By Gary Lemke
London - As the man whose voice has launched a zillion laughs himself once said: "It's a sad ending albeit a happy one today at the United States Grand Prix."
Formula One's Murray Walker's 52-year tenure behind the microphone comes to an end on Sunday night in Indianapolis, the veteran motor racing commentator saying farewell to his legion of fans around the world.
Having started his career back in 1949, if there's one man who has been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and got a line of internet sites dedicated to him, Murray's the man.
So, let's use Sunday as a tribute to the voice of Formula One. While the Japanese Grand Prix is the last on the 2001 calendar, it's Sunday's US version which marks his swansong.
If you love him and his career-defining string of Murray Walkerisms, you'll agree that the sport won't be the same without him. If you hang around in the World of Walker long enough you'll start making up your own language of mumbo-jumbo.
In no particular order, let's sit back and relive some favourite expressions of Walker down the years:
"... and here comes Damon Hill in the Williams... this car is absolutely unique... except for the one behind it, which is exactly the same."
Monaco 1981: "You might think that's not cricket, and it's not, it's motor racing."
Spain 2000: "So while we wait for them to come on to the podium, and I'll interrupt myself when they do..."
Britain 2000: (ITV anchorman Jim Rosenthal) "It's over to the big Easter Bunny of Formula One, Murray Walker." Walker: "I don't know about the big Easter Bunny, Jim. I used to go to the Bunny Club in Park Lane quite a lot, but my wife's watching the programme, so enough of that."
Monaco (year unsure): "There are flames coming from the back of Prost's car as he enters the swimming pool." Co-commentator James Hunt: "Well that ought to put them out then."
And then the random quotes.
"He's obviously gone for a wheel change. I say obviously because I can't see it."
"What's THAT? There's a BODY on the track! James Hunt: "Er, I think that's a piece of body-work..."
"Schumacher crosses the line to begin another lap AND THERE'S NOTHING THERE!"...
"And Schumacher overtakes Villeneuve. Oh no he doesn't. Oh yes he does!"
And he's done that in a whisker under 10 seconds, call it 9.7 in round figures."
"We're watching Ralf Schumacher, son, of course, of double world champion Michael Schumacher."
"They're both super starts but Mika Hakkinen is a superer starter."
What may not be general knowledge is that Walker commentates from trackside standing up, watching the action on a small television monitor in a cramped room.
His energy for a senior citizen is admirable, but it is his trademark of speaking before he thinks which has made him a global legend.
"Look up there, that's the sky!" and "I can't imagine what sort of problem Senna has. I imagine it must be some sort of grip problem."
"Do my eyes deceive me, or is Senna's car sounding rough?" or "His hope, which was nil before, is absolutely zero now."
"And for some really superb driving, watch this!" (Followed immediately by the car crashing).
"Schumacher leading Damon Hill by four tenths of a second or so, because it's moving... and that's not four tenths of a second, that's Michael Schumacher!"
Then the classic inter-action between him and his co-commentator, Martin Brundle: "How can they do that Martin? How does a man talk calmly to his team boss when Damon's in the situation he's in?" Martin Brundle: "Well, you press a little button and start talking Murray."
"It's Senna, it's Senna! (pause) well, it's either Mansell or Senna." and "So let's assume that Schumacher wins this race, WHOA!" (Schumacher slides on a white line).
On another occasion, the high-pitched familiar voice will deepen, the words come out slower. "And there's Damon Hill, and there's the German."
His favourites over the years have included Ayrton Senna, the Britons Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell and latterly Michael Schumacher.
I'm sure all racing fans have grown as accustomed to hearing Walker as they have to the tense atmosphere at the start of a race.
"Two lights, three lights, four lights, five laps, GO, GO, GO!" is another of his famous blunders.
It's a pity that Walker's final commentary comes in a race that is still under the shadow of the recent terror attacks in the United States, which will probably mean there is a more muted reaction than usual at a grand prix.
However, there will be few dry eyes in the house when Walker signs off for the final time. Let's just enjoy the moment and take our hats off to him and wish him well in his retirement. Well, we'd take our hat off if we were wearing one, which we're not...