Published in Superbike Magazine Nov. 1999
Everyone knows motormouth Murray Walker as the voice of Formula 1 racing, but less people know that the old fella’s drop-dead keen on motorbikes and used to race them himself. In an exclusive interview, Suzi took time off her Grand Prix schedule to drop in on the most famous commentator in the world
Murray Walker, a real-life living legend and I’m going to talk to him! Things got off to a shakey start when he greeted me with the question “why is a woman talking about motorbikes?” Oh no, this could be a nightmare, I thought. However Murray was just messing around and we got on like the proverbial house. To actually sit and listen to Murray’s oh-so familiar voice was a total joy. I think he probably did wonder why I was so intrigued with motorsport, but I guess he now knows. He’s a top, top bloke with an encyclopedic knowledge of anything to do with racing, so just do as I did and sit down and listen to the man speak.There are two things no man will admit he can’t do well: drive and make love. Stirling Moss said that, Murray, is that true of yourself?
Oh yes, it’s an obvious truth. All men regard themselves as good drivers, I don’t know why. I presume it’s a self-perceived view of virility. Certainly the moment you lose interest in women, you may as well pack up and get in your coffin!
So it applies to you then?
Yes, (laughs) I’m a man! I’m getting on a bit, mind you!
How would you describe yourself?
Cheerful, serious I think, and somewhat repressed at times
Why repressed?
I need a stimulus, when I’m not working I’m a lot quieter and more serious.
Your passion for motorsport, was that passed down from your father?
Well, I was born and brought up in a motorcycle family. My father raced from 1920 to 1935 (I was born in 1923) so the first 12 years were all about motorcycles. We would go round Europe, to the TT and to the Manx GP every year. When I came out of the army I had delusions of doing what my father did, being as good as he was, because I had a great deal of admiration, respect and love for him. So I started racing bikes. I rode an R7 AJS at Brands Hatch, but mostly I rode in trials competitions.
What did you win?
I won a Gold Medal in the International Six-Day Trial in 1949. I was a member of the winning team, the Sunbeam Club. A first class award in the Scottish Six-Day Trial, and then my competition riding petered out as I got into other things in motorsport.
Your voice is synonymous with Formula 1, but you used to commentate on bikes. Why the switch?
Well, I wish motorbike racing was still shown on terrestrial TV. I used to do everything the BBC had, Manx GP, the TT, the Ulster GP, Brands Hatch, Silverstone and although my first ever broadcast was the British car GP in 1949, I immediately went onto bikes. They called me and asked if I could commentate on bikes, my God can a duck suck eggs, I said, I’d love to! Motorcycles were what I was passionate about and still am. But then the bikes tapered out and the cars became more important. I stopped doing bikes, not because I wanted to but because I had to.
What would you describe as the Glory Days for bikes?Well they were non-stop Glory Days. I vividly remember Stanley Woods winning the Senior TT by four seconds. Sadly, the Isle of Man, whilst it is a wonderful national race meeting, does not have the same clout or world-wide acclaim that it used to have. I just can’t tell you what a fantastic event the Isle of Man TT was in those days. It was the absolute pinnacle and to win the TT meant more than all of the other races put together. From 1949 to 1962 my father and I were the only father and son broadcasting team, 1951-1955 was the Geoff Duke era, Britain was at the top, and they were fabulous years.
Do you think anyone has come close to either Barry Sheene or James Hunt in terms of ‘paddock personality’ and charisma?
Crumbs. Well there have been a hell of a lot of great guys, but they don’t exist now like they did then because motor racing has become so much more professional and money orientated. They have to work harder at it, they can’t go off on the razz like they used to.
Is the sport the worse off for it, do you think?
On the whole, yes. It’s obviously no less of a spectacle, but in terms of the whole thing being more approachable and more fun, it was better then. In the past, bike Champion Freddie Dixon was a gigantic character. He once came riding into the ballroom in the Castle Motor Hotel on a donkey holding a stick with a carrot on it! As part of Freddie’s prize for winning the Belgian GP, the good people of Spa gave him some local produce which included a .32 air pistol. He got totally drunk and was walking round the town shooting out the bulbs in the street lights, then he started on the houses...
