I bought my first copy of Automobile Year around 1957. The British magazine ‘Motor’ used to produce a yearbook, and my father, who was a journalist working at the same publishing house, used to get copies for me. When that ceased publication, I wanted another book that covered the same topics: the year’s developments in new cars and motor sport. Automobile Year filled the bill perfectly, and as my collection grew I decided I needed the early issues I had missed to complete it.

Contact with specialist booksellers soon showed that the task would not be easy. In order to ingratiate myself with one dealer, in the hope of moving up his waiting list, I even expressed interest in a copy of Number 2 in French. When the wife of another dealer phoned to say he was on his way back to the shop after collecting some early copies he wanted to go “to a good home,” I did not hesitate. I left a meeting with an important client at the London advertising agency where I worked and dashed straight over to collect them. Now all 49 copies of Automobile Year are on my bookshelves alongside bound editions of ‘The Motor Cycle’ dating back to 1902. Now, thanks to books like these, I reckon I can answer any question about bikes and cars without leaving my study!

Murray Walker is known throughout the English-speaking world as the voice of Formula 1. He is the son of Graham Walker, one of Britain’s most successful motorcycle racers of the 1930’s, who later turned to journalism, and got his first commentating job in 1948, when his father was unable to fulfill an appointment at the famous Shelsley Walsh hillclimb. This led to radio work supporting his father at the Isle of Man TT races, and when Graham Walker retired Murray took over his role, becoming Britain’s top commentator on motorcycling on both radio and TV.

In 1978, the BBC undertook to televise the complete Formula 1 season, with Murray describing the action. As the coverage of F1 grew internationally, his voice was heard well beyond the British Isles and the enthusiasm so evident in his commentaries gained him a following across the world. He retired at the end of the 2001 season, and has been working on his autobiography, which has just been published. In 2002 he received a lifetime achievement award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for his work.