Murray Walker RIP

LollipopJimmy · 13-03-2021 6:06pm #1

Reports Murray has passed away. The voice of F1, inrivaled for his passion and enthusiasm for the sport.

RIP

https://twitter.com/MBrundleF1/status/1370796795165573124

13-03-2021 6:07pm

No commentator in any sport compared. Legend. RIP.

13-03-2021 6:07pm

...."...is out of the race!"

Irreplaceable.

RIP, Murray.

GreeBo · 13-03-2021 6:08pm

He was F1 for me as a child.

Beechwoodspark · 13-03-2021 6:09pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

No commentator in any sport compared. Legend. RIP.

Wouldn’t go that far -

He was very good for motor sports though

Rip Murray will have a wee dram in your honour later on

LollipopJimmy · 13-03-2021 6:12pm

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Wouldn’t go that far -

He was very good for motor sports though

Rip Murray will have a wee dram in your honour later on

Tell me you wouldn't watch snooker if Murray Walker commentated on it

https://youtu.be/zl-oAsDCGNA

Beechwoodspark · 13-03-2021 6:14pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Tell me you wouldn't watch snooker if Murray Walker commentated on it

https://youtu.be/zl-oAsDCGNA

I am a big fan of snooker and rate certain snooker commentators above Murray in the “pantheon” of sports commentators but that’s off topic

MW was the “gold standard” for F1 commentary and we should remember him as that

ThewhiteJesus · 13-03-2021 6:17pm

Legend, RIP

Killinator · 13-03-2021 6:18pm

'I've got to stop because I've got a lump in my throat'

RIP Murray

Dtp1979 · 13-03-2021 6:18pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

No commentator in any sport compared. Legend. RIP.

You’re right there Murray

Ohmeha · 13-03-2021 6:26pm

Absolute genuine legend that man RIP

13-03-2021 6:29pm

Only thinking about him the other day watching old clips. The excitement of waking up when you're 6 at 5am to watch a race taking place on the other side of the world on your own in the sitting room with a bowl of cereal and Murray sounding as excited as you felt, little compared.

Cheerio Murray.

Frank Bullitt · 13-03-2021 6:31pm

Genuinely sad at this.

My Sundays as a boy were spent watching F1 with him talking you through it. What a voice and character.

Won't be another like him.

blueser · 13-03-2021 6:32pm

The daddy of F1 commentators.

"Aaaand there he gooooes...."

RIP Murray.

Inquitus · 13-03-2021 6:33pm

RIP, the voice of F1 for soo many years.

Itssoeasy · 13-03-2021 6:34pm

Fierce sad news. A massive part of F1 history and like his contemporaries in other sports he told a story and made you become invested in F1. James hunt is going to have to share the commentary mic in the sky again.

Wanderer78 · 13-03-2021 6:34pm

rip

collie0708 · 13-03-2021 6:36pm

RIP Murray.

Brilliant commentator and F1 legend.

Mental Mickey · 13-03-2021 6:39pm

Ah f**k. Genuinely sad at this news. He was a genuinely likeable character guy. No ego, no bull****.

duffman13 · 13-03-2021 6:39pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Only thinking about him the other day watching old clips. The excitement of waking up when you're 6 at 5am to watch a race taking place on the other side of the world on your own in the sitting room with a bowl of cereal and Murray sounding as excited as you felt, little compared.

Cheerio Murray.

Pretty much this, I remember being a small child and getting up at stupid o clock to watch races by myself with the voice of Murray to keep you entertained and excited. I vaguely recall him talking about Melbourne when it moved there and how it was such unique track and it made me want to go there which I did twice and he wasn't wrong.

A voice of a generation and possibly the peek era of F1 racing. Different league for me to anyone else. RIP

Normal One · 13-03-2021 6:40pm

What a legend, RIP

Tom Mann Centuria · 13-03-2021 6:42pm

Asking Nigel Mansell where he was hurt then poking that exact spot (accidentally). I don't think he was the best commentator ever but surely must be one of the most passionate and enthusiastic commentator about his sport ever. RIP.

ctrl-alt-delete · 13-03-2021 6:43pm

I could still hear him commentating as I watch these days, an iconic voice that can't be forgotten.

