RIP Murray Walker

Absolute legend. Was only talking about him the other day. I think there will be a lot of tributes when F1 starts up. A lot of nice films and pieces on what he brought to F1. A true gentlemen and passionate commentator that will never, ever be replaced. His way with words, his mistakes and passion made everything so fun and more exciting. I remember watching as a kid with Martin Brundle correcting him all the time. The best duo. Awesome. Murray with his murrayisms. Such great memories. RIP Murray. We'll never forget you.


 
I've been lucky enough to go to the British Grand Prix 3 times in the late 90s and I think it was 1997 when Hill was with Arrows me and a couple of mates managed to somehow get into the paddock after the race I was so excited I got into the Jordan garage and took a photo of the car with back off the whole engine was on show and then I got a photo of the front wing from Hills car with the number 1 on it.

I was on cloud 9 best day ever then we heard some loud music and saw a bridge from the paddock to where all the teams where and a few people going over, we sheepishly went over knowing full well we were so out of bounds it was unreal and there it was the drivers after party with David Coulthard **** up on stage trying to sing something. We stayed for a few minutes at the edge of the walkway took a few photos but we decided to leave before our luck run out plus as the only teenagers we stuck out like a sore thumb!!

So on the way back over the bridge we were chatting about how awesome it all was and we couldn't wait to tell all our parents when we got back to the campsite and who should we see coming towards us on the bridge... OMG it's Murray Walker, the legend was off to party and like every cool guest he was turning up late!!

I don't even think I mentioned the party and the cars to my dad until we got the photos developed all we talked about was seeing Murray!
 
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I was actually quite surprised to see on the BBC sport report he only did full time F1 commentating for 23 years 1978-2001 (though did work for the BBC for years before that) so Brundle actually overtakes him this year!
 
I'm gutted. Absolutely cushed. I've dreaded this day for probably 30 years now. He did so well at his age to overcome cancer and still make occasional visits to the paddock. A F1 legend. A military legend.

The Mansell and Murray Show, no The Murray and Mansell Show.

I know which one sounds best, and while many will remember him for his immortal line of "I've got to stop... because I've got a lump in my throat" at Suzuka in 1996, I'll forever remember him for his poetic moments making my childhood with Mansell.

It was sort of fitting that during the lunch break today that Sky chose to show the 1987 classic of Silverstone with Mansell chasing down Piquet and at the last minute making what was at the time a seismic move for the win... yet all the way through that iconic move Hunt kept the microphone from Murray, and all you can hear is him in the background crying in both anguish (as he thought Piquet was about to take them both out) and delight (as Mansell kept in there and took a legendary win).

CSMonkeh said:
He did for radio. For example the monsoon that was the 2007 German GP at Nurburgring
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Yeah, Croft was off covering something else (darts probably) so Murray made an exception and came back. Even a long retired old man made such a difference to the commentary that I remember splicing together the TV feed with the 5 Live commentary and sharing the link with friends.

Poor Murray didn't pick an easy race for his final commentary. A deluge after the formation lap, the leader missing the pit lane entry, a driver making his debut in a Spyker leading by more than half a minute and (re)starting from pole, Hamilton making contact with the colliding BMWs and suffering a puncture and then getting stuck in the gravel for at least a minute before getting craned out (unheard of at the time), while you've got another forewarning of Bianci's fatal accident and an Alonso masterclass overhauling Massa and overtaking with a move probably only bettered by the second placed fight between Villeneuve and Arnoux at Dijon in 1979.

This is that commentary; his last live one as far as I know:


I believe he only made one other commentary comeback after leaving the booth in 2001 (at Melbourne in 2006 for Australian TV).
 
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