Gordon Murray: Motor Sport magazine podcast

Legendary car designer Gordon Murray joined Motor Sport for an evening reflecting on his illustrious career in Formula 1 and the motoring industry.
From his time in F1 to a possible Le Mans entry in 2021, listen as Murray recalls his highlights from a long career and reveals future plans on the drawing board.

[@41BOT]

As always just pure real talk, thank you.

[@axiomic]

A free masterclass from one of the best car designers of all time.

[@31415926535ism]

Wonderful interview, I wish it was many more hours.

[@bodieofci5418]

Gordon Murray as well as a brilliant designer is a nice man to meet and talk to.

[@ChoppersModelworks]

Possibly THE coolest and nicest engineer or designer of modern times. Can't help but wonder what his drivable car collection includes, probably some really fun drivers.

[@robertrishel3685]

Check out his Escort build...it’s an absolute dream car build kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqC3pJKlnr9so68

[@Ramsi-Berlin]

80% der Autos in seiner Sammlung, wiegen unter 800 kg ❣️👌🏼😅

[@lipcovitch1]

Gordon and Piquet formed one of the best combinations in F1. Good times.

[@michaelpashut1696]

So true and the best time of my life was the Piquet years … Magic driver magic vibe in the team and Gordon is a legend. Watch his podcast on Beyond the Grid and re rates Piquet as the best allrounder he ever worked with and that includes Prost and Senna who he worked with at McLaren 88-90

[@grahamserle7930]

Gordon is absolutely gold. A genius man with a dead pan wit, what more could you ask for. I could listen to him for hours, and doesn't he look great for a 74/now 75 year old. Loved this interview.

[@tomstech4390]

Couldn't agree more.

[@eedesign878]

Gordon Murray, my absolute hero! Not only the McLaren F1 and inventions, but he likes to stick it on the road just like me and has certain smirk and enjoyement with cars that current population has totally forgot.

[@timwhiskerd2133]

So good to hear him talk about Dave North. Gordon has respect for good people.

[@akarilotube]

Gordon is a genius.

[@kenbowes2455]

I agree,,when will he be knighted? Ken Bowes, Toronto

[@justinjay6930]

@@kenbowes2455 for what? MP4/4..haha

[@samnivas8197]

Do your homework more not genius than shifty

[@hagestad]

@@justinjay6930 He actually did very little with mp4/4. He did however had much input on brabham bt55. That car was so bad he got fired.

[@banzai385]

I knew I was chief designer when I looked round the prefab and I was the only designer there !! Those were the days innovation was great , not so safety, I was with Team Ensign 75 -76 great experience , Ickx , Amon great drivers, Dave Baldwin was our design team !

[@esametsala3054]

Christopher Wigmore Hello Christopher, I have to say, that You have experienced something You must feel proud! Those days were the good days. Pure, honest and innovative work, around the clock 🌝 I drove karting during 70’s, being from 9-19 years old. Loved working the car to perform better 😊 I remember looking towards the racing circuit, where ’big boys’ were driving Formula V and Super V. Highlight being a spectator on an Interserie race with my father, here in Finland, race track called Keimola. Leo Kinnunen driving. I had a very special opportunity to be a quest of Mika Häkkinen during 1993 at Hockenheim. With that badge/permit I could go everywhere! The feeling was so overwhelming, I will never forget it. Being in the garage of Team McLaren! So, as You may have have noticed, I am an enthusiast 😁 I wish You all the best. Enjoy of Your memories. Greetings from Finland, Esa

[@davidruddick3346]

Cool,calm and totally fascinating Could listen to this man for hours Some(many)of the people in F1today are so into their own publicity bred images but this fascinating man is so totally opposite,he has created his own esteemed reputation by his own achievements, well done!

[@Marcelg13]

by his own achievements? not really. He said he build the MP4/4 which he didnt. Steve Nichols build it.

[@furiousmatthew2287]

@@Marcelg13 yes he didnt design the mp4/4, he was technical director at that time in McLaren and do not design personally.. But.. he design BT52 (Nelson Piquet World Champion car) and many other good cars in Brabham... and one more MP4/4 was evolution of older Mclarens design start by John Bernard, it was evolution not revolution its not good idea to push all the glory to Steve Nichols, offcours he was the chief designer of mp4/4 and he should take award for that achivement too but its not only his achievment :)

[@ronsax4820]

Great insight into the legendary designer, though I've read many books and articles on the BT55 would have been good to hear his recollections on the 'lay-down' four and wiseman 7-speed gearbox.

[@michaelmerta8956]

Actually the most memorable interview I had the privilege to watch. So an down to earth gentleman, fantastic.

[@V8Griff500]

How can anyone dislike this video? The guy talks so much sense on so many levels. I've been lucky enough to meet Gordon a few times now by doing some work for him. He's always been a bit of a hero of mine (I don't have many) and when I knew I was going to meet him I was concerned I would be disappointed because t'hey' always say 'don't meet your heroes' but I needn't have worried he introduced himself to me (a man who needs no introduction) and a lovelier bloke you couldn't wish to meet.

[@rneoman]

Probably because he claims he designed the McLaren mp4/4 which is false

[@stantissue2065]

Gordon mentioned Herbie a few times. That brought back memories of Detroit. Had a beer with him in 1988 in Nemo’s inside the Ren Center. As I recall we talked about Yamaha and a V12 and the possibility of transverse mounting. He asked my opinion and I said Gordon would put that idea in the bin right away, it would be impossible to work around that big brick behind the driver from an aero perspective. Also, the V10 was going to be lighter in the most important areas and shorter, with similar BHP potential. After a while he looked at me and said, “I suppose I am too late, but do you mind telling me who you work for?” Back then you could know the names of everyone involved in the teams, not just the chief engineer. It was truly a great era, and Gordon was the guy I always looked up to. The 83 Brabham was a fantastic car and Nelson was the perfect fit for that team. Nothing like hearing that little BMW warming up in the paddock.

[@thecyanide]

Why hasn't he been knighted yet?

[@rabbishekelstein9477]

josh langley lol

[@srinitaaigaura]

He's a commander of the Empire now.

[@patjennings9320]

Whatsapp

[@dealerovski82]

dont you have to be born in the UK?

[@walangchahangyelingden8252]

South African.

[@trevorleggo1777]

Insight & generous wisdom from a Genius. Always was. Great interview, thankyou.

[@hagestad]

Dude claimed he did carbon fiber first in McLaren. In reality it was Steve Nichols that worked for Hercules before he joined McLaren. Hercules actually made carbon tubs for McLaren in the beginning.

[@siyz250]

How good was that. I'm sitting here in NZ writing down ideas/key points/concepts for my own bespoke kit car design. This is the best "Motor Sport" podcast yet. Awesome.

[@allensaunders449]

Love listening to the man. Looking forward to his T.50 car in future

[@HansBrodiAutomotive]

Okay one of the most legendary car designers gives an interview and speaks for an hour ! KZbin considers this great content and shows it to 9500 people, thanks KZbin! Maybe think about an algorithm change ;-)

[@etiennecfourie777]

What an absolute treat!

[@blacktoothfox677]

So much fascinating stuff on this channel. I love this channel... Thanks so much!

[@secretagentbloke]

I wish the T25 city car went into production, then I probably could have afforded one of his designs!

[@thetumanshow]

Keep your fingers crossed and save money because the T.43 might be for us regular folks

[@fozzy600]

Awesome, so fascinating... thanks for this!

[@giacatollo]

I second your opinion!

[@logwind]

Gordon is very interesting and relaxing to listen to. Thank you.

[@barrycuda3769]

Gordon is obviously a design genius and a perfect gentleman. When he mentioned the Allan Mann Ford 3 litre ' I was surprised that he seemed to struggle with recalling what it was called .That car get's very little recognition from most people ,and, I know it wasn't a success, but aesthetically it was stunning , and aerodynamically superb(but didn't hold the road at speed), and should be more appreciated for what it was, I feel. Also he said it was 1970 that Len Bailey was working on the Ford 3 Litre , but it came about in 1968.????

[@gearsau]

I'm watching it for the second time :-)

[@malstewart7332]

Me too

[@d.serrador9277]

Third time for me. I'm spaniard and Gordon has a fantastic pronunciation for me actually.

[@NineHellHeaven]

That was really cool. I've read Colin's words many times and always assumed he was a bit full of himself. I was clearly wrong and he seems thoroughly likeable. I can't wait to see how his new car turns out.

[@martinoulthwaite7327]

thank you Gordon!

[@JCisJD]

you just get feeling he knows what hes talking about

[@siyz250]

Agree with other commenter. Needs to be a 3 hour podcast.

[@maxflight777]

Well worth watching the recent Jay Emm interview with Steve Nichols ! He has a completely different view.

[@hagestad]

And basically all the rest of McLaren engineers from that same era. Basically Gordon is not telling the truth who was responsible for what.

[@chrisb8075]

Wouldn't trust Nichols to sit the right way on a toilet.

[@adambritain5774]

This guy is absolutely fascinating.

[@roadmantop3769]

Fantastic

[@harerton]

The absolute master.

[@michaelpashut1696]

Nelson Piquet is the most under appreciated driver ever.... I detest the British Press who simply wont give him the credit he truly deserves.

[@husq2100]

Just to repeat the fact from another commenter, Chaparral 2J fan car - 1970, Brabham BT46 Fan car - 1978. Gordon is an amazing person in his own right, but its a shame others don't get mentioned when discussing something apparently revolutionary that already existed 8 years earlier...

[@ctiradkolaja2475]

Living legend!

[@weatheranddarkness]

These are great. Also, the Retropower videos don't date exactly the timeline of the Escort build, but Goidon was talking about delivery in October?

[@ReclusiveDuck]

Very interesting to hear Gordon Murray talking about the future and electric cars. On this same channel Adrian Newey also expressed (albeit briefly) that hydrogen was more viable, very different to a lot of the current journalists who seem to assume that electric is the only future.

[@AirCrash1]

The fuel cell will be Hydrogen but the motor electric......damn why are petrol-heads such short-sighted bigots? If you bothered to look at any other engineering other than your penis substitute personal transport you would see that 3 phase electric motors have been moving everything for the last 60 years. The reason you haven't seen them in mobile machines is as Gordon Murray said a question of energy density in current batteries, once that is solved then make no mistake it will be all electric.

[@PhilOsGarage]

That's the difference between journalists and engineers 😊

[@AndrewSmith-hd4zo]

I waited for this interview a long time. A legend. Nico R I told you to do this and you never replied to me. Andy.

[@malstewart7332]

I really enjoyed the interviews Nico R did. They were real quality and I subscribed. But unfortunately this quality couldn’t be maintained. I’m sure he can do it again but I just cant watch the current stuff.

[@DestroyerWill]

Mal Stewart yeah I unsubscribed from him for the same reason.

[@tonybrock5288]

One of our favourite sons in the tech world:-). Born and bred in South Africa of Scottish parents. The best of innovation and resilience. :-) And we can add Elon Musk to that list too :-)

[@samuelezanuso981]

What a humor this master Guy!

[@stantissue2065]

In Alan’s defense, the HP 35 calculator was $600 USD. I have one. My father acquired it via a program at Mack Trucks where they deducted cash from your weekly check. There is a small strap on the case which you can run your belt through. It was a status symbol in those days I guess. He loved it, but occasionally the slide rule still came out when he was working a problem. That was enough cash for a new competitive motocross bike in those days.

[@colinhallmitchell]

seen most of these and i think GM comes out pretty close to the best. i hadn't thought so before but he really impresses me.

[@Matthew-np9fk]

I love Gordon’s voice, no homo

[@walangchahangyelingden8252]

Distinctive for sure.

[@alexandervanwyk7669]

The best talk show ever. Just could not get enough of it. Thank you Sir Murray.

[@ChadGeidel]

Does anyone have a link to Murray's other talk from "about 3 years ago" he was referring to early in the conversation? I'd love to listen to that!

[@robertm5969]

Here's one from 2 years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJzQhGp8l6ajjM0

[@Laz_Arus]

Gordon: It's pointless making a 2 ton electric car Elon: Is my Cybertruck a joke to you? Gordon: If the cap fits .......

[@axiomic]

haha.. yes. But, that's that's a utility vehicle, a whole other category of vehicle.

[@gezdickinson8850]

Gordon for PM!

[@paulsimonsson]

Lovely

[@rbrbworld]

@23:14 ...electric guitars?! Could he have been the next Leo Fender? The next Les Paul? How I wish had someone inquired a bit deeper there...

[@DestroyerWill]

What a charming man

[@eduardobatocchio832]

minute 48...Jose Carlos Pace....amazing...

[@fridgemagnett]

I would like to see Gordon running the country too.

[@nickbanham8750]

Running the world!!

[@gregj7916]

he's pretty laid back for a south african…. and really captivating...

[@africankat1]

Durbanites are generally known to be 'laid back'...a sun, surf holiday type of place

[@eedesign878]

1:12:40 This is the most important thing to realize enjoying cars.

[@giorgiomarchetti9027]

... good man...!!!

[@helmetculture]

THE TRUTH CAME OUT ABOUT MCLAREN MP4/4 HOLY COW IT WAS STEVE NICHOLS AND CO

[@danamaxwell5875]

Sometimes when I close my eyes

[@Larryloafer488]

Excellent, great interview. No mention of the TVR, was due in 2017 wasn’t it?

[@maneki9neko]

Does any one know the details of the "all British" 3 liter Le Mans car that Gordon mentions at 16:30 in the video. Apparently it was a significant car, done with Alain de Cadenet. Apparently, it has been restored. I have not found any images. www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-2001/5/duckhams-ford-special-revived

[@maneki9neko]

Hmm . . . this might be the car. www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/features/gordon-murray-cbe-famed-designers-greatest-creations/1972-duckhams-ford/

[@grupoalcopelletsquemadorde8988]

Pueden poner sub título en Castellano por favor

[@robinheil]

LMAO He called the Alpine A110 "big" , "if it was only 6 inches narrower" 1:01

[@GetUpFalcon]

Chap on the right seems to have only read Murray's wikipedia page & watched a few videos on youtube. Bloke in the middle seems to know Murray.

[@killerfitz84]

what a shame they shoot these for video content and not record it properly for a podcast....

[@1911indi]

Mr. Gordon Murray - The best and the greatest contemporary Design Manager Engineer! I cannot understand why 99% of rich supercar and industrial production car manufacturers do not understand that weight reduction is always the answer to vehicle efficiency that remains constant regardless of powertrain types.

[@waynemanna1402]

A massively impressive designer. When you look at the history of modern F1 design, there are very few designers who introduced designs that have become virtually standard on every F1 car. Chapman took the rear-engine configuration idea and added a monocoque. Barnard led the way in making the entire monocoque in carbon fibre (Murray had been the first to start using it, but in a limited way) and with the electronic gear change. Murray added the push/pull rod suspension configuration and there are variations, but on that same basic theme, every F1 car and every open wheeler uses that configuration. Newey was the first to adapt the high-rake configuration to F1 (it had been in use in Indy cars) but it is now a big feature of all of his F1 designs and every other team uses the same configuration to some degree as well as many other tricks like exhaust blown diffusers. Patrick Head possibly can claim the idea of not using a separate monocoque and bodywork, so the monocoque's outer surface was the external surface of the car. Murray is definitely in a very elite group.This series of interviews is riveting.

[@paulconnelly4050]

I’m sorry, I do love Gordon Murray, the man is a genius, and for the McLaren F1 he deserves a knighthood, but it does frustrate me that things like the BT46B ‘Fan Car’ and ground effect by Lotus were already done on cars by Chaparral during the late 60s and very early 70s, yet it feels like everyone believes Chapman and Murray practically invented these things by themselves. The Chaparral 2J ‘Sucker Car’ was the first ground effect car and had fans on it in 1970, a full 8 years before Brabham’s BT46B and 7 years before the Lotus 79, so how about a little acknowledgement for Hap Sharp and Jim Hall of Chaparral, and no....I’m not American.

[@thetumanshow]

Did you make it to the end? Someone asks him about that

[@paulconnelly4050]

@@thetumanshow I did but the whole subject got glossed over, although to Gordon Murray’s credit he does acknowledge that Chaparral was way before. My point refers to the subject in general. Especially when it comes to F1 documentaries, broadcasts and F1 chatter.

[@franciscloutier5387]

I mean, youre talking about the guy who took credit for the MP4/4 while in practice having pretty much nothing to do with it. Not surprising

[@paulconnelly4050]

@@franciscloutier5387 😂😂😂

[@paulconnelly4050]

@@franciscloutier5387 Yes indeed. Steve Nichols and team (Matthew Jeffrys) deserve the credit for the MP4/4. That was due to a book written in 1990 called McLaren MP4/4: A Technical Appraisal, where the author only interviewed Murray. It would be nice if he just came out and said I was in charge of delegating but I didn't have hands on involvement but obviously its probably more advantageous for him to take credit for it.

[@1maxusa]

Dennis Farina back from the dead!

[@greigsanderson]

Why doesn't he come back and work for an F1 team?

[@ciaronsmith4995]

Is he still capable with the new engineering standards? F1 is more complex now.

[@adnaanu]

Probably because he finds the current regulations too restrictive and detrimental to the sport. As he said earlier the rule book doesn't allow much in terms of innovation.

[@PhilOsGarage]

It's a different world now, hundreds of tiny changes with no capacity for thinking outside the box.

[@cerosietebpositivo351]

Wow! let me understand the mathematics. Gordon initially had 1000. Bought a Lotus Elan for 840 (in the first week he arrived), then, got only 160. So...How it was possible for 2 people (he and his wife) in the Britain of the 70s to live with only 160 quids for 6 months before getting a job and in the end still having 15 in his pockets????? It's mind boggling! Can someone explain me that?

[@jongillies4871]

State benefits

[@weathero7972]

Are those journalists for motor stuff? Seems like they havent the slightest idea even of what is a hammer or a wrench.

[@stuartsmith5308]

Challenge for Gordon. Please invent a device, that can measure driver enjoyment , happiness and satisfaction. The car industry really needs it. All these latest supercars, are fun less video games. no analogue connection . Thank you for F1

[@amadlover]

John Malkovich

[@dealerovski82]

1:07:12 I can't believe I find myself with a different opinion then Murray but actually, he is wrong about heavy electric cars using up more brakes. They usually use less brakes because of regenerate breaking almost like low gear motor breaking but with the electric motor generating electricity back to the battery. Its really clever technology.

[@auser1617]

Yep, Motor Sport should readdress this inactucacy........

[@bartleymollohan1090]

Steve is the real man!

[@TheDalitis8]

God Is Great! Gordon Murray Is His Prophet!

[@prathameshpawaskar4136]

Pls somebody make the bald guy's laughing stop

[@jongillies4871]

Seriously 🤣

[@utube321piotr]

I put my money on Steve Nichols' (and many others who were there at the time) rendition of events. Taking credit for someone else's work is a low trait of human character.

[@georgehooper2315]

How much better things would be if this guy was put in charge of the sport

[@jongillies4871]

The guy in the middle has the most annoying laugh I’ve ever heard in my life 🥴 ruined a good video for me

[@adamfry1125]

Not impressed how he is so negative and disparaging towards modern F1. Sure he has valid points but sounded like he was basically taking the piss out of people who work hard and enjoy their work. Rose tinted spectacle brigade will love this. Shame because I thought I loved his work and he would be more balanced and sensible. Seems to have become more than a bit of a know it all. Shame. Oh and I'm pretty sure I can differentiate all white F1 cars thanks very much, we can't wind back the clock. Enjoy what we have.

[@ciaronsmith4995]

Modern F1 is a disgrace, but it starts with Pirelli and the lack of a budget cap in my view. Not enough room for innovation mid season either.

[@axiomic]

I don't think you should get too offended. He speaks the truth, and unfortunately the real faults of modern F1 are due to the never ending FIA regulations that has caused little difference in car design or allowed engineering innovation... which he was victim to in the '70s. It's not so much the fault of the engineers and teams working hard to do their best.

[@DestroyerWill]

It’s his opinion mate and oh by the way I bet you couldn’t tell the modern F1 cars apart in 30 seconds - they did that this year on sky F1 and the experts got 3/10 - stop fooling yourself into thinking your more of a genius than GM.

[@PhilOsGarage]

Some of that is probably due to the audience he is addressing. Motor Sport is a highly respected publication with a more mature readership. A slightly nostalgic slant will help connect with the audience. F1 now is almost like a completely unrelated formula to F1 even as recently as the 90's. It effectively became (in my opinion) a new formula with the introduction of KERS. I do love modern F1, but the 'classic' formula was truly special.

[@MK-9151]

GM is just full of crap, this interview makes me sick

[@stopspin]

Motorsport has reached a heightened form of, "regulation communism", that everyone has to be the same on the race track in regards to,... innovation and design. Motorsports is a capitalist sport in regards to competing as a race team and driver, by finding the advantage over your opponent team. If an opposition team is slow, its their responsibility in finding the advantage over their opponents, not "winging" or complaining like children to the "parity/regularity and stewards communist club". In competition there will always be a loser. Innovations forces the experts in the sport in various teams to become more innovative in the sport in their technology. No more Fan cars...very sad.

[@rikward6955]

despite of his achievments i find him boring