Chad was a close friend to many folks in the Pelican community, and especially in the RGruppe world. Honestly, it's hard to guess who he wasn't friendly with in the car world as he loved cars and car people.
He passed, fittingly enough as his friend Freeman Thomas noted, on "911."
I've worked closely with Chad and his family for 20 years, starting up McQueen Racing in 2010 and producing a number of films, cars, and bike projects. I've worked and been around many celebs and kids of celebs, and Chad remains the most authentic, approachable, and likable guy I'ver ever known.
I was at one of the car shows where he approached a young man in the armed services who had driven his '68 Bullitt Mustang tribute thousands of miles to attend. They had a wonderful time talking about his dad, the film, and his tribute build. The car was good - not concours but the kind of build you'd do if you were a service guy on a very limited income doing most of the work yourself. At the end of the show, Chad presented him with the trophy for Best Bullitt car, and the guy was speechless and in tears receiving the trophy. Chad knew what it meant to him. He also knew what the show meant to the team that ran the Boys Republic - Steve's former reform school. He worked tirelessly so that the car show became their largest fundraiser, raising millions and helping troubled kids find their way like was done for his dad.
Chad had zero ego - and he gave zero F*&Ks about anything pretentious. If you were genuine and decent - better if you liked Porsches and his dad - you were ok with him.
Chad had the most encyclopedic knowledge of cars of anyone I've known - walking a car show like Rennsport with him was the best thing a car guy could do as you'd stand dumbfounded as he described the car, the drivers that raced that car, the races....there was no end to his depth of knowledge.
He knew his dad's cars like they were his - and several were. He owned his dad's 1958 speedster, and his 1969 911s (one two purchased for the film "Le Mans"). If you were lucky and trusted, you got a ride. He trusted almost no one to drive or work on his dad's cars, and our mutual friend was the only one he let fire them up. He owned and experienced almost every car you can think of - but his love for Porsches was unsurpassed.
I remember calling him when I bought a Z4M Coupe and he patiently listened to me while I excitedly described it. When I was done, he said simply "Not a Porsche" and hung up. He understood what I didn't - and he helped guide me to my first Porsche (a 914-6 conversion) and later Porsches.
It's hard to grow up in the shadow of someone as famous as his dad, but Chad embraced his legacy and he zealously protected his dad's. If you wanted to license Steve McQueen, and god forbid on a car or motorcycle, you'd better be ready to be grilled. He understood some of the limitations, and when a manufacturer couldn't produce a specific feature (usually due to low volume or EPA regs), Chad ensured they provide him with cars or bikes that he partnered with speciality builders to tune into what Steve would want for his own. If you visit
McQueen Racing you can see some of the examples of hot rod tunes he helped produce. God help you if
you used Steve McQueen without asking (and without the tweaks that Chad knew Steve would want).
He raised his kids like he was raised - they worked for everything they received, and like him, they were wonderful, grateful and decent humans with no ego, and a real pleasure to work with and be around. They are the best stewards of his dad's legacy, and they were featured in many commercials and articles because like Chad, they are the real deal cool McQueen.
I'd encourage watching two things to get a great sense of Chad:
Our 2015 documentary "
Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans" which is an unapologetic and incredible look at the making of that film and the toll it extracted on all involved. Should be on the usual places to rent and stream, and it was one of only three documentary films admitted into Cannes Classic that year. Chad and I sweated so many details to get that story right, even when it wasn't exactly complimentary to his dad's behavior at times. But it was honest.
Nicolas Hunziker's excellent video "
Canyon Carving" which shows Chad as I best remember him - driving the roads in Mulholland or Hwy 74 in "Agent Orange", his twin plug short stroke 911. That's how most of his close friends will fondly remember Chad - early morning runs in the air cooleds.
The Porsche and racing world lost a dear friend this week. It's fitting that the ACO/Le Mans
paid tribute to Chad - he'd like that one the best.
