First things first: 1964 is before my time! When the Wristscan theme of Steve McQueen was announced I did a little research. I’m not a big movie buff, but of course Mr. Cool is well-known. During my research I stumbled across something very interesting, which dates back to 1964!
It’s well known that Steve McQueen was a passionate race driver of cars and motorcycles, but what I was able to find surprised me still.
Steve was part of the American national team of the Six Days Trial Motocross challenge. An international race that dates back to 1913 and a tradition that still lives on. I was born in 1970 in a smallish town in Germany but with a long Motocross tradition and as a child in the late 70ties and 80ties, we had maybe 2-3 Motocross events per year in our town. It was one of the highlights of my childhood, the noise, the mud, the fumes and the sheer unbelievable skills. It also brought some international flair into a rather dull provincial town. When I turned 15 and got my license and my first motorcycle, I rebuilt it to a motocross look. Needless to say, my bike was the coolest in town.
Now back to 1964 and Steve McQueen. That year the Six Days Motocross Trial challenge took place in Erfurt in post-war, Soviet occupied East Germany, a mere 30km from my (later) hometown. I can only imagine what kind of an event it was for the people in my region. The absolute highlight was that Steve McQueen was racing in that event. I have attached some photos from that event I was able to find. Today Erfurt is a bit of a sleepy provincial capital with beautiful medieval buildings and one of the most beautiful city centres in Germany. It also made history in 1970 when for the first time a West German chancellor (Willy Brandt) visited East Germany and many people believe that event marked the beginning of the end of communist rule.
Photos: Steve McQueen at the Six Days Challenge 1964 in Erfurt:
Erfurt today:
Now connecting this to watches. Hmm, ideally I would show you an Olimpico Chronograph from 1964 like this:
Only problem, I don’t own one (yet).
So, instead, here is a shot of my GP Richeville, which is either from 1964 or very close to that year.
And to round it up another GP from the Sixties (late 60ties) that has more of a sporty look and better fits the theme: the GP Gyrodate.
HAGWE,
CC