R.I.P. Murray Walker | FerrariChat

R.I.P. Murray Walker

Discussion in 'F1' started by 05011994, Mar 13, 2021.

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  1. crinoid

    crinoid F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 2, 2005
    9,414
    Full Name:
    LaCrinoid
    Oh man. He was a legend.
     
  2. Natkingcolebasket69

    Natkingcolebasket69 F1 World Champ

    Legen indeed...97 is a good life


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  3. DF1

    DF1 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Good life and caring person. All the best for his family......
     
  4. jgonzalesm6

    jgonzalesm6 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2016
    20,530
    Corpus Christi, Tx.
    Full Name:
    Joe R Gonzales
  5. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 3, 2006
    25,447
    Very sad news.

    R.I.P. Murray.
     
  6. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 28, 2005
    4,119
    Calgary, AB, Canada
    Full Name:
    Gordon
    RIP Murray. I so enjoyed his commentary, especially with James Hunt.
     
  7. Dino2010

    Dino2010 F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Nov 20, 2006
    4,852
    Belgium
    What an icon he was!
    We'll be missing him.

    RIP, Sir Walker.
     
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  8. Kiwi Nick

    Kiwi Nick Formula 3

    Jun 13, 2014
    1,324
    Durango, CO
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    I can close my eyes and hear his unmistakable voice.
     
  9. 635CSI

    635CSI F1 Rookie

    Jun 26, 2013
    3,001
    London UK
    Full Name:
    Graham
    A fine gentleman. Voice of my childhood. RIP Murray !
     
  10. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2002
    6,370
    Toronto / SoCal
    Full Name:
    Rob C.
    In the world of motor racing it is the drivers who are seen as the hero's. Occasionally this honor lies to those outside the cockpit and there are fewer more fitting than Murray Walker. Incredibly enthusiastic and with a love for the sport most can't imagine, Murray Walker brought radio and TV transmissions to life energizing even the most passive observer into a racing fan.

    Back in 1996 a small group of us made the trek from Toronto to Montreal for the Grand Prix. While most were looking forward to the race my enthusiasm lay elsewhere. My friend had reached out to Mr. Walker and invited him to breakfast on behalf of the BMW Car Club Trillium Chapter. As the story goes, my friend received a call at his home a few weeks prior and (after some convincing that his buddies were not winding him up) he realized that it was indeed Murray Walker calling from England to accept the invitation.

    On the Saturday morning eight of us had the unforgettable experience of sitting down to breakfast with THE voice of motorsport. Words cannot express what a kind gentleman he was and now almost 25 years later the memory is as vivid as ever.

    One of the main points of conversation was Canadian Jacques Villeneuve who was making his first Grand Prix start on home soil. Murray Walker questioned how he would do as it was a new track to him. At that point I politely interjected and noted that the Montreal track was not unfamiliar to Jacques as he had won there in Formula Atlantic 3 years earlier. Always the gentleman he took great interest in that fact and thanked me for it.

    In Canada the races were always covered by the CBC and it was the only race that did not have the BBC coverage with Murray Walker. I have often wondered if the little piece of info I gave him ever made it into the broadcast that year. Either way I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to contribute ever so slightly to Murray Walker's unequalled knowledge of the sport.

    Murray Walker had a life incredibly well lived and proof positive that your racing hero's don't necessarily need to ever take to the track to inspire your life.

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  11. cmos

    cmos Formula Junior

    Sep 13, 2004
    407
    USA
    Full Name:
    Johny English
    Always has been and always will be THE voice of Formula 1. End of another era. As 635CSI said, I too grew up with his commentary. Sometimes he would drive me crazy with his Murrayisms but that is what made him so unique. RIP Murray - another F1 legend gone but not forgotten. I guess its a sign of me getting old - seeing so many iconic names drive off into the sunset :(
     
  12. Jeronimo GTO

    Jeronimo GTO Formula 3

    May 15, 2010
    2,021
    #13 Jeronimo GTO, Mar 13, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2021
    Voice of my early youth, too...

