Formula 1

It's Murray Walker's birthday today! Faaaantastic!

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:57 p.m. ET

Samuel Reiman

Unless we’re very much mistaken, Murray Walker turn 93 years old today.

The legendary British motor racing commentator was born on Oct. 10, 1923, and began calling motor races as far back as 1948. He retired from full-time commentary after calling the United States Grand Prix in 2001 at the age of 77.

During his time as a Formula One commentator, he helped build the sport by bringing the excitement of the on-track action into people’s living rooms just by using his voice.

However, he also got it wrong a few times too.

Here are 10 of our favorite “Murrayisms:”

- “There’s nothing wrong with the car except it is on fire.”

- “With half the race gone, there is half the race still to go.”

- “Do my eyes deceive me, or is Senna’s Lotus sounding rough?”

- “We’re watching Ralf Schumacher, son of World Champion Michael Schumacher.”

- “And he knows exactly where Ayrton Senna is because he can see him in his earphones.”

- “The lead car is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.”

- “Barrichello is about to drive in his fourth race for Ferrari. He is following the great Ayrton Senna who never drove for Ferrari.”

- “‘If’ is a very long word in Formula One; in fact, ‘if’ is ‘F1’ spelled backwards.”

- “As you look at the first four, the significant thing is that Alboreto is fifth.”

- “This will be Williams’ first win since the last time a Williams won.”

Earlier this year, Walker announced to the press that he had probably attended his last F1 race in person. Still, he cannot look back on his career and not be proud with what he has accomplished.

Happy birthday, Murray Walker!

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