Bob Varsha returns to F1 on Speed!

formula1joe · #1 03-01-2004, 12:30 PM

Veteran broadcaster Bob Varsha returns to the SPEED booth after a two-year absence to head up the five-star team of David Hobbs, Steve Matchett and Peter Windsor.

**tifosi** · #2 03-01-2004, 12:36 PM

I never really liked the new guy

Maximo_Tifoso · #3 03-01-2004, 12:39 PM

I guess Rick Debrul is out?? Bob is the right man for the job....

**tifosi12** · #4 03-01-2004, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formula1joe

Veteran broadcaster Bob Varsha returns to the SPEED booth after a two-year absence to head up the five-star team of David Hobbs, Steve Matchett and Peter Windsor.

Great!

So he is replacing that looney tune they had before (Debrul). I like Varsha, I respect Matchett and I adore Hobbs.

Now if they only could let go of all that unnecessary speculation during the races...

hps · #5 03-01-2004, 02:02 PM

Good move for SPEED...now, if we can only get rid of Hobbs......the guy is a dolt, plain and simple..

One of the luxuries of living in Canada, is that we get the ITV feed on TSN.
That means we get James Allen and Martin Brundle...who is infintely more interesting to listen to than any of the SPEED guys.....
I do like Windsor, and Matchett, but Hobbs just has to go......

My usual routine is to watch the TSN feed with Brundle and Allen live, and tape Speed....they do have a better overall program, with pre and post race features, but nobody commentates like Brundle and Allen....

hps

writerguy · #6 03-01-2004, 02:45 PM

I MISS MURRAY WALKER!!!

Brundle et al off the ITV feed DEFINITELY superior to Speed

**tifosi12** · #7 03-01-2004, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by writerguy

I MISS MURRAY WALKER!!!

Brundle et al off the ITV feed DEFINITELY superior to Speed

Agreed. But given the relative low interest of the US in F1 vs the UK, the Speed guys aren't doing too bad and the weakest link now has been replaced. Goodbye.

writerguy · #8 03-01-2004, 03:12 PM

On the topic of Sir Murray

Anyone remember where the web site of Murrayisms is he had a bunch of verbal dyslexia that was legendary.

**tifosi12** · #9 03-01-2004, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by writerguy

On the topic of Sir Murray

Anyone remember where the web site of Murrayisms is he had a bunch of verbal dyslexia that was legendary.

Dunno, but I remember him from one of my F1 sim games where he was the commentator: Every time I touched one of the armcos around the Monaco harbour, he would say "Oh Martin, I bet he left a bit of rubber on that wall."

writerguy · #10 03-01-2004, 03:35 PM

Not that you don't know a little here and there but

http://www.worldmotorsport.com/murray/

YA GOT TO READ THIS STUFF and remember to have in your head the high pitched schrill english accent of a man with his britches on fire and getting close to the "goods"

**tifosi12** · #11 03-01-2004, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by writerguy

Not that you don't know a little here and there but

http://www.worldmotorsport.com/murray/

YA GOT TO READ THIS STUFF and remember to have in your head the high pitched schrill english accent of a man with his britches on fire and getting close to the "goods"

Luckily I got a few British GP tapes in my collection with his comments. He is quite unique, I agree.

FLATOUTRACING · #12 03-01-2004, 06:58 PM

Varsha may not be the best, but he sure beats Rick Defool !!!!!!

Allen and Brundle are great but we only get Speed so Varsha, Hobbs, Machett and Windsor aren't bad.

Remember it could be a lot worse. We could get stuck with the ABC IRL crew again. Remember Eddie Cheever......don't quit your day job Eddie!

Then ABC gave us John Watson who talks so fast you'd swear he's speaking Japanese.

3 days and counting till' first practice on Speed!

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

Papa G · #13 03-01-2004, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLATOUTRACING

Varsha may not be the best, but he sure beats Rick Defool !!!!!!

Allen and Brundle are great but we only get Speed so Varsha, Hobbs, Machett and Windsor aren't bad.

Remember it could be a lot worse. We could get stuck with the ABC IRL crew again. Remember Eddie Cheever......don't quit your day job Eddie!

Then ABC gave us John Watson who talks so fast you'd swear he's speaking Japanese.

3 days and counting till' first practice on Speed!

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

My sentiments exactly.

Koby · #14 03-01-2004, 11:03 PM

I've never had the pleasure of hearing Murray do a race, but he certainly is legendary. I agree that Varsha is the man for the job, and he does know F1. I can't wait for the season to get started, I have a feeling it's going to be really good this year.

writerguy · #15 03-02-2004, 09:26 AM

Back in Canada the CBC and then later TSN (the sports network) ran the unaltered live BBC and ITV feeds. Apparently Murray would stand up during the parade lap and would be standing leaning over his monitors bouncing for the whole race.

Jackie Stewart used to chime in on occasion for color commentary (at least during the Canadian GP) and it was almost as exciting listening to murray as it was watching Prost and Senna try and out drive each other into EVERY corner in the Mclaren/Honda's

NOW that was a dominate team!

formula1joe · #16 03-02-2004, 10:51 AM

Glad to know that I am not the only one who did not like Rick!

Let the season begin!

kpe007 · #17 03-03-2004, 12:17 AM

Leigh Diffy who broadcasts the sportscar series. His rutney, chutney shrill is enough to make my hair stand on end. How did this guy get into broadcasting?

WFO_Racer · #18 03-03-2004, 12:36 AM

Bob rocks can't wait to hear his signature line:

" Before you can race first you must qualify "

Steve is good bring fairly recent F1 knowledge.

Windsor's pit reporting is good (limited by F1 restrictions of who he can talk to )

Hobb's is old and confused .

I wish they offered pay for view so you can select camera view.

Koby · #19 03-03-2004, 08:31 AM

Do they still have Bernievision? I thought I had head that it went belly up. If it is still around what would be ideal would be if SPEED could get the Bernievision feed and then produce their own coverage, choosing the camera angles, in-car shots, data screens, etc.

As for Hobbs, the man is classic. It does seem like he's has a few scotches before some of the races, but when sober he's an old time racer and an F1 fanatic. Besides, where else do you get to hear words like, "shamozzle," and "grand carumbolage."

**tifosi12** · #20 03-03-2004, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koby

Do they still have Bernievision? I thought I had head that it went belly up. If it is still around what would be ideal would be if SPEED could get the Bernievision feed and then produce their own coverage, choosing the camera angles, in-car shots, data screens, etc.

As for Hobbs, the man is classic. It does seem like he's has a few scotches before some of the races, but when sober he's an old time racer and an F1 fanatic. Besides, where else do you get to hear words like, "shamozzle," and "grand carumbolage."

I think you're right: Bernievision went belly up, but there are still a lot more F1 camera feeds around than what we see on Speed. When you buy the annual F1 review tape you get so see footage you didn't even know existed. So from that perspective our feed could be a lot more interesting.

Glad to see somebody else feels the same way about Hobbs. I just love some of his funky expressions: "He did a booboo."