    Simply unforgettable.



     
  13. NürScud

    NürScud F1 Veteran

    Nov 3, 2012
    7,273
    The most important personality related to journalism around Formula 1. Despite the fact that i am young, i will always remember the volume of his voice in the controversial event between Senna and Prost in the 1989 Japanese GP and also in the fatal Senna's accident ....

    RIP Sir Walker

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  14. sammysaber

    sammysaber Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2011
    553
    Legend. RIP.

    Best,
    Sammy
     
  15. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 12, 2007
    26,826
    England North West
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    Steve
    A very sad loss, he was the voice and spirit of F1 RIP.
     
  16. Ferrari27

    Ferrari27 Formula Junior

    Jul 5, 2010
    866
    I do not often agree with Martin Brundle but for once:

    "National treasure, communication genius, Formula 1 legend.”
     
  17. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

    Mar 24, 2008
    41,300
    ESP
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    Bas
    A true commentating icon, so full of passion! What a wonderful guy he was, and what a fantastic life he had!
     
  18. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,058
    Moot Pointe
    What a great gentleman and not just an announcer but a true enthusiast. I’ll never forget meeting him at Goodwood years ago.
     
  19. SPEEDCORE

    SPEEDCORE Four Time F1 World Champ

    Jul 11, 2005
    45,906
    Full Name:
    Toe Knee
    #20 SPEEDCORE, Mar 13, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2021
    RIP. :(

    I met him at Melb GP shortly after his retirement.

    Thankyou for all the Murrayisms :D





     
  20. Isobel

    Isobel F1 World Champ

    Jun 30, 2007
    10,533
    On a Wave's Chicane
    Full Name:
    Is, Izzy for Australians
    I’ll always smile when his name is mentioned.

    The accent, the pitch, the delivery and the flustered, fevered commentary contributed monumentally to every race watched with Murray behind the mike.

    He looked exactly as I imagined when I first caught sight of him in the flesh and I wasn’t surprised to learn he commentated while standing throughout the duration of every race. You’d almost swear he was about to fall out of the booth on many an occasion. There was never a doubt his enthusiasm was less than one hundred per cent authentic.

    My favourite Murray-isms will always remain the overtly positive comments he’d direct towards his countrymen, especially if they driving minnows at the back of the field.
    Never a doubt he was a Beeb man through and through with, “and young Jonathan Palmer is mounting a charge through the backmarkers, showing skills far beyond the capabilities of the troublesome and unwieldy Zakspeed, now moving up from 26th on the grid to an incredible 21st”.
    Easily forgetting he mentioned the race had incurred 5 dnfs moments earlier.....

    Sincere condolences to his family and friends. MW was truly one in a million.
     
  21. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

    Mar 24, 2008
    41,300
    ESP
    Full Name:
    Bas
    I loved his excitement. Someone could be losing the lead due to say an engine failure and you could hear Murray saying ''oh, this is FANTASTIC!". Obviously not to put down the driver that just lost a race win, but just one of the many factors that contributed to winning or losing is what he found so great about the sport.

    Friday evening I turned on one of the testing streams and, because it was a break, Sky was showing the 1983 Austrian GP, of course with Murray commentating. There will never be a commentator like him again. Like you said, he could be just as excited about a move for 25th as he would be for 1st. And who can forget him overcoming with emotion after his friend Damon Hill won the title in 1996 in Japan. He was very human. What a guy.
     
  22. SPEEDCORE

    SPEEDCORE Four Time F1 World Champ

    Jul 11, 2005
    45,906
    Full Name:
    Toe Knee
  23. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
    Moderator

    Oct 1, 2008
    38,744
    Huntsville, AL., USA
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    His last words were... "Here I go, go, go!!!" :D

    In all seriousness, what a legend and what a wonderful life he lived. It's difficult to think of anyone more respected in sports broadcasting. He really was the all time great.

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
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  24. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,058
    Moot Pointe
    The best ever at what he did. He’ll be missed, for sure, but what a long life, very well lived.
     

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