Greg Murphy

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eddiedean1, Jun 26, 11:52pm
Was he given the respect he deserved in supercar V8 circles? I tend to think we had a great driver there for 2 decades who got nothing from the media
msigg, Jun 27, 12:01am
I think he was a good driver but his ego got in the way and he was too aggressive. He got too stressed out I think.
eddiedean1, Jun 27, 12:06am
he was very aggressive wasn't he? I seem to recall him almost coming to blows with marcus ambrose a decade ago? At bathurst?
3tomany, Jun 27, 1:10am
This incident probably ruined his career. His ego got the better of him on that day.
I must say he is very good as a commentator, calls it how it is without bias but year probably retired from racing to soon.
socram, Jun 27, 1:19am
The list of NZ motor sport personalities and achievers who don't get any recognition in the general press is long - and growing.

You can have four pages a day in the Herald for future dogmeat and dog racing's runners and riders, merely catering for the TAB supporters, but very often, you'll get no mention whatever of any F1 GP or the Aussie V8's - certainly no lead up - and if you do get a result, it is often about 4 column centimetres and an agency report that doesn't even mention any kiwi racer unless they were on the podium.

Murph still has his fans and he was feisty, but who ever reports on the nice guys?
3tomany, Jun 27, 2:50am
The thing that we will never know is how many Bathurst races could he have won had he just done enduros. This is the biggest shame about his retirement as he would have got top quality drives.
m16d, Jun 27, 3:40am
He didn't win too many mates by continually slagging NZ drivers as the worst in the world.
whqqsh, Jun 27, 3:55am
Murphy sure didn't take a backwards step & Ambrose rubbed many people the wrong way, including when he went to the states for NASCAR & punched another driver (Mears I think)
eddiedean1, Jun 27, 4:16am
Yeah i got the feeling murph was more popular than marcus as no one really shed a tear when ambrose got shunted by murph at that bathurst confrontation. but maybe murph should have won more than he did?
berg, Jun 27, 4:33am
Murphy wore his heart on his sleeve and wasn't afraid to state