Which commentators made motorsport for you?

Which commentators made motorsport for you?

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Discussion

Oldwolf

Original Poster:

932 posts

193 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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Easy top 4 for me....

Murray Walker - brought a passion and excitement to F1 that made it accessible to all. A true quality.
Martin Brundle - I find Martin to be a realist, my respect for him increased even more when he publicly criticised the last F1 race of 2017. Oh and he can describe what the drivers are doing on track better than nearly anybody.
John Hindhaugh - Simply, a legend. I remember his apoplectic rage at Peugeot when they were really pushing the rules at Le Mans to keep Audi behind their lower placed car.
Carlton Kirkby - I know Stephan Peterhansel is Mr Dakar but I reckon Carlton comes close. Only criticism is that he can't translate Russian!! Lol! (but he made an entertaining guess!)

I am sure I will be flamed but I don't care, my thread, my opinion and I will continue to enjoy three of the four and I met Murray, he's a Great Man.

Stuart Thompson

581 posts

163 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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Hard to disagree with that, on a personal note I would add Brian Jones, as a Brands Hatch regular as a kid his voice made motoracing for me.

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

163 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Agree with above 're Brian Jones,I went to Brands ALOT in the 80s n 90s.

Same with Murray.

I'm of an age when he was just about the only commentator on motorsport on tv.

ETA ...and he did all disciplines,rallying and we've all seen,heard his rallyx gaffes.

Of current crop,Hindhaugh and David Addison,both very knowledgeable and clear broadcasters.

Edited by Pericoloso on Friday 12th January 00:29

Wombat3

12,078 posts

206 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Don't know about which ones made it....but those numpties Jonathan Leggard & James Allen damn nearly killed it! irked

Eric Mc

121,941 posts

265 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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I'm old enough to remember Raymond Baxter being the BBC's main commentator. And I always liked Irish commentator Alan "Plum" Tyndall - who you never got to hear over here.

GravelBen

15,679 posts

230 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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I do enjoy Colin Clark's meandering WRC commentary.

That git Jon Desborough on WRC live stages though... I have to watch it muted and listen to something else.

2172cc

1,095 posts

97 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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If your a big rallycross fan from the 80's and 90's then its got to be Arthur Debenham. The guy is a legend

Jerry Can

4,447 posts

223 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Steve Rider, the voice of 80's rallying. OR possible Dickie Davies for early 80's rallying and occasionally Jim Rosenthal.

greeny12

300 posts

219 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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I used to love James Hunt's co-commentary on F1. So many great anecdotes and so little regard for PR protocol.

If I had a quid for every time he used to remark how he kept a bit of rag between his legs to wipe the grime off his helmet visor... even to this day, whenever I'm driving with a cold I always keep a cloth hanky in my lap as a little tribute...

motco

15,941 posts

246 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Eric Mc said:
I'm old enough to remember Raymond Baxter being the BBC's main commentator. And I always liked Irish commentator Alan "Plum" Tyndall - who you never got to hear over here.
John Bolster comes to mind from that era

andrewcliffe

955 posts

224 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Murray Walker, James Hunt and Martin Brundle.

It was a shame that Gary Anderson's spell as a technical pundit didn't last long.

Too many commentators just rely on shouting but without the obvious passion of Murray Walker.

chris285

811 posts

132 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Watching late 80's/early 90's murry walker is the voice that stands out for me, brought an enthusiasm that is difficult to replace

I do like Martin Brundle as well, as said great insights come from him

chunder27

2,309 posts

208 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Arthur Debenham in rallycross, used to walk round the pits hour before the meeting picking up news, something more journos should do. And was a fabulous commentator too.

Fred Clarke the BSB guy, been doing it for donkeys years.

I also like Keith Huewen in MotoGP and over the years BSB and Superbikes, brings a real enthusiasm.

I can tell you countless I hate. Carlton Kirby, most of the Eurosport lot other than Martin Haven who is excellent. Never liked James Allen. And Murray was hot and cold, but of a certain age the voice of your racing youth.

But above all Croft, who is the worst I have ever heard and seems to think being bad is a good thing so proud of himself he thinks. Pathetic that he is probably being paid a fortune to do such a st job.

garythesign

2,082 posts

88 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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andrewcliffe said:
Murray Walker, James Hunt and Martin Brundle.

It was a shame that Gary Anderson's spell as a technical pundit didn't last long.

Too many commentators just rely on shouting but without the obvious passion of Murray Walker.
I agree with the above.

Also, David Addison on BTCC

Used to love Charlie Cox and Steve Parish. Great double act.

Don't have sky but read lots of bad reviews of David Croft.

Balgair

73 posts

141 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Murray Walker, Martin Brundle, Charlie Cox - yeah not everyone liked Cox but as a teenager I found his comments hilarious, added a good bit of flavour. David Addison nowadays, he's great on BTCC, hope he stays there for a long time to come.

Dermot O'Logical

2,574 posts

129 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Toby Moody and Julian Ryder were excellent MotoGP commentators, and I miss their double act.

As far as Formula 1 goes, I grew up listening to Murray Walker, and his "trousers on fire" commentary style obviously influenced many others. Martin Brundle adds some knowledgeable gravitas on Sky, and while Crofty gets a bit over-excited and confused he's still better than Jonathan Legard or James Allen. Overall, I think the Sky team do an excellent job of covering Grands Prix, and provide lots of interesting background information as well.

Brian Jones will always be "the voice of Brands". Live circuit commentary must be so much harder than doing it on tv, with endless multi-angle cameras, data feeds and replays available.

99dndd

2,080 posts

89 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Agreeing with many of the above but wanted to ad Ben Edwards and John Watson as a quality duo on Eurosport's Champ Car coverage.

chunder27

2,309 posts

208 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Moody got far too big for his boots in latter years and tried his hand at a few things before taking a role being KTM's press man as no-one wanted to work with him anymore I think!

Huewen is far, far better. For me at least.

Erdy

100 posts

125 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Charlie Cox & John Watson

tankslapper's, magnets, sweedish shuffles smile

2172cc

1,095 posts

97 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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Jerry Can said:
Steve Rider, the voice of 80's rallying. OR possible Dickie Davies for early 80's rallying and occasionally Jim Rosenthal.
Still have quite a few rallies on VHS recorded from World of Sport with voice over from Dickie Davies. His voice and the delivery were excellent with quite a few of the sayings and one liners he used still being repeated to this day. Mind you Fred Dinenage was also pretty good as well.