THE Isle of Man TT 2011 will be remembered for many different reasons, but the most outstanding and memorable moment was surely provided by legendary motorsport commentator Murray Walker with his emotional words during the ‘Milestones of the Mountain’ parade lap on Friday.
As many thousands, perhaps millions, of listeners - both on and off the Isle of Man - tuned in to listen to his commentary on Friday afternoon, Murray captured the atmosphere with the sort of description and genuine emotion that has made him such a legend in the world of sport.
With personal knowledge of virtually every machine and rider in the parade, Murray gave listeners a fascinating insight into the 100 years of racing on the TT Mountain course, looking back, too, on his own personal involvement in the TT since 1925 as the son of a rider and later BBC commentator in the 50s and 60s.
All was going brilliantly on Friday as Murray began by introducing some of the greatest bikes and riders the TT has ever seen, but you just sensed that the enormity of the fantastic occasion would eventually bring something special - and Murray didn’t disappoint.
Giacomo Agostini was on the start line on the amazing 500 MV Agusta from the 1970s and with his voice showing signs of the sort of quiver that has accompanied commentary on Nigel Mansell winning the Formula One world title for the first time and Ayrton Senna’s tragic death at Imola, Murray Walker did only what Murray Walker can do.
Hailing Agostini as “the greatest grand prix rider of all time”, Murray allowed time for listeners to hear the MV fly off down Glencrutchery Road and then moved on to speak about the next machine - a replica of the 1966 and 1967 TT winning 500 Honda ridden by David Hailwood, the son of Mike Hailwood.
Murray spoke of Hailwood’s unforgettable battles on the TT course with “the great Agostini”, recalling what he described as the “great, great, great race in 1967 with the immortal Mike Hailwood.”
“Go for it David!” he shouted as the Honda blasted down the road.
But Murray couldn’t hold back his own personal emotion. “I’m pausing here because if anything ever brings a lump to my throat it’s the memory of . . . my great friend Mike Hailwood, and seeing his son David is a very emotional experience for me.”
There was a slight pause - Murray’s voice deepened and slowed and started to falter and you could hear a pin drop. Across the world, tears of emotion uncontrollably started to run down the face of many a hard-npsed motorcycling fan.
Murray Walker was, indeed, a great personal friend of Mike Hailwood. And virtually every time he has mentioned his name in live commentary, the commentator’s voice has cracked with the sort of personal emotion that even Murray couldn’t hide.
On Friday - fittingly Senior Race Day, when Hailwood won many a race in the 60s and 70s - it was as memorable a moment as David Coleman’s quivering words when David Hemery won the gold medal in the hurdles at the Olympics or boxing commentator Harry Carpenter’s burst of emotion when Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman for the world title.
As David Hailwood rode the Honda away down towards Bray Hill with a sound that only a 500 Honda can make, it was the turning point in Murray’s commentary. You could hear his voice had been lost in his personal emotion of the occasion, no doubt as he recalled his many happy years of watching Hailwood on the TT course and sharing his company in the pits and over a beer afterwards.
It wasn’t helped when more of Murray’s personal friends from motorcycling then arrived on the start line with Chas Mortimer, Charlie Williams and Mick Grant leaving the Grandstand in quick succession.
And, again Murray had us all in tears of emotion when he introduced Gary Dunlop - son of the great Joey - stood on the start line on one of his father’s TT winning Hondas.
But, in true professional form, Murray Walker wasn’t going to allow his personal feelings to defeat him and by the end of the parade lap he had gathered himself together.
But no one cared. Murray Walker’s commentary was more important on Friday than any of the machines or riders taking part. The legendary commentator made the occasion totally unforgettable.
Indeed, his burst of emotion absolutely made the occasion. No one could have done it better and the parade lap easily over-shadowed any other TT parade lap which has gone before.
Without doubt, Murray Walker made it THE moment of TT2011.
