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Steve McQueen’s cherished off-road motorcycle to be sold

By General Posts

1971 Husqvarna is one of the King of Cool’s most loved bikes and could fetch £150k at auction

by Rob Hull from https://www.thisismoney.co.uk

  • The 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross is one of around 200 bikes owned by the actor who often entered races
  • It is said to be in ‘last ridden by McQueen’ condition and ‘not started’ since his ownership
  • It is a later version of the bike the King of Cool rode in On Any Sunday – that one sold in 2018 for $230k
  • Bonhams says it is ‘the best known of all McQueen’s Huskys by virtue of a known provenance and documents’
  • Auction house will offer it to the highest bidder at its sale in California on Friday – estimate is $130k-$180k

A motorcycle belonging to the King of Cool, Steve McQueen, will go under the hammer on Friday and could sell for £150,000.

The 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross is said to be one of the actor’s favourite bikes in an extensive collection, and it hasn’t been modified since he last rode it.

The off-road motorbike will be offered to the highest bidder on Friday at the Bonhams Quail Lodge auction held during Monterey Car Week in California.

One of the most iconic scenes from a McQueen film was the Great Escape motorcycle jump, where his character Captain Virgil Hilts leaps over a barbed wire fence in his dramatic escape from the Nazi prisoner of war camp in the legendary WW2 film.

The six-foot jump over the fencing wasn’t performed by the King of Cool himself in the 1963 hit – it was stunt man and frequent McQueen body double, Bud Ekins – as the actor later revealed his inexperienced riding skills meant he would not have been able to complete the stunt at the time of shooting.

However, McQueen’s close friendship with Bud and his brother Dave Ekins, and his passion for motorcycles, saw the silver screen star become an accomplished off-road racer.

In interviews years after The Great Escape, he stated he would have then been competent to complete the famous jump scene.

His love of two wheels also partly inspired the 1971 motorcycle racing documentary film On Any Sunday, in which the Indiana-born actor features riding a similar Husqvarna off-roader – that one sold in October 2018, also at a Bonhams auction, for $230,500.

At one point in his life, McQueen reportedly owned up to 200 motorcycles. Among them was the 1971 model up for grabs this week. It was produced by the Swedish brand that was dominating the motocross world during the generation (pictured, McQueen riding a similar bike in 1970)

It’s one of many the King of Cool had, but this is claimed to be his favourite.

And, if the seller is to be believed, it has not been ridden since it was in the hands of the silver screen icon.

McQueen riding a Husqvarna 400 Cross in 1970

The 400 Cross combined fearsome power and superb handling thanks to its lightweight frame and single-cylinder 400cc engine, but was also renowned for being difficult to ride.

It was produced in a period before plastics were used in motorcycle manufacturing, meaning it has a sculpted aluminium fuel tank with a polished section to help reduce marring where the rider meets the bike.

While McQueen had various examples that were used as ‘parts bikes’ for spares, this wasn’t the case with frame number MI3845 being sold this week.

Bonhams says it is ‘perhaps the best known of all McQueen’s Huskys by virtue of a known provenance and documentation from the time it was acquired by the star and remaining in his possession as one of his go-to bikes for the rest of his life’.

It was sold as lot 664 at the Steve McQueen Estate Auction at Imperial Palace in November 1984, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has since passed through three subsequent owners before being acquired by the vendor 11 years ago.

The certificate of authenticity, plus the bill of sale issued to the buyer at the 1984 Estate Auction, and the original registration document in the name Solar Productions accompany the lot. To complete the paperwork file, the original 1984 auction lot tag also accompanies the machine when it goes to the block on Friday.

The bike is described by the seller as being in ‘last ridden by McQueen’ condition, and ‘not started’, with all the dents and scratches from the King of Cool’s hard riding.

It even retains all of the McQueen-implemented modifications, which includes a leather gear shift protector and a spare spark plug he duct-taped to the frame in case it was needed while out riding.

The bike is expected to attract a winning bid in the region of $130,000 (£107,500) to $180,000 (£149,000) when the hammer drops at the end of the week, according to Bonhams’ estimation.

‘The preservation of MI3845 is a credit to the discerning owners post McQueen who have preserved MI3845 in its original McQueen owned state,’ the auction house said.

‘While other McQueen motorcycles have come to light in recent times, there can be no doubt as to the history and originality of this machine.

