Le Mans Trivia Quiz

Answer: Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen was qualified to drive these powerful cars in actual races and had teamed with fellow celebrity Peter Revson in the actual 1970 running of the "12 Hours of Sebring". They drove to a first place finish in their division, missing an overall win by only 23 seconds, to Mario Andretti and his team. The car they had used at Sebring performed in the 1970 Le Mans race, acting this time as camera car. It actually finished ninth, though it was out of the official standings due to the time and mileage lost for all the camera reel changes.

In fact, McQueen had planned to enter the 1970 running of Le Mans, in the #26 car with Jackie Stewart, but McQueen, reportedly, was unable to get insurance.

Garner was in the 1966 movie, "Grand Prix", Paul Newman starred in 1969's lesser-known "Winning". Burt Reynolds is known, in part, for the more light-hearted car-oriented film series, "Cannonball Run" and "Smokey and the Bandit".

Answer: at 200 MPH

Speeds in excess of 200 MPH were regularly reached by the powerful cars of 1970 along Le Mans' famous, long straightaway, the "Mulsanne". At the time of the filming it was a 5 km (3.1 mi) straight, allowing the most powerful cars to reach over 250 MPH.

In 1990, due to pressure from the FIA (who claimed it was for safety reasons), the straight was broken into three sections by the addition of two chicanes along its length.

The town of Le Mans is located along the Sarthe River, in the northwestern part of France. It has been the host of the "24 Hours of Le Mans" race since 1923. Part of the track is on regular country roads which are blocked off prior to the race.

Answer: Delaney had played a role in a deadly wreck.

In the previous year's running of the "24 Hours of Le Mans", fellow racer Piero Belgetti was killed in an accident involving Delaney. The movie hinted that there were those who felt Delaney was at least partially to blame.

Answer: Porsche

The 917 gave Porsche its first overall wins at the actual running of the "24 Hours of Le Mans" in 1970 and 1971. Various models were all powered by a flat 12 with displacements between 4.5l and 5.0l; the fastest were capable of top speeds over 254 mph.

Answer: Victory sign (index and middle raised in V shape)

Michael Delaney, in his racing suit, flashed the victory sign to his fellow competitor and arch rival, Ferrari team member, Erich Stahler. It's easy to find a still photograph of this scene if you search the Internet.

Answer: His wife, Anna, wanted him to quit racing.

During the movie, Ritter's wife, Anna, made it clear that she would prefer him to stop racing, but didn't want to force him to do something against his will for fear of her being blamed. She wanted him to make the choice voluntarily.

Answer: Two separate wrecks occurred at nearly the same time.

About halfway through the race, Erich Stahler spun his Ferrari, causing his teammate Aurac to crash. Delaney, distracted by the flames then suffered his own wreck - trying to avoid a slower car, he collided with the crash barrier.

The public address announced that Porsche number 20 (Delaney) and Ferrari number 7 (Aurac) were involved in a crash. Although separate wrecks, their proximity in time and place make it appear that they were the same wreck.

Delaney was barely hurt, but Aurac was seriously injured. Delaney retired to his trailer, albeit, temporarily!

Answer: waiting

Steve McQueen's character, Michael Delaney, said this to Lisa, the widow of Piero Belgetti who was the racer killed at Le Mans a year earlier in a wreck involving Delaney. She had trouble understanding the motivation for drivers who continuously risked their lives. She was somehow attracted to these drivers, nonetheless.

Answer: He had wrecked his first car.

Much to the chagrin of his teammate, Johann Ritter, who was tagged by the boss as too slow, Delaney, now without a car, was switched in as the driver for Ritter's car for the final part of the race. Ritter's wife, Anna, however was more than relieved that he was done. Ritter, of course, would have preferred that his last race not end so ignobly.

Answer: Second

The exciting climax had Michael Delaney (McQueen) in a three-way battle for first place with fellow Porsche teammate Larry Wilson and Ferrari team arch rival, Erich Stahler. Rather than making an all-out effort to finish first and thus risk the Ferrari sneaking by for a win, Delaney carefully positioned his Porsche so that Stahler's Ferrari was forced to finish in third place. This allowed Wilson to win, achieving the goal of team manager David Townsend: "I want Porsche to win Le Mans".