Bikers looking for a St Valentine’s Day treat for their partners could consider taking them to see The Great Escape bike at the London Show on Friday morning, where they can meet actor John Leyton who starred in the original 1962 epic film as ‘Willie the tunnel king’.
Leyton has already delivered his own unique behind-the-scenes insight into the filming and production of the film, revealing little-known facts about the world-famous jump and telling stories of what it was like to work alongside Steve McQueen and other members of the all-star cast. The talk was part of an evening at the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience in Hinckley on 30 January.
The evening was designed to:
- Celebrate the audacity and sheer bravery of the Allied soldiers in March 1944 attempting to break out of prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft 3 in Poland.
- Provide previously untold insights into the 1962 film epic that came to immortalise the real ‘Great Escape’ and the iconic motorcycle stunt performed by Bud Ekins, doubling for Steve McQueen, which has become ingrained in film history folklore. Triumph invited John Leyton to appear as special guest for the evening, having been cast into the film as ‘Willie the tunnel king’ by director John Sturges.
- Explain and showcase Triumph’s 2019 partnership with North One Television and Guy Martin, which brought the story back to our TV screens with a modern twist.
The evening comprised:
- A live, big screen airing of North One production’s 2019 Channel 4 television show Guy Martin’s Great Escape.
- A live demonstration of one of the world’s most iconic and valuable motorcycles – the original Triumph TR6 from the 1962 film ‘The Great Escape’ as ridden by Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins for the world-renowned jump – was ridden onto centre stage for the exclusive, delighted audience.
- The public debut of the distinctive Scrambler 1200 XE motorcycle custom built and painted by Triumph in collaboration with Guy Martin for his attempt to recreate and improve on the original 1962 jump.
There are not many people in the world who can say that Steve McQueen taught them how to ride a motorcycle, but John Leyton is one of them. He said: “Everyone was riding bikes on the movie set. There were bikes everywhere! Steve McQueen asked me if I could ride a bike and unfortunately I couldn’t. Steve promptly took it upon himself to teach me how to ride!”
Other special guests of the evening included Dick Shepherd, an enthusiastic collector of Triumph motorcycles with a driving passion for the history of motorcycles. Shepherd is the custodian of the original Triumph TR6 Great Escape film bike, which is displayed permanently at the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience. During this commemorative evening Shepherd rode this famous bike on to stage.
The distinctive Scrambler 1200 XE that was custom built by Triumph with Guy Martin’s assistance was also ridden on to the stage in its first public appearance. His 2019 attempt to recreate the original jump was designed around this bike, to honour the original role of the Triumph TR6 in the 1962 film.
Martin’s plan in the television show also involved jumping further over the additional and higher fence, an exact replica of the original 1962 German-based set. Steve McQueen’s fictional character had attempted landing in Switzerland to ultimate freedom, so the barbed-wire covered fences have come to symbolise freedom for fans the world over.
Triumph’s Chief of Engineering Stuart Wood detailed for the audience the modifications required to set the bike up for the Bavarian jump seen on Channel 4’s Guy Martin’s Great Escape.
A Triumph spokesperson said: “For all film and motorcycle fans who attended, this really was a night to remember. The next special exhibition at the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience will feature the history of the Daytona with some racing legends and never seen before bikes.”