Murray Walker, National Treasure?
Discussion
For many years 'The Voice of Motor Sport' in the UK, Murray is in his eighties now, and he knew when it was time to semi-retire.
I know he has his detractors, but he's been a great ambassador for our sport. Quite apart from his obvious passion and enthusiasm, he's always come across as a genuinely nice bloke who is welcomed with affection wherever he goes.
Is there a tribute to him at any UK circuit?
With the potential of new development at Silverstone I think it would be nice to see a corner, grandstand or media facility named in his honour.
Preferably while he's still around to enjoy it.
Anybody agree?
I know he has his detractors, but he's been a great ambassador for our sport. Quite apart from his obvious passion and enthusiasm, he's always come across as a genuinely nice bloke who is welcomed with affection wherever he goes.
Is there a tribute to him at any UK circuit?
With the potential of new development at Silverstone I think it would be nice to see a corner, grandstand or media facility named in his honour.
Preferably while he's still around to enjoy it.
Anybody agree?
NO!
Nice bloke? Could be - never met him.
Bumbling idiot, who could not see Scumsucker's flaws as a person, or sportsman - definitely.
Other than being around for ages, I never heard him say anything in commentary that gave me the feeling he was any kind of 'expert' (cf. the wonderful Brundle).
Popular British Amateurism at its most nauseatingly overestimated.
Nice bloke? Could be - never met him.
Bumbling idiot, who could not see Scumsucker's flaws as a person, or sportsman - definitely.
Other than being around for ages, I never heard him say anything in commentary that gave me the feeling he was any kind of 'expert' (cf. the wonderful Brundle).
Popular British Amateurism at its most nauseatingly overestimated.
Edited by CiderwithCerbie on Sunday 6th December 06:14
Not sure about renaming a corner, but wouldn't disagree with most of the rest of the original post.
Some years ago we were at Brands Hatch for the BTCC, staying in a hotel nearby where some of the teams also stayed. Murray was guest of Alfa Romeo; big group round a dinner table - kids were coming to him for autographs - he was very good with them and then said the kids should be really getting the autographs of the drivers, who were the real stars, ex F1 drivers, he told the kids - Derek Warwick and Gabrieli Tarquini!
First and foremost he is a fan and his enthusiasm is what made him so infectious in the commentary. He never pretended to be the expert - that was what James and later Martin and others were there for.
Some years ago we were at Brands Hatch for the BTCC, staying in a hotel nearby where some of the teams also stayed. Murray was guest of Alfa Romeo; big group round a dinner table - kids were coming to him for autographs - he was very good with them and then said the kids should be really getting the autographs of the drivers, who were the real stars, ex F1 drivers, he told the kids - Derek Warwick and Gabrieli Tarquini!
First and foremost he is a fan and his enthusiasm is what made him so infectious in the commentary. He never pretended to be the expert - that was what James and later Martin and others were there for.
I think his passion for the sport and obvious enthusiasm and love for his job made up for a lot of his flaws as a commentator, but I must confess I'd far rather be listening to someone a bit more savvy and insightful that can impart pearls of wisdom without the mistakes every other sentence.
A gold watch, and a place in the history books, perhaps a nostalgic rendition of "and it's go, go go in Monaco" in replays of old footage, but a corner named after him? I think there's far more deserving people in the history of the sport tbh.
A gold watch, and a place in the history books, perhaps a nostalgic rendition of "and it's go, go go in Monaco" in replays of old footage, but a corner named after him? I think there's far more deserving people in the history of the sport tbh.
Well given the level of F1 knowledge on here I think its a fair degree of certainty that Murray knew a damn site more than most about his subject of choice.
Murray was a class act and I would far rather be listening to him and James than anyone Ive heard since bar the Eurosport MotoGP boys. Brundle is ok, but his best bit are the pitlane walks, during the race he says more intelligent things than his colleagues, but he is a little bland. Hunt just didnt care what he said and carried his prejudices with him. That was much more entertaining and commentators are there to entertain, not to inform.
Murray was a class act and I would far rather be listening to him and James than anyone Ive heard since bar the Eurosport MotoGP boys. Brundle is ok, but his best bit are the pitlane walks, during the race he says more intelligent things than his colleagues, but he is a little bland. Hunt just didnt care what he said and carried his prejudices with him. That was much more entertaining and commentators are there to entertain, not to inform.