It has been said about Formula 1 that all the action is in the pits, not on track. What’s your view?
Well that’s a fallacy. If you look at Formula 1 in the past, it was no more competitive than it is now. There wasn’t a lot of passing, it’s just that more people are more aware of Formula 1 now because of TV, so they’re more interested in what happens on the track.
Your lines and quotes when commentating are famous the world over, but the odd ‘Murray-ism’ does work its way in when you’re talking!
People make criticisms about what you’ve done or said having sat on their sofa watching their 26-inch TV set. They just sit there and look at the pictures, now I’m not making excuses, I’m just explaining. I have to look at the pictures and put into words something that will add to the enjoyment of the viewer. So you get a torrent of words coming out and it’s live. Then they’ll say why don’t they get someone who knows what he’s talking about! I am a human being and I make mistakes, but mine can’t be hidden at all.
Is it difficult not to be biased sometimes?
Yes, especially with Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell because they are both British, both friends and people I have a great deal of admiration and respect for, I hope not unfairly. But I will also stick up for Michael Schumacher. People say, he’s an evil kraut and he’s an arrogant bastard. I say how do you know, have you ever met him? And they say, no but I can just tell. Then I’ll say you’re talking absolute bollocks. Because he’s a very nice bloke and I’ve got a great deal of time for him. He’s never been anything but friendly, cheerful and helpful with me.
When Damon Hill won the world Championship...
(Interrupts) It was the most emotional moment of my broadcasting life. “I’ve got to stop now, I’ve got a lump in my throat,” I said and it was perfectly true. I felt everything welling up and thought Christ, I’m going to burst into tears! It was the culmination of not just his career, but I knew his family well and I’d been watching him all season battling against Villeneuve. In my heart of hearts, I was worried that Damon wasn’t going to get the job done. I had a lot of emotional times with James Hunt when he was racing too, and Christ I didn’t half have some when he was commentating with me. Like the Belgian GP when he didn’t turn up at all! He said he was in bed with a stomach bug, but we had reason to believe he was in bed with something else. Bless him, amazing bloke.
What were your thoughts when Frank Williams let Damon Hill go?
Well it’s easy for me to say this but I bitterly regretted it and was very unhappy about it. I passionately believe that he made a big mistake in doing it. But it’s easy to be critical if you don’t have the decision to make. Damon lost what could have been three great racing years for him.
I’ve just come back from the Imola GP, the track that holds the memories of the sad loss of Ayrton Senna. How did you cope with and come to terms with this tragedy?
There’s no easy and obvious answer. To some extent I was in a better position to cope than some may have been. All my life I have been aware of the fact that bike racers can and do get killed. When Senna went off, it was undoubtedly the worst time in my broadcasting life. I rapidly realised from the coarse language down on the track that it was not good at all.
You were also commentating when Kenny Irons got killed (a tragic death on the warm-up lap at Cadwell Park.) Motorcycle racers don’t seem to be recognised for their talent and sheer out-and-out balls, do they?
I couldn’t agree with you more. They’re in a far more hazardous situation than Formula 1 in that they are totally unprotected. You only have to look at Wayne Rainey to see what can happen. I don’t think the incredible spectacle that is motorcycle racing gets the respect it deserves. World Superbike and GP racers make Formula 1 drivers look like wimps! I’m perfectly happy to go down on record as having said that because it’s true. The wheel-to-wheel racing, passing and re-passing, the angle of the bike, the stress on the tyres, the judgement of the riders is uncanny. It makes a fantastic spectacle and it mystifies me why it doesn’t get shown more.
Murray, thank you very much for your time
It’s been a pleasure
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
Favourite Food: Porridge, pub grub, traditional English
Favourite Drink: Australian Shiraz, Chardonnay
Favourite Race Track: Spa
Favourite Rider: Mike Hailwood
Favourite Driver: Fangio
Favourite Holiday: Any race track!
Favourite Actress: Ingrid Bergmann
Favourite Film: Dr Zhivago
Favourite Music: Big Band
Favourite TV: Inspector Morse, any sport, war movies
Hates: Tail-gaters on the motorway, hypocrites