# Murray Walker, we hardly knew ye

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murray-walker-we-hardly-knew-ye/85945>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 7, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murray-walker-we-hardly-knew-ye/85945 "2001-10-07T17:09:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murray-walker-we-hardly-knew-ye/85945/1 "2001-10-07T17:09:09Z")

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We Formula 1 fans in the States are limited to watching coverage on Speedvision, with commentary by Sam Posey and David Hobbs, usually joined by Bob Varsha and Steve Matchett. Nothing at all wrong with that; they are all informative and topical and completely classy and I’m fans of them all.

But I can’t help feeling that we missed a great deal by not ever experiencing Murray Walker’s commentary in Britain. The October 4 issue of _Autoweek_ includes a retirement tribute by Russell Bulgin that suggests he has a facility with the English language that rivals Yogi Berra’s.

> [@](#):
>
> Such as? “A mediocre season for Nelson Piquet, as he is now known, and as he always has been”; “I’ll stop my startwatch”; “The car in front is absolutely unique, except for the one behind, which is identical”; “We’re watching Ralf Schumacher, son, of course, of double world champion Michael Schumacher”; “There is nothing wrong with the car except, of course, it is on fire”; “Do my eyes deceive me, or is Senna’s Lotus sounding rough?” He even unleashed a full-on, gift-wrapped beaut at Indy: “If the gloves weren’t off before, and they were, they are now.”  
> …  
> The Australian Murray Walker fan club—it exists—issued a T-shirt eulogizing one of Murray’s catch phrases. “Unless I’m very much mistaken…” bellowed the front print, “…yes, I am very much mistaken” echoed the rear.

Please, Brit and Aussie Dopers, I beg of you - I want more Murray Walkerisms! What are your favorites?

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**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murray-walker-we-hardly-knew-ye/85945/2 "2001-10-07T18:24:53Z")

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I paraphrase Murray interviewing (I think) Bernie Ecclestone:  
**Murray** : In the 17 years since you bought McLaren, which of your many achievements do you think is the most memorable?

**Ecclestone** : Well, I don’t remember buying McLaren.

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**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murray-walker-we-hardly-knew-ye/85945/3 "2001-10-07T19:04:31Z")

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Goodness - I saw the thread title and thought he’d died!

Anyway, you might enjoy a [Murray Walker Quotes Page](http://www.worldmotorsport.com/murray/).

My favourite? [During a F1 race, describing how the leader can see the driver following him] “… Mansell can see him in his earphone…”

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murray-walker-we-hardly-knew-ye/85945/4 "2001-10-07T20:26:43Z")

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Priceless link, **Francesca**! Much obliged.