R.I.P.

recyclebin · 13-03-2021 6:43pm

We didn't have the BBC growing up in 90s so never really had the joy of listening to his live commentary but I did spend hours and hours playing Formula 1 97 on the original PlayStation so some of his catch phrases are engrained in my brain ever since!

Andrewf20 · 13-03-2021 6:44pm

Lived more than twice as long as James Hunt who commentated with him back in the 80s and 90s. Another huge name of my childhood / teenage years passes away. Rip, sadly missed.

UrbanFret · 13-03-2021 6:46pm

Andrewf20 wrote: »

Lived more than twice as long as James Hunt who commentated with him back in the 80s and 90s. Another huge name of my childhood / teenage years passes away. Rip, sadly missed.

Who had the most fun though?;)
Rip Murray.

13-03-2021 6:49pm

duffman13 wrote: »

Pretty much this, I remember being a small child and getting up at stupid o clock to watch races by myself with the voice of Murray to keep you entertained and excited. I vaguely recall him talking about Melbourne when it moved there and how it was such unique track and it made me want to go there which I did twice and he wasn't wrong.

A voice of a generation and possibly the peek era of F1 racing. Different league for me to anyone else. RIP

The lack of cynicism was something I miss. He made mistakes and all the rest but he was before the simpering banter commentators who've become the norm across most sports in the last 20 years.
He got excited and you could tell he really did love the sport and the chance to be a part of it. He seemed to make actual friends and didn't try to hide it behind a veneer of impartiality. Some may criticise him for that but it feeds back around to the lack of cynicism IMO.

Zaph · 13-03-2021 6:51pm

A genuine legend and one of the most instantly recognisable commentators in any sport. Even people who had no interest in motor racing knew who Murray Walker was. I have no doubt that his enthusiasm for F1 attracted many fans who may not have bothered otherwise. RIP

kksaints · 13-03-2021 6:53pm

recyclebin wrote: »

We didn't have the BBC growing up in 90s so never really had the joy of listening to his live commentary but I did spend hours and hours playing Formula 1 97 on the original PlayStation so some of his catch phrases are engrained in my brain ever since!

Same here. Remember him from the computer game. It's funny how much of the commentating sticks in your head.

When you watch the archive footage you realize that he made a lot of mistakes particularly in his last few years commentating but his enthusiasm and passion made up for it. RIP

velo.2010 · 13-03-2021 6:55pm

RIP Murray Walker.

Infoanon · 13-03-2021 6:58pm

"Bernie , when you bought McLaren ","Murray ,I never bought McLaren ".

Legendary commentator RIP

padd b1975 · 13-03-2021 7:02pm

"When did you first realise you had a puncture?"

Damon Hill (through gritted teeth): "When the air went out of the tyre Murray ".

flazio · 13-03-2021 7:22pm

Ah, it's the 99 game that sticks in my mind. Murray and those engines. What an intro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMZu1tKPkD0

WomanSkirtFan8 · 13-03-2021 8:03pm

An absolute F1 legend. He made F1 so much fun back in the day alongside his co-commentators, James Hunt (RIP) , Jonathan Palmer and of course, Martin Brundle.

"There's nothing wrong with the car except that it's on fire!"

RIP Murray and thanks for all of those fantastic memories!

Psychedelic Hedgehog · 13-03-2021 8:08pm

For the first 25 years of my life, Murray was a constant, knowledgeable, soothing (with his pants on fire style!) voice. His Murrayisms only made him more memorable.

It was hard to get used to F1 without him.