‘It is a ‘blue chip’ piece of McQueen memorabilia, if you like, suitable for shows, demos – after some sympathetic recommissioning – or museum display use, using the legend ‘as last ridden by the late and utterly charismatic Steve McQueen’ as a fitting epitaph.’

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Cameraman collides with Batman’s motorcycle, filming halted

By General Posts

by Jeremy Mathai from https://www.slashfilm.com

‘The Flash’ movie Production Halted Following Accident on Set.

The long, arduous journey to get The Flash into development and finally begin production has unfortunately met another setback, this time interrupting the actual filming of the movie. Reports out of the UK indicate that an accident has occurred on the set of The Flash while shooting on location in Glasgow, causing the apparent hospitalization of a member of the camera crew.

Glasgow Live is reporting that a camera operator was involved in a collision with a stunt man in full Batman garb who was riding atop the Batcycle in the Andy Muschietti-directed production. Eyewitnesses claim that the cameraman, on a motorcycle of his own, accidentally collided with the Batcycle from the rear while racing down one of the city streets in an attempt to capture the action up close. There has been no official word from Warner Bros. just yet, but filming immediately paused while the crew member had to be extricated from underneath the vehicle and subsequently received medical attention. All indications are that the injured party was then treated at a local hospital, while an ambulance was seen leaving the site. However, no other details or updates are known at this time.

We recently reported on pictures taken from the UK set that showed off the newly-redesigned Batcycle that will appear in the multiverse-spanning crossover film, with the stuntman’s Batman outfit pointing towards an appearance by Ben Affleck‘s costumed crime-fighter. Michael Keaton is also set to make his grand return to the DC universe, having seemingly hung up the cowl for good in Batman Returns nearly 30 years ago.

Somewhere in the middle of all this action, presumably, will be Ezra Miller‘s Barry Allen. The Flashpoint-inspired film will recount the complications that spring up as a result of some serious timeline shenanigans on Barry’s part. In the famous comic series, the Flash travels back in time to prevent the death of his mother, but these actions only create another splintered universe and alternate timeline.

As of yet, it is unknown just how much of a setback this will cause production. Obviously, the health and safety of the injured crewmember are of paramount importance and we can only hope for his full recovery. Blockbuster film sets are notoriously dangerous places to work, which is why the director and producers work overtime with all involved parties on multiple levels of production to ensure a safe working environment. We’ll provide more updates as they come in.

Tom Cruise rides a Motorcycle Off a Cliff for Mission: Impossible 7

By General Posts

by Zack Sharf from https://www.indiewire.com

Tom Cruise Rode a Motorcycle Off a Cliff for ‘Mission: Impossible 7,’ His Most Dangerous Stunt Ever
A motorcycle. A cliff. A daredevil actor. What’s the worst that could happen?

Tom Cruise found himself jumping out of airplanes and hanging off the side of cliffs during the making of “Mission: Impossible — Fallout,” but apparently all of that is child’s play compared to what’s in store for “Mission: Impossible 7.” During an interview with Empire magazine, Cruise confirmed that one sequence in the next “M:I” installment features him riding a motorcycle off a cliff and is the most dangerous stunt of his career so far.

“If the wind was too strong, it would blow me off the ramp,” Cruise said about the stunt. “The helicopter [filming the stunt] was a problem, because I didn’t want to be hammering down that ramp at top speed and get hit by a stone. Or if I departed in a weird way, we didn’t know what was going to happen with the bike. I had about six seconds once I departed the ramp to pull the chute and I don’t want to get tangled in the bike. If I do, that’s not going to end well.”

While free-falling off a cliff on a motorcycle sounds insane, Cruise maintained that relief was one of the biggest sensations he was feeling during the stunt because there was a time during the pandemic where the production’s future was in question. “All those emotions were going through my mind,” the actor said. “I was thinking about the people I work with, and my industry. And for the whole crew to know that we’d started rolling on a movie was just a huge relief. It was very emotional, I gotta tell you.”

“Mission: Impossible 7” reunites Cruise with his “Rogue Nation” and “Fallout” director Christopher McQuarrie. Franchise veterans Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby are back for another go-around opposite Cruise, while new cast members include Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff. Cruise told Empire it became his mission last summer to get the “Mission: Impossible 7” production up and running in the safest way possible.

“I’ve produced 30 to 40 movies. I am responsible for thousands, if not tens of thousands, of jobs,” Cruise said. “All my friends in the industry, people that are in distribution, and my crew were like, ‘What are we going to do? I could lose my house!’ So I told the studio and I told the industry, ‘We’re going back. We’re going to get everyone back to work. We’re going to start shooting in the summer. And we’re going to figure out how to do it safely.’”

“Mission: Impossible 7” will open in theaters May 27, 2022 from Paramount Pictures.

Tom Cruise pulls off epic mountain motorbike stunt for ‘Mission: Impossible 7’
by Ben Arnold from https://uk.movies.yahoo.com

Cameras are now rolling again on Mission: Impossible 7, and to celebrate, Tom Cruise has driven a motorbike off the edge of a cliff.

We all recall Cruise hanging from a mountain by his fingernails and clinging on to the side of a plane in past movies.

Norwegian news site NRK has nabbed actual video footage of Cruise performing the stunt, speeding off the ramp, while a plane and helicopter fly overhead.

As the motorbike hurtles towards the ground, Cruise deploys a parachute to bring him safely to the ground.

Locals watched the stunt take place from the valley floor, with Cruise waving to the spectators as he landed safely.

According to reports, the production had to wait for several days for the weather conditions to be just right for the stunt.

Earlier this year, McQuarrie revealed that there are three ‘obscene’ stunts being planned for the movie, with this surely being one of them.

He told the Empire podcast: “We’ve figured out three obscene things that he’s doing that I’m terrified of, that make the (Mission: Impossible – Fallout) helicopter chase look like tinker toys.”

The movie had to close down production in Venice in late February, one of the first major movies to do so, following the outbreak of coronavirus.

The movie was slated for release on 19 November, 2021, having been shunted back from 23 July. Further delay is expected.

Monster Energy Releases ‘The Unknown Ride 2’ Motorcycle Action Film On Youtube Today

By General Posts

It’s finally here! Once again, Monster Energy teams up with UNKNOWN Industries crew for their second and highly anticipated video feature: ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ follows Nick Leonetti, Buddy Suttle, Kade Gates, Seth Brisson, Wheelie Pig and Arizonan wheelie prodigy Tallboy Tee smashing the streets through the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona on their iconic Harley’s.

Presented by Monster Energy and produced by Lurk Creative in partnership with UNKNOWN Industries, ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ is live on YouTube as a full-length feature. Follow the link to see the highly anticipated thirteen-minute action video that has the motorcycle world buzzing.

The new release is the official sequel to 2016’s mini action flick ‘The UNKNOWN Ride’ that was shot in Oakland, California, and has garnered over 2.7 million views on YouTube to date. Four years later, the crew is back, upping the ante with a potent blend of high-octane bike action, next level cinematography, scenic Arizona vistas, and a special appearance by the Monster Energy Girls.

“This is probably one of the sickest films we have ever made! I’m so fortunate to be creating high-production content with some of my closest friends like Nick and Buddy. The Unknown crew came through and raised the bar, putting their unique riding skills on full display. Tucson’s year-round sunshine and the scenic desert landscape provided the perfect backdrop for another true classic,” said Ash Hodges aka Dirt Shark, who directed and produced the new film. “The Unknown Ride was a Bay Area classic and I didn’t know how to back that one up. Luckily, the City of Tucson and Pima County gave us the key to the City and let us create another video banger. We really focused on stepping up the production value and cinematography on this one to compete with the original Unknown Ride piece. Helicopters, a dedicated camera vehicle, and raw audio set up on each bike really helped elevate our game. This one really came together!”

Ride along as ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ crew rips through the streets of Tucson and out into the Sonoran Desert in search of missing rider ‘Wheelie Pig.’ See the Unknown riders drift their Harley’s through iconic Tucson locations, including Tallboys Bar, and wheelie down the infamous Miracle Mile. Also watch the crew burn rubber and lurk through the desert landscapes passing spectacular cacti, including the giant saguaro, a symbol of the American Southwest.

Filmed in 4K high-definition, the action cycles through night and day as the UNKNOWN’s crew burn out, slide, and 12 o’clock wheelie over the hot Arizona concrete past the city’s signature neon lights.

The short film premiered last night in a special free-to-attend event presented by Monster Energy at Mystic Theatre in the Unknown’s hometown of Petaluma, California. Those in attendance were treated to a concert with Mickey Avalon, and a special appearance from Monster Energy’s freestyle motocross riders Axell Hodges and Jeremy Stenberg who have cameos in the piece.

The first 200 guests, comprised of both Bay Area and Sonoma County hardcore enthusiasts received a special long sleeve commemorative T-shirt designed for the premiere event by Ash Hodges.

Ready to see what all of the hype’s about? See for yourself as the thirteen-minute-long, ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ is available to watch now, free online on YouTube.

Also make sure to follow the social media hashtag #UnknownRide2 for athlete stories and behind-the-scenes looks at this high-octane video production and launch event.

Media representatives can click on the following link to download video and photo assets surrounding the launch of ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ video presented by Monster Energy and produced by Lurk Creative featuring the UNKNOWN Industries team.

Also visit www.monsterenergy.com and follow Monster Energy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for exclusive updates on our team of moto athletes.

Monster Energy Releases ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ Motorcycle Action Film on YouTube Today

By General Posts

Thirteen-Minute Film Showcasing UNKNOWN Industries Team Shredding in Tucson, Arizona Launches Online

CORONA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#monsterenergy–It’s finally here! Once again, Monster Energy teams up with UNKNOWN Industries crew for their second and highly anticipated video feature: ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ follows Nick Leonetti, Buddy Suttle, Kade Gates, Seth Brisson, Wheelie Pig and Arizonan wheelie prodigy Tallboy Tee smashing the streets through the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona on their iconic Harley’s.

Presented by Monster Energy and produced by Lurk Creative in partnership with UNKNOWN Industries, ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ is live on YouTube as a full-length feature. Follow the link to see the highly anticipated thirteen-minute action video that has the motorcycle world buzzing.

The new release is the official sequel to 2016’s mini action flick ‘The UNKNOWN Ride’ that was shot in Oakland, California, and has garnered over 2.7 million views on YouTube to date. Four years later, the crew is back, upping the ante with a potent blend of high-octane bike action, next level cinematography, scenic Arizona vistas, and a special appearance by the Monster Energy Girls.

“This is probably one of the sickest films we have ever made! I’m so fortunate to be creating high-production content with some of my closest friends like Nick and Buddy. The Unknown crew came through and raised the bar, putting their unique riding skills on full display. Tucson’s year-round sunshine and the scenic desert landscape provided the perfect backdrop for another true classic,” said Ash Hodges aka Dirt Shark, who directed and produced the new film. “The Unknown Ride was a Bay Area classic and I didn’t know how to back that one up. Luckily, the City of Tucson and Pima County gave us the key to the City and let us create another video banger. We really focused on stepping up the production value and cinematography on this one to compete with the original Unknown Ride piece. Helicopters, a dedicated camera vehicle, and raw audio set up on each bike really helped elevate our game. This one really came together!”

Ride along as ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ crew rips through the streets of Tucson and out into the Sonoran Desert in search of missing rider ‘Wheelie Pig.’ See the Unknown riders drift their Harley’s through iconic Tucson locations, including Tallboys Bar, and wheelie down the infamous Miracle Mile. Also watch the crew burn rubber and lurk through the desert landscapes passing spectacular cacti, including the giant saguaro, a symbol of the American Southwest.

Filmed in 4K high-definition, the action cycles through night and day as the UNKNOWN’s crew burn out, slide, and 12 o’clock wheelie over the hot Arizona concrete past the city’s signature neon lights.

The short film premiered last night in a special free-to-attend event presented by Monster Energy at Mystic Theatre in the Unknown’s hometown of Petaluma, California. Those in attendance were treated to a concert with Mickey Avalon, and a special appearance from Monster Energy’s freestyle motocross riders Axell Hodges and Jeremy Stenberg who have cameos in the piece.

The first 200 guests, comprised of both Bay Area and Sonoma County hardcore enthusiasts received a special long sleeve commemorative T-shirt designed for the premiere event by Ash Hodges.

Ready to see what all of the hype’s about? See for yourself as the thirteen-minute-long, ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ is available to watch now, free online on YouTube.

Also make sure to follow the social media hashtag #UnknownRide2 for athlete stories and behind-the-scenes looks at this high-octane video production and launch event.

Media representatives can click on the following link to download video and photo assets surrounding the launch of ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ video presented by Monster Energy and produced by Lurk Creative featuring the UNKNOWN Industries team.

Also visit www.monsterenergy.com and follow Monster Energy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for exclusive updates on our team of moto athletes.