‘Gene Hackman started racing at 55. At that age, most people struggle to park at the supermarket.’
While most actors stick to the screen, Hackman needed speed, competing in endurance racing well into his 50s.
From battling at Daytona to taking inspiration from ‘The French Connection’s’ legendary car chase, he lived the ultimate double life.
But could he have gone pro?
Let’s find out
Gene Hackman: The Oscar-Winning Race Car Driver
1. Late Start, Fast Cars
Most racers start young. Hackman? He began at ’55.’
Already an acting legend, he turned his passion for speed into real competition.
2. Daytona Challenge
He competed in the 1983 24 Hours of Daytona, one of the world’s toughest endurance races.
Behind the wheel of a Porsche 935, he faced real professionals.
3. Hollywood’s Racing Club
Hackman wasn’t alone — Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, and James Garner all had the bug.
4. SCCA and IMSA Racing
He competed in SCCA and IMSA proper pro-level racing.
Trained at Bob Bondurant’s school, where real racers sharpened their skills.
5. The ‘French Connection’ to Racing
His famous ‘French Connection’ car chase sparked his love for fast driving.
6. A Quiet Exit
By the late ’80s, he had left racing and retired from acting in the 2000s.
Final Thought
While Newman was Hollywood’s most famous racer, Hackman was the quiet competitor. An Oscar-winning actor and a race driver? Now, that is a proper double life.
‘Hackman raced a Porsche 935 at Daytona. That’s like deciding to ‘try a bit of running’ and entering the London Marathon.’
