Each year’s show commemorates one of McQueen’s car or bike related films, this time out it was the outstanding On Any Sunday, dedicated to the phenom of motorcycle racing.
It’s hard for me to believe that the Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show has been running for eight years now; I remember the first one, which was little more than a Porsche 356 club gathering, but it raised nearly $10,000 for the Boys Republic Schools; This fine institution, with its primary campus in Chino Hills, California, was founded in 1907 as a place to put wayward boys (and now girls too) onto good paths in life. Steve McCool lived and schooled there as a young teen, and later credited Boys Republic for “saving his life.” He often went back to the school to meet and speak with, and inspire, the kids that drugs and crime is no way to live, in fact its a great way to die. The school has remained the McQueen family’s pet charity, and they take an active role in supporting the school, and putting on one helluva car show. Its grown in size, stature, and quality over these last several years, putting around 300 great cars and motorcycles on the school grounds during a weekend festival that celebrates everything Steve.
In as much as Steve was a big Porsche fan, owner, and racer, and the show is co-sponsored by a Porsche club and dealer, it’s no surprise that there are a lot of Porsches in this field…and some damn fabulous ones at that.
I’ve been involved with the show since its beginnings, and will continue to be. This year I strong armed several friends into putting their cars in the show, along with my own, and attending and supporting the cause. Which they did and for which I’m appreciative. The show’s main goal this year was to surpass the $1,000,000 mark in terms of fund raising, which the show did handily. The money is used to remodel the school’s physical plants and facilities and to buy much needed teaching and farming equipment.
This roundish and most fabulous Hudson Wasp coupe was one of three Hudsons that Steve McQueen owned over time, now in the Petersen Automotive Museum’s Los Angeles based collection
The quality and variety of cars, trucks, vintage travel trailers, and bikes this year was inspiring. Its not Pebble Beach, very much a run what you brung kind of event, yet that didn’t keep many legit, ex Steve McQueen cars and bikes from showing, as well as many true show quality cars.
Like Bikes? The FOSMQ show was packed with them, a lot of great off roaders and vintage two wheelers this year, logical given the “On Any Sunday” theme
These great Kirk Gerbracht photos (please scroll all the way to the bottom not to miss any) tell the story better than I can with words, so please enjoy the sights of the Friends of Steve McQueen Show, 2015, and mark your calendar for next June, 2016, attend or even enter your car. Learn more at www.boysrepublic.com
One of the coolest aspects of this show is that the BR metal and wood shop students make all the trophies out of used car parts — nice!
One of the school’s hillsides was sculpted into a pretty serious motocross style track, and many of these exhibition riders were catching serious air.
It wouldn’t be a McQueen show without rows of Highland Green Metallic Bullitt Mustangs on hand, and this year there were many and plenty.
The yellow thing is my friend Jeff’s 1974 Alfa Romeo Spyder, and the tall thing standing next to it is my friend Jeff.
Tall friend Jeff accepting the “Best Italian” trophy for his winning ’74 Alfa Spyder. Chad McQueen is seen far right, and as Steve’s only son, is co-chairman of the event, and helps hand out all the awards.
Photographer Gerbracht’s Jag…
and my own SL500, just to prove that we were really there…
A perfect lineup of Husky history
Well attended awards presentation.
This Husqvarna tank is signed by two of On Any Sunday’s three great stars, the incomparable Malcolm Smith and awesome dirt track bike racer Mert Lawill.
This is a great place doing great things for great kids. Come and support the show next year and you’ll enjoy yourself, I promise…