In the world of motorsport, few names are as iconic as Murray Walker. With his infectious enthusiasm, Murray Walker became a legend in his own right. He was more than just a commentator; he was a beloved figure in the world of Formula 1 and motorsport at large.
Murray Walker was born on October 10, 1923, into a family deeply connected to the world of motorsport. His father, Graham Walker, was a prominent motorcycle racer and commentator, which exposed Murray to the thrill and excitement of racing from an early age. Following in his father’s footsteps, Murray became a motorcycle racer. After some average success in the field, he got a job in advertising.
Murray Walker was successful during his career in advertising. This laid the groundwork for him to become a commentator. In 1949, he commentated on the first-ever Grand Prix. However, he never became a full-time commentator for Formula 1 before 1978.
“3 lights. 4 lights. 5 laps. Pause. GO! GO! GO!” š #MurrayWalker #FormulaOne #F1 pic.twitter.com/bHq1v5VHiu
ā Paul McGinnes š (@PaulMcG92) October 10, 2023
He commented on various other sports including motocross and other motorsports. Ever since he became a full-time commentator for Formula 1, his voice became an icon in motorsport. He was commonly known for his enthusiastic tone during each race.
Although he did not use Crofty’s catchphrase “lights out and away we go”, he did use something simpler and exciting at the start of every race. As the lights went out, he used to shout “Go go go”. As a spectator, when we hear these words, it used to fill us with excitement. When these words were said, we knew that anything could happen. We could see Ayrton Senna clash with Alain Prost, or Michael Schumacher having an amazing start. Or even a surprise driver getting the right getaway off the line to take the lead in the race.
When did Murray Walker retire from F1?
During the 2000 Formula 1 season, Murray Walker had reached the age of 77. He was still a commentator for the sport at the time. However, he started to make mistakes while commentating. One incident was during the 2000 German Grand Prix, Murray Walker was convinced that Rubens Barichello had crashed. However, it was clear that the driver that had crashed was his teammate, Michael Schumacher. This mistake resurfaced other mistakes he had made previously.
After this, he spoke with his supervisors and he decided to retire. However, his bosses asked him to be on the team for another season. Although he did not comment on all the races in the 2001 season, his last commentary was during the 2001 United States Grand Prix. One of his most famous quotes was during the 1996 finale where Damon Hill won the Championship. He has commentated alongside many F1 pundits including Martin Brundle during Walker’s last years as a commentator.
Murray Walker signing off – USA 2001
š pic.twitter.com/iZb9SneDLP
ā Race Day Replay (@RaceDayReplay) October 10, 2023
“And I’ve got to stop because I’ve got a lump in my throat.”
Although Walker was married to a loving wife, Elizabeth, the couple had no children. Walker will always be remembered by the sport and its fans. He passed away on 13th March 2021 at the age of 97. Eight years before he passed away, he was diagnosed with lymphoma after which he received chemotherapy. It is suspected that he died of old age and not anything to do with the cancer he had 8 years before.