11 replies to this topic

[doohanOK]

I've got a question about Murray Walker. When was the last time he did not commentate a GP before the French GP this year, was that the first GP he has missed since 1949? I heard he had missed one previously in the Seventies.

Can someone fill me in with the info?

regards,
doohanOK.

[Criceto]

He missed quite a lot in the seventies, because the BBC didn't have a policy of showing every race.

Indeed for rather a lot of that decade, they refused to show motor racing because of the ciggy adverts on the cars. Despite giving a huge amount of coverage to snooker, golf and cricket tournaments with tobacco-oriented title sponsorship.

Grand Prix as a TV show started in 1978, I think, and since then, I think Murray only missed three. German GP 1984 (?) (presented by Barry Gill), German GP 1985 (?) (presented by a very young Tony Jardine) and this last year's French GP. Both eighties GPs were direct clashes with the British motorcycle GP round, and Murray's bike enthusiasm took precedence over F1.

I think the dates are right. I shall have a check, but I'm certain it was a pair of German races, and those are the ones I seem to recall.


Oh, and don't forget that often in the 1970s, when the Beeb did show the racing, it was down to Raymond Baxter to do the commentary. Classic one being the British GP 1973 "...and Jackie Stewart is really in the agricultural business now...."

[Criceto]

Just a quick note to confirm the dates that I mentioned above, and to report that I found some more.

Belgian GP 1979, for some reason, was broadcast by ITV. Andrew Marriott reported on that occasion.
Murray also missed Germany 1980 and 1981. I assume these were again clashing motorcycle commentary commitments.

On the subject of Murray's commentaries, does anyone still have any early 1980s BBC broadcasts of Formula 3 racing? It would be interesting to be reminded how Murray called the legendary duels between Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle.

[William Dale Jr]

Add to that three the Hungarian GP of 1988 - the first F1GP I ever watched, or at least the first live telecast I have on tape. James Hunt was joined by Simon Taylor in the absence of Murray, who was at Donnington with Barry Sheene to commentate on the British Motorcycle GP, a historic day I believe as it was the first 500cc Motorcycle event to be won by a bike on carbon disc brakes, and also the first win for the great Wayne Rainey.

[doohanOK]

Thanks guys, very helpful.

regards,
doohanOK.

[Eric McLoughlin]

The remaining video footage of the 1967 Italian GP (a true "classic") shows Raymond Baxter as the commentator ("and it's Surtees in the Honda!"). Also in the film "Grand Prix", there is a mocked up podium TV interview after the Bitish GP and It's Raymond Baxter doing the interviewing.

My earliest memories of Murray's commentating was of motor cycle scramble racing - "and it's Dave Bickers on the Hasquevarna". I can still remember Murray's staccato delivery of "Hasquevarna", years before he got the opportunity to do the same with "Ferrari" - well, at least on telly.

[Roger Clark]

Originally posted by Eric McLoughlin


My earliest memories of Murray's commentating was of motor cycle scramble racing - "and it's Dave Bickers on the Hasquevarna". I can still remember Murray's staccato delivery of "Hasquevarna", years before he got the opportunity to do the same with "Ferrari" - well, at least on telly.

Yes, I remeber "And it's Lampkin well in the lead, with Jeff Smith right on his tail!!!"

[Eric McLoughlin]

Is that "Lampkin" Dougie Lambkin's dad? Lampkin Jnr is Britains best motorcycle trials rider at the moment.

[Roger Clark]

Arthur, I think he's an uncle

[jarama]

Eric,

Martin Lampkin is indeed Dougie Lampkin's father... and one of the world's best trial riders of the early '70's.

[fines]

Martin Lampkin was the first ever Trials World Champion in 1975 and today he's coaching his son. You can often see him on the telly when these Stadium Trials are broadcasted.

[Roger Clark]

But it was Arthur that I remember Murray talking about. I'm sure he's related to Martin and Dougie, but I'm not sure how.