Burning Rubber Trivia Quiz

Answer: James Garner

Garner's first big break came in playing the lead role of Bret Maverick in the television series "Maverick" (1957-60). It's a common misconception that he reprised that role in the 1994 film of the same name but his character in that movie was Marshall Zane Cooper. Along with his starring role as the modern day maverick in "The Rockford Files" (1974-80) he also featured as the "scrounger" Bob Hendley in "The Great Escape" (1963), the gangster King Marchand in "Victor Victoria" (1982) and received an Academy Award nomination for his moving performance in "Murphy's Romance" (1985).

He became fascinated with motor car racing while making the 1966 action film "Grand Prix" which led to his racing at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring.

Answer: Eric Bana

Bana started his career as a stand-up comedian who garnered strong reviews and attention for his performance as the infamous criminal "Chopper" Reid in the 2000 movie of the same name. Ridley Scott then cast him in "Black Hawk Down" (2001) which led to roles in "Hulk" (2003) and Steven Spielberg's "Munich" (2005). Bana's first car was a 1974 XB Ford Falcon coupe which provided the inspiration for his 2009 movie "Love The Beast", a documentary that centred on his efforts to rebuild the car and his involvement in motor racing.

Answer: Live Aid

Mike Smith is a long time television presenter of such programmes as "The Late, Late Breakfast Show" (1984-86) and "That's Show Business" (1989-96). He was a founder of Comic Relief and had roles in the movies "Ghostwatch" (1992) and "The Man Who Knew Too Little" (1997). Smith's passion for racing arrived at an early age, he was able to drive when he was eight years old and he was competing in grasstrack events by age 14. He raced in a number of British Touring Car Championships and won the 1986 Willhire 24 Hour event.

Answer: Frankie Muniz

In 2003 Muniz was given the title of Hollywood's "Most Bankable Teenage Star". This came on the back of a series of awards for his roles in "My Dog Skip" (2000) and "What the Deaf Man Heard" (1997) as well as Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his work on "Malcolm in the Middle" (2000-06). He has also enjoyed success on the big screen with "Big Fat Liar" (2002) and "Agent Cody Banks" (2003). Muniz has competed in the 2006 Formula BMW USA series and the more competitive Champ Car Atlantic series. In 2008 he won the Jovy Marcelo Sportsmanship Award, voted on by his fellow drivers.

Answer: Gene Hackman

Hackman's acting career didn't commence until he was 30 years old but he immediately gained attention for his portrayal of Buck Barrow in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde". The performance was strong enough to win him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at that year's Academy Awards. After "The French Connection" Gene earned a second Best Actor Oscar for his depiction of Little Bill Daggett in "Unforgiven" (1992). He competed in a number of SCCA events during the 1970s, driving his trusty Formula Ford before switching to Team Toyota for the 1983 24 Hours of Daytona.

Answer: Steve McQueen

Competing in motorcycle races was one way that McQueen was able to pay his way through acting school. At one point he considered the possibility of becoming a professional race car driver, after famously finishing second to a team that included Mario Andretti, in the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring race. Nicknamed the "King of Cool" he received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in "The Sand Pebbles" (1966) and he starred in some of the most popular movies of his time. Apart from the ones mentioned above these include "The Towering Inferno" (1974), "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968) and the iconic "The Magnificent Seven" (1960).

Answer: Beverly Hills 90210

Priestley's career blossomed with the role of Brandon Walsh in "Beverly Hills 90210" (1990-2000). The programme also gave him the opportunity to direct episodes and he served as the series' executive producer for a period. One of his most notable performances was that of Ronnie Bostock in "Love and Death on Long Island" (1997) and in 2010 he took on the lead in the TV series "Call Me Fitz".

A commentator for ABC's "IndyCar Racing" show he also competed in the first Gumball 3000 rally. His racing career was almost de-railed in 2002 when he was involved in a serious car accident at the Kentucky Speedway.

Answer: Four Weddings and a Funeral

Atkinson will eternally be known for his creation and portrayal of serially inept characters such as the hapless Mr Bean, the incompetent Johnny English and the conniving Blackadder. Rowan's love of cars has seen him write articles for a number of British motor magazines, create the documentary "The Driven Man" (1991), appear in episodes of "Top Gear", compete in the Renault Clio Cup and purchase his own McLaren Formula One car.

Answer: James Dean

Dean had previously entered the Palm Springs road races prior to filming "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), finishing second in the main event. He followed this with races in Bakersfield and Santa Barbara and he had planned to enter the Salinas road races during the shooting of "Giant". Dean's legend and iconic status is built upon, in part, his death at such an early age as well as his outstanding performances in three key movies; "East of Eden" (1955), "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant". He became the first actor to be nominated for two acting awards at the Oscars posthumously.

Answer: Paul Newman

Winning an Academy Award for Best Actor in "The Colour of Money" (1986) Newman was also nominated, but did not win, on eight other occasions for the same award. These performances were delivered in movies such as "Cool Hand Luke" (1967), "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) and "Absence of Malice" (1981). Describing motor racing as the only thing he ever felt he had any grace in, Newman was a regular competitor in SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) events throughout the 1970s, finished second in the 1979 24 Hours at Le Mans and, at one time, owned his own car racing team.

In 2009 he was, posthumously, inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame.