Professor Gordon Murray: Royal Automobile Club Talk Show, in association with Motor Sport

For our final Club Talk Show of 2017, we were joined by Professor Gordon Murray of Gordon Murray Design. We looked back on the One Formula Exhibition, which celebrated 50 years of Gordon Murray Engineering and Design, the many characters he's worked alongside and the iconic vehicles he's designed. Professor Murray also answered a selection of questions asked by our listeners on Twitter. Enjoy the podcast!

[@apscoradiales]

"You could mix with the people in the paddock" How true. Back in the mid seventies, I saw Mr. Murray in the paddock while walking around as a kid during the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport. There was Colin Chapman there too, and so many of the people from that era. Friend and I simply walked around the paddock; nobody chased us out - was an incredible experience talking to some of these giants of the time. Mr. Chapman allowed us to stay in his pit while the race was on too! Today, the best you can do is watch the whole event from 5 miles away - no way one would be allowed to do what we did them.

[@chrisbali5246]

What drove the fan?

[@shanedoyle1057]

Absolute cool calm genius and comes across as somewhat modest. Imagine it took the resources of VW Audi and Lambo to beat what he did over a decade earlier with a tiny team. And even then only in outright maximum speed and not by much. I’ve driven neither but I’d bet that dynamically a Veyron can’t come close to the F1. A living legend

[@elmadi7391]

As an architect designer myself , I love Gordon said that he always start a design with a sketch and never employ a person , either in their 20 or 60 who cannot sketch.... thank you for posting 🙏

[@elmirferrari7444]

great interview. Gordon Murray what a legendary man

[@omaryhassan6477]

Gordon Murray What a man! What an absolute legend!! Excellent interview!!!!

[@tomstech4390]

Goes without saying but what a class legend, Invaluable words and teachings, Long may he continue.

[@freejrs]

That was fantastic thank you very much indeed!!! Such a great pleasure to listen to the man talk.

[@apscoradiales]

"Proportions"! That's the key to almost anything - from cars to buildings to people....

[@RumbaSC]

One of the best ever, if not the best ever club talk show, thank you so much for inviting the legendary Gordon Murray! IMHO the greatest car designer and visionary not only in Formula 1, but in car design in general. The only objection I may have is, it was too short :) Can we have a series of talk shows with Gordon, please? And one question from me: Is Gordon going to write a book on his journey (so far) in the world of Formula 1, motor racing and car design? I want it badly!

[@LurcherVonPapsmear]

Great podcast! Gordon Murray is God!

[@aussiebloke609]

32:30 I love the surprised looks when Gordon oh so casually talks about getting a 2g start in the fan car. What a superb interview!

[@ranimartinez1375]

I don’t understand why these days it’s said that Adrian is the best designer ever. In my opinion , Adrian is unparalleled as a aerodynamicist but Gordon, is technically , mechanically ,operational ,visionary superstar. Thank you for this interview, Excellent.

[@treatb09]

gordon will talk about the fan car and how the altimeter was necessity to prevent crash. i just realized this is what paved the way to the breakdown of driver over constructor. ironically he talks about wanting drivers to be the point of racing again. but you can't have that with such exact calculations.

[@jasongillard6185]

What a great bloke!

[@sevnsyn]

ODD No one mentions Jim Hall of Chaparral. Was there a tech connection? Was the fan a Murray Idea. Id love to know.

[@peterbonnez]

Wonderful -

[@brianmcintyre14]

36:00 Nick Heidfelds Confidence? I think he's talking about Lauda!

[@rikgriffin9454]

Great!

[@apscoradiales]

Genius

[@JJ-zg1hh]

52:30 - both Gordon Murray and Steve Nichols make a robust case for the design ownership of the MP4/4. Who's telling the truth? I suspect it's not a binary answer to be honest.