Murray Walker: Classic or Dud?

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Surely a towering giant in the world of Formula 1 (despite the regular gaffes). He will be missed, I'm sure.

― Bill, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

huh ?

― anthony, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

huh ?

― anthony, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"...unless I'm greatly mistaken. I AM greatly mistaken!!" Classic!

― AP, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

he's dead? what? i was lsiteniing to him last night i t hought?

― Geoff, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

AHA! Now Anthony knows how I feel towards most of HIS threads!!!

― Sarah, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Two great stories about our Murray, which may or may not be true: 1) (Bad taste, this) A racing driver, the brilliantly named Roland Ratzenburger, unfortunately died in a crash during qualifying. Walker drops the clanger of a lifetime when, he announces the starting grid in high-pitched over-excitement: 'and Prost takes pole, but Roland Ratzenburger will not be taking part because he's DEEEAAAD!' Imagine that in his nasal voice. 2) Before he commentated F1, he worked for over twenty years as an advertising executive. While doing that, he INVENTED the slogan 'A Mars a day, helps you work, rest and play'! Even if these stories are untrue, the very idea of him doing this things makes him a CLASSIC by default.

― Will McKenzie, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Will, the second one is definitely true I remember an interview with him talking about it.

Unfortunately I'm a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to Murray, I think he's a bit of a bimbling fool, and I like my sports commentary to be spot on, which is why as Mr Carsmile pointed out to me a wee while ago, Martin Brundle is definitely the future of motor sport commentary.

― chris, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dud but classic as well. It was quietly moving yesterday - I forced my Mum and Dad to watch the start for his last "Go! Go! Go!"

Walker didn't invent the Mars slogan, he was account director on that campaign and oversaw it. Perhaps in younger days he's claimed it but yesterday he explained it wasn't his.

Chris is right about Brundle, he fucking rocks - long career hopefully. When they first put voiceovers on the F1 computer game it was when Brundle had just started and you got loads of Walker commentary, occasionally interrupted by "You're right there, Murray!" from Brundle - I always crashed I was laughing so much. Murray Walker is sport's Patrick Moore and long may he be remembered.

― chris, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

besides all advertising slogans ever were invented by salman rushdie and/or fay weldon

― mark s, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

for anthony some links and another

― Ed, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

lets try that again

― Ed, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Just to make it clear: he's not dead, just retired.

― Nick, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Can I remind anyone who is writing a direct quote of Murray Walker's that the correct method is to Split! Every! Word! With! An! Exclaimation! (or! Ex!CLaim!Ation!) Mark! To! Get! The! Voice! Right!

― Pete, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I half expected the drivers to have him up on the podium yesterday, he was actually that popular. I shall never forget the year I went to Silverstone and during the drivers parade at the beginning, the Williams drivers (they year Damon Hill won it) got him up in their rolls royce, and the crowd was probably going crazy just for him. People like eccentric enthusiasm, don't they?
Yeah, Brundle is also clearly the future and good to boot. Also amusingly sarcastic, cue a couple of weeks ago: 'So and so is doing what he is best at in F1 and holding 4 other cars up...'

― Bill, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

DIdn't he rice it out?

― Mike Hanle y, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'll miss his unbridled entusiasm. I saw him commentating some crappy F3 race a few years ago and he was just as excited as when he does the Grand Prix. Makes you wonder what he's like in the sack.

A few gems filched from Private Eye's colemanballs.

He's obviously gone in for a wheel change. I say obviously because I can't see it.

Do my eyes deceive me or is Senna's Lotus sounding a bit rough.

I make no pologies for their absence. I'm sorry they're not here.

The battle is well and truly on if it wasn't on before, and it certainly was

― Billy Dods, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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