincent, on their stomach at 150 mph in their swim trunks at the salt flats gets my vote.
I frankly didn't really like Evel either, but he should be an option on this list. Probably.
As it is a clicky box rather than push button, I think I picked four- Burt, Rollie, Malcolm and Paul Newman.
That said, the reason you like Rollie goes double for Jenks- look him up if you need to. From riding next to Moss (Terrifying to me to contemplate) to the Isle of Man to Drag Bikes... dang.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-03-29 03:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-29 04:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-30 03:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-30 03:53 am (UTC)Well one (actually 3) of the items I thought were very cool were his "vanity" license plates that were on his cars when he died. The cars were registered in Idaho, and the plate numbers were MCQ3188; the MCQ being obvious, and the 3188 being his ID number when he was at the Junior Boys Republic reform school in the 1940's. (I guess there's some things you never forget)
Anyhow, the auction house estimated the plates would go for $100-$150 each (and it's not that my memory is so good - I still have the beautiful 120 page full color catalog from the auction) . . . so I pre-bid $700 for one plate to lock it in. I figured, what could possibly be cooler than one of McQueen's own license plates, especially given the significance of his initials and reform school ID.
Well, long story short, the auction house called me the next day. The cheapest of the three went for $5,000. I guess a lot of people think Steve McQueen was a very cool guy.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-29 04:06 am (UTC)I notice a certain lack of Evil.
For that matter I expected at least a Roy Brittan or a Mike Hailwood. Then I get to Malcolm Campbell and Count Zobrowski and realise that really I think the one most missing from the list- my number one is- not Moss, but Dennis Jenkinson.
Dang, that came out backwards, didn't it?
no subject
Date: 2009-03-29 04:25 am (UTC)The real problem is there have been so many cool people involved in motoring, motorsport and motor journalism.
And just so you know . . . I put Hunter Thompson on the list because of his "Song Of The Sausage Creature". I personally rate Steve McQueen "the coolest", but I voted for Rollie Free; anybody with the cojones to ride a Vincent, on their stomach at 150 mph in their swim trunks at the salt flats gets my vote.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-29 04:31 am (UTC)As it is a clicky box rather than push button, I think I picked four- Burt, Rollie, Malcolm and Paul Newman.
That said, the reason you like Rollie goes double for Jenks- look him up if you need to. From riding next to Moss (Terrifying to me to contemplate) to the Isle of Man to Drag Bikes... dang.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-29 11:37 pm (UTC)Surprisingly, Malcolm Forbes is running tie with Steve McQueen in the poll. Followed by . . .the Salt Flat guys.
Coolest Dude
Date: 2009-03-29 03:23 pm (UTC)