May he rest in peace.

enricoh · 13-03-2021 8:12pm

Did he race at the tt at one stage? Bikes were his real passion iirc from an interview years ago, but formula one paid the bills..
97 - not a bad innings at all, rip.

flazio · 13-03-2021 8:25pm

It's a wonder he was never made "Sir Murray Walker"

The Royal Scam · 13-03-2021 8:30pm

RIP, my first few years listening to him and Hunt set the foundation my absolute passion to this day

AMKC · 13-03-2021 8:42pm

RIP Murray Walker you legend. They will never be another like him.
He will ne back up beside James Hunt doing the commentary for those gone before us.

Doctors room ghost · 13-03-2021 8:45pm

“You’re right there Murray”

He was a great commentator

Andrewf20 · 13-03-2021 9:13pm

Pic of 2 great commentators below, looks like Monaco around 1980. Murray even older then that James was when he died.

13-03-2021 9:15pm

flazio wrote: »

It's a wonder he was never made "Sir Murray Walker"

Ya know I'd assumed he had been til you pointed it out.

Bit off topic and maybe not the place for it but Brundle mentioned he was in a care home with his wife in another room. They had no kids and I dunno, just kinda forget that even the well-off and well-liked can still end up like that at the end of their lives.

On a happier note Brundle said the last time he spoke to him he asked how was and the reply was something like "Not great to be completely honest but I won't bore you with the details. What's going on in Formula 1?".

lolie · 13-03-2021 9:25pm

Well that was a genuinely very sad bit of news to hear today, RiP Murray.
I remember when Rte started showing F1 I'd always try get in the sitting room before my brother on Subdays and put it on itv to listen to his commentary and not Rte's.
Even though he may have been prone to errors before he retired he was still 100 times better than James shouty Allen who replaced him.

lolie · 13-03-2021 9:39pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Ya know I'd assumed he had been til you pointed it out.

Bit off topic and maybe not the place for it but Brundle mentioned he was in a care home with his wife in another room. They had no kids and I dunno, just kinda forget that even the well-off and well-liked can still end up like that at the end of their lives.

On a happier note Brundle said the last time he spoke to him he asked how was and the reply was something like "Not great to be completely honest but I won't bore you with the details. What's going on in Formula 1?".

He was an only child and had no children himself so its a bit sad to think that apart from his wife he had no close family around him in his later years.
Imagine growing up with him as your uncle or grandad, all the great stories you'd hear.

LollipopJimmy · 13-03-2021 9:40pm

There's a video of Silverstone BTCC from 1992 on YouTube, fantastic race with some gas craic from Murray Walker, well worth a watch

donspeekinglesh · 13-03-2021 9:40pm

enricoh wrote: »

Did he race at the tt at one stage? Bikes were his real passion iirc from an interview years ago, but formula one paid the bills..
97 - not a bad innings at all, rip.

His dad raced bikes and won a TT. He raced a bit, but I think the war got in the way.

13-03-2021 9:42pm

lolie wrote: »

He was an only child and had no children himself so its a bit sad to think that apart from his wife he had no close family around him in his later years.
Imagine growing up with him as your uncle or grandad, all the great stories you'd hear.

Yeah like he just seems like he should have had family all around him. So much knowledge and memories gone just like that.

RobAMerc · 13-03-2021 9:43pm

genuinely saddened by this - a real gent it seems and the back gound voice of my Sunday lunches growing up as a kid.

13-03-2021 9:45pm

Gonna give this a watch in a bit. Watched a video earlier where he mentions going on the show and how excited he was. "That fabulous programme Pointless, my wife and I watch it every night."

lolie · 13-03-2021 11:36pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yeah like he just seems like he should have had family all around him. So much knowledge and memories gone just like that.

He gave so many interviews and told many storys over the years but there's surely some great storys that will go untold.

Psychedelic Hedgehog · 13-03-2021 11:59pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

There's a video of Silverstone BTCC from 1992 on YouTube, fantastic race with some gas craic from Murray Walker, well worth a watch

The 1993 Silverstone BTCC race gifted us another classic Murrayism thanks to Will Hoy's adventures:

"The car upside down is a Toyota" - deliberately or indirectly taking the mickey out of the then current "The car in front is a Toyota" marketing :pac:

Murray Walker RIP

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