DJC said:
Well given the level of F1 knowledge on here I think its a fair degree of certainty that Murray knew a damn site more than most about his subject of choice.
Murray was a class act and I would far rather be listening to him and James than anyone Ive heard since bar the Eurosport MotoGP boys. Brundle is ok, but his best bit are the pitlane walks, during the race he says more intelligent things than his colleagues, but he is a little bland. Hunt just didnt care what he said and carried his prejudices with him. That was much more entertaining and commentators are there to entertain, not to inform.
Murray was a class act and I would far rather be listening to him and James than anyone Ive heard since bar the Eurosport MotoGP boys. Brundle is ok, but his best bit are the pitlane walks, during the race he says more intelligent things than his colleagues, but he is a little bland. Hunt just didnt care what he said and carried his prejudices with him. That was much more entertaining and commentators are there to entertain, not to inform.
I would prefer to see a "Watkins Corner" before a "Walker Corner". A Murray Walker Media Centre would not be a bad thing though imho.
I'm not sure about the naming thing, however Murray Walker IS motorsport for me. He showed me that having a genuine passion and enthusiasm for a sport, or people that I had never met, was perfectly acceptable. His love for the sport at all its levels, and all disciplines, made my Sunday Grandstand viewing as I grew up through the Rally Cross, BTCC, Lombard RAC, and of course Formula 1.
I've never met the man, however owe a lot of my love of all motorsports to the way that he portrayed them during my youth. My favourite clip, forgetting the comical mistakes, is his commentry as Damon Hill won his championship. This clearly showed his love for the sport, for Graham Hill, and the boy that he had seen grow from the lad in the pitlane, to an adult and personal friend at the pinicle of the the sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFsD9NElDa4&fea...
I've never met the man, however owe a lot of my love of all motorsports to the way that he portrayed them during my youth. My favourite clip, forgetting the comical mistakes, is his commentry as Damon Hill won his championship. This clearly showed his love for the sport, for Graham Hill, and the boy that he had seen grow from the lad in the pitlane, to an adult and personal friend at the pinicle of the the sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFsD9NElDa4&fea...
CiderwithCerbie said:
NO!
Nice bloke? Could be - never met him.
Bumbling idiot, who could not see Scumsucker's flaws as a person, or sportsman - definitely.
Other than being around for ages, I never heard him say anything in commentary that gave me the feeling he was any kind of 'expert' (cf. the wonderful Brundle).
Popular British Amateurism at its most nauseatingly overestimated.
Agree with this.Nice bloke? Could be - never met him.
Bumbling idiot, who could not see Scumsucker's flaws as a person, or sportsman - definitely.
Other than being around for ages, I never heard him say anything in commentary that gave me the feeling he was any kind of 'expert' (cf. the wonderful Brundle).
Popular British Amateurism at its most nauseatingly overestimated.
Edited by CiderwithCerbie on Sunday 6th December 06:14
He is a national treasure.
I have had the privilege of working with him at events. He is totally professional, a genuine enthusiast and could turn anyone into a motorsport fan after five minutes in his company!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3d8xDem5I4&fea...
I have had the privilege of working with him at events. He is totally professional, a genuine enthusiast and could turn anyone into a motorsport fan after five minutes in his company!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3d8xDem5I4&fea...
llewop said:
Not sure about renaming a corner, but wouldn't disagree with most of the rest of the original post.
Some years ago we were at Brands Hatch for the BTCC, staying in a hotel nearby where some of the teams also stayed. Murray was guest of Alfa Romeo; big group round a dinner table - kids were coming to him for autographs - he was very good with them and then said the kids should be really getting the autographs of the drivers, who were the real stars, ex F1 drivers, he told the kids - Derek Warwick and Gabrieli Tarquini!
First and foremost he is a fan and his enthusiasm is what made him so infectious in the commentary. He never pretended to be the expert - that was what James and later Martin and others were there for.
exactlySome years ago we were at Brands Hatch for the BTCC, staying in a hotel nearby where some of the teams also stayed. Murray was guest of Alfa Romeo; big group round a dinner table - kids were coming to him for autographs - he was very good with them and then said the kids should be really getting the autographs of the drivers, who were the real stars, ex F1 drivers, he told the kids - Derek Warwick and Gabrieli Tarquini!
First and foremost he is a fan and his enthusiasm is what made him so infectious in the commentary. He never pretended to be the expert - that was what James and later Martin and others were there for.
Really nice chap.
Met him at Goodwood where he was signing books. Was a quiet spell, no queue and he was happy to chat for 15 mins; was genuinely engaging and very, very knowledgeable with some great stories.
He enthused me, and many others from an early age to watch F1.
Is he perfect? No.
Is anyone perfect? No.
Is he highly respected by drivers, teams and peers? Yes.
Does he communicate a genuine, basal enthusiasm for the sport, and can he convey the complexities into manageable messages that the non-enthusiast can digest? Yes
So an ambassador? Yes.
Met him at Goodwood where he was signing books. Was a quiet spell, no queue and he was happy to chat for 15 mins; was genuinely engaging and very, very knowledgeable with some great stories.
He enthused me, and many others from an early age to watch F1.
Is he perfect? No.
Is anyone perfect? No.
Is he highly respected by drivers, teams and peers? Yes.
Does he communicate a genuine, basal enthusiasm for the sport, and can he convey the complexities into manageable messages that the non-enthusiast can digest? Yes
So an ambassador? Yes.
plg101 said:
Really nice chap.
Met him at Goodwood where he was signing books. Was a quiet spell, no queue and he was happy to chat for 15 mins; was genuinely engaging and very, very knowledgeable with some great stories.
Coincidentally I did exactly the same thing at Goodwood a couple of years ago, saw him sat at a big carved Jaguar desk so rather than just walk past I strolled in and said hello. He was happy to sit chatting wiht me about motor racing for about 10 mins with no mention of the book he was there to promote! It was my wife who finally said "would you like Murray's book?" which I hadn't actually noticed was on sale but of course I bought it and he signed. A really interesting chap and gentleman. And yes, if Silverstone build a new media centre naming after Murray would be ideal.Met him at Goodwood where he was signing books. Was a quiet spell, no queue and he was happy to chat for 15 mins; was genuinely engaging and very, very knowledgeable with some great stories.
Edited by RichB on Sunday 6th December 21:47
Having had the pleasure of working with Murray for a number years, in the past, I can only say he was a pleasure to work with. As well as being a complete gentleman, with and too, anyone he came into contact with. He was fully aware of his role in commentary, which was to provide the springboard for an expert, be it Jackie Stewart, James Hunt or Martin Brundle to talk from a driver’s perspective. What he was very good at, was involving those who happened to catch a broadcast, who were not motorsports fans, who he could draw in with his enthusiasm. To be blunt people like my Mum. Who would never miss a race or programme he worked on. I doubt she would have any idea who presents GPs nowadays.
Having stood next to him in a commentary box and seen the amount of preparation he undertook and also the sometimes scarcity of incoming information, he had to work with, including an often seriously crap picture on his monitor. In some overheated commentary box in the back of beyond. All I can say is, he did one hell of a job at times.
I once walked down the pits with him, on qualifying day at a Moto Gp, in the seventies. He introduced me to everyone he met. The next day when I was working in the pits, everyone I approached would say the same thing. " Are you the guy who was here with Murray? What do you need" The respect of the teams was incredible. Don't forget that back when motor sport was only occasionally on TV, it was Murray's enthusiasm for the sport and his “selling” of it, to the decision makers at the BBC, that was an important part of the BBC decision to cover GPs on a regular basis.
Murray was the first to realise his time was over and retired, to a situation where he is still involved in a sport he loves with a passion.
Having stood next to him in a commentary box and seen the amount of preparation he undertook and also the sometimes scarcity of incoming information, he had to work with, including an often seriously crap picture on his monitor. In some overheated commentary box in the back of beyond. All I can say is, he did one hell of a job at times.
I once walked down the pits with him, on qualifying day at a Moto Gp, in the seventies. He introduced me to everyone he met. The next day when I was working in the pits, everyone I approached would say the same thing. " Are you the guy who was here with Murray? What do you need" The respect of the teams was incredible. Don't forget that back when motor sport was only occasionally on TV, it was Murray's enthusiasm for the sport and his “selling” of it, to the decision makers at the BBC, that was an important part of the BBC decision to cover GPs on a regular basis.
Murray was the first to realise his time was over and retired, to a situation where he is still involved in a sport he loves with a passion.
Murray is a national institution and treasure , highly respected and much loved from most corners of motorsport , I remember him looking a bit flustered at Goodwood FOS a few years ago , pressure of being here there and everywhere I expect. We bumped into him at this years Revival meeting and he was very obliging with an autograph and quick word , very easygoing and a pleasure to meet.
His gaffes are of course legendary but he does have a massive knowledge of all motorsport from two wheels to four wheels , not a lot he doesn't know about really. Growing up watching motorsport in the seventies and eighties would not have been as anything like as enjoyable for most of us.
His gaffes are of course legendary but he does have a massive knowledge of all motorsport from two wheels to four wheels , not a lot he doesn't know about really. Growing up watching motorsport in the seventies and eighties would not have been as anything like as enjoyable for most of us.
slipstream 1985 said:
i cant believe some people on this thread dont like him. i thought on pistonheads this would be just about the 1 topic everyone would agree on.
Exactly, he wasn't there to be a robot expert, he was there for his passion for the sport, which he kept up for an amazing length of time, and then ended it himself at the right time. I don't think it needs arguing really, there is so much respect for the man in motorsport.Another +1 for him being a nice guy, over a decade of Goodwood Revivals and FOS i've bumped into him a couple of times, got his autograph years ago, and he was always the nicest man you could meet. Seeing him in the Drivers mess i will always say Hi Murray, and get a warm greeting and a smile back even though he doesn't know me at all, above all he is a true gentlemen who makes time for anyone who wishes to speak to him.
He's been one of englands greatest ambassadors for motorsport in my opinion, and has is a huge part of motorsport history for this country.
Like many I listened to Murray for more years than I care to remember.
I agree he is a national treasure and should be recognised as such.
Personally I feel that we should have a corner named after him because he will have got so many people into/involved in motorsport.
But I'd agree with naming media centre after him as well - for the obvious reason!
Mid 1980's I was spannering on a race car (can't remember if it was a FF2000, Sports 2000 or something else) Murray was there and came to our garage to ask all about our car & driver. I don't think our race was televised! Murray just came to us because he is an enthusiast.
And he talked to the driver and us spanner monkeys in the same way - ie. we were just as important to him as the driver.
I agree he is a national treasure and should be recognised as such.
Personally I feel that we should have a corner named after him because he will have got so many people into/involved in motorsport.
But I'd agree with naming media centre after him as well - for the obvious reason!
Mid 1980's I was spannering on a race car (can't remember if it was a FF2000, Sports 2000 or something else) Murray was there and came to our garage to ask all about our car & driver. I don't think our race was televised! Murray just came to us because he is an enthusiast.
And he talked to the driver and us spanner monkeys in the same way - ie. we were just as important to him as the driver.
amazing man to talk to, First met him when I was around ten at a book signing for my dad as a present, he spoke to me for a bout ten minutes explaining how my dad ( a marshal) was the most important person at any race meeting. Met him again at the silverstone classic when a car I built was used for a promo shot or 5million and He was just brilliant. Talked to everyone and made a point of saying goodbye to everyone after too.
skeggysteve said:
Mid 1980's I was spannering on a race car (can't remember if it was a FF2000, Sports 2000 or something else) Murray was there and came to our garage to ask all about our car & driver. I don't think our race was televised! Murray just came to us because he is an enthusiast.
And he talked to the driver and us spanner monkeys in the same way - ie. we were just as important to him as the driver.
I recall being at Silverstone in the late seventies, possibly '80, with a mate who was competing in Mini Miglia. A typical club racing day with British F3 top of the bill.And he talked to the driver and us spanner monkeys in the same way - ie. we were just as important to him as the driver.
At this time, of course, Murray was travelling the world with the F1 circus.
But he was there, in the pits, chatting to drivers, mechanics and team managers.
That was when I first realised that he was an enthusiast first, and broadcaster second.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff