Steve McQueen-Chad McQueen: Like father, like son-the son of the King of Cool had his own brand of style.
He stood out his own identity, beyond being the son of a legend.
Chad McQueen, who followed in his father’s footsteps by racing Le Mans and Daytona and acting in movies, son of Steve McQueen, dies at 63.
We announce the passing of our beloved father, Chad McQueen, passion for racing wasn’t just about competition—it was a tribute to his father’s legacy, his family shared in a statement. His unwavering love for us and his dedication to our mother were defining aspects of his life. He was a man of commitment, compassion, and integrity, and we will forever cherish the example he set for us, we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s as well.
Chad McQueen’s racing journey began at age nine with dirt bikes. Eventually transitioning to cars. By 2004, he had qualified for the SCCA Runoffs. His father was a constant guide throughout his journey into sports cars.
I started riding bikes at six and racing by nine, and my dad made sure to be at every race. In a 2016 interview with Car and Driver, Chad McQueen told, My dad was always there, offering guidance—’You can go in deeper on that turn’ or No need to brake so hard here.
As a 10-year-old,Chad McQueen spent a memorable summer in France while his father worked on the iconic movie”Le Mans.”
In an interview with Christophorus, Porsche’s magazine. He shared that, Terry and I spent four months at Le Mans, often right there in the set, and we frequently raced on the go-kart track.
They had the chance to have breakfast with racing stars Jo Siffert, Derek Bell, and Rolf Stommelen, and formed a bond with Siegfried Rauch, who shared the screen with their father’s on-screen adversary Erich Stahler. One of Chad’s cherished memories is doing a lap in the Porsche 917 while sitting on his father’s lap.
Racing was my father’s great love, and it was impossible not to be affected by it, he mentioned to Christophorus.
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Following in his father’s footsteps, Chad McQueen aimed to become a celebrated actor, his most recognized role was in The Karate Kid. Widespread acclaim as an actor remained out of reach.
Sometimes, it seems like the gift of acting skips a generation, he shared with Christophorus.
Even in racing, success was hard to come by, He faced a nearly deadly crash during practice for the Daytona 24 Hours, breaking several bones, remaining in a coma for three and a half weeks, and barely surviving.
“I underwent around nine surgeries,” he mentioned to Car and Driver in 2016. But I even earned a historic license, and recently, I’ve been driving a friend’s 904 GTS for fun, However, my right eye is still slightly off from the accident, causing some trouble with right apexes.
He established McQueen Racing in 2010 to focus on custom car builds, His newest collaboration was with Steeda, resulting in a McQueen Mustang.
Throughout the years, Chad McQueen possessed several cars that once belonged to his father. Among them the first car his dad ever bought—a 1958 Porsche 1600 Speedster, He also had a 1969 2.0-liter 911, similar to the one his father used in the movie Le Mans. Additionally, his collection included a 1971 twin-plug 2.2 911.
He mentioned to masonandsons.com that his driving education started in a Ford Econoline van, a vehicle crafted for Steve McQueen by the legendary off-road expert Bill Stroppe. He told that had a huge motor, so that’s what I learned to drive in. It was lowered and handled really well
His charitable work was extensive and significant, particularly through his role as co-chairman of the Friends of Steve McQueen car show, It drove the attention of car enthusiasts from all over, who came not only to admire the vehicles but also to support a worthy cause. A deeper purpose, raising funds for Boys Republic. Boys Republic is a program dedicated to helping young people who have faced enormous challenges in their lives, often referred to in the past as young individuals for growth and rehabilitation. His dedication to this demonstrated his commitment to giving back to the community and supporting the next generation.
I had the good time of meeting him on several occasions at a number of car events. Each meet was memorable, as he always greeted me with warmth and friendliness. His reaction was not just polite, but heartfelt, showing that he truly appreciated the effort and passion behind my writing.
Fathers and sons always have a complicated dynamic, always.
Chad McQueen was married to Jeanie Galbraith in 1993, leaves behind his three children: Steven, Chase, and Madison.
