RIP Murray Walker

I was fortunate enough to meet Murray Walker (or more affectionately, Muddly Talker) a few times as a young kid. My formative years were built around trailing the paddocks of Brands, Silverstone & all of the UK circuits, so quite frequently we'd bump into many stars of the future (motorsport was less exclusive back then in the late '70s & early '80s, so pit walks were a frequent thing). Each time we saw Murray he'd always find the time for a quick hello & autograph. One particular time that made us chuckle and epitomised Murray was at Silverstone in 1988 for the F3000 round, we were in the main grandstand early in the morning at the old start, just after the old Woodcote we saw Murray and a young Johnny Herbert walking together down the pitlane - so my dear father, who couldn't resist, shouted out from the grandstand "Murray" in a loud booming voice, Murray Walker stopped in his tracks turned and faced the grandstand and shouted back "Hello Gary". We looked at each other, my dad and I and was stunned, not because Murray Walker knew my dad, he didn't and my dad's name was Tony - it was because Murray was waving to an empty part of the grandstand to someone who was Gary! We could see as they continued to walk off down pitlane, Johnny Herbert tap Murray on the shoulder and point to us, which led Murray to give us a big wave.

I kind of half expected this sooner than later & he'd certainly had a life and half and not just in the motorsport circles either. It's been a weird start to the year as far as motorsport and commentary are concerned as the voice of Brands Hatch, Brian Jones also passed away in January. Rest in peace to both of them - both respected hugely in the motorsport world. I'll leave just one of my favourite Murrayism's here - "Tambay's hopes, which were nil before, are absolutely zero now."
 
Anyone remember free practice 3 of 2011 British GP, he did some commentary, was amazing, last time I heard him do it for F1, so sad he has gone.
 
Like many people, F1 to me was Murray. I think it's fair to say that if it wasn't for Murray's commentary F1 might never have grown into the world wide tv giant that it is now.
A sad sad day for everyone that is passionate about F1. RIP Murray.

"The lead car is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical." :)
 
Some of my favourite Murray commentary ever, and the earliest F1 memory that I have - 1988, Monza, and the wheels coming off the McLaren steamroller briefly:


"Listen to the crowd!...Ferrari wins! Ferrari second!"
 
"And there goes Nigel Mansell !!"

RIP Murray :(
Wow, I read that in his voice!

Such a sad loss. I was only watching the documentary about his life on F1TV the other day and thinking how my childhood memory of F1 is basically Murray-isms.
 
Gutted about this, I didn't realise he was 97. Growing up, his voice was the voice of my Sundays!

They replayed an old My Sporting Life interview with him on TalkSport last night for an hour. It was a really interesting listen as there was loads I didn't know about him.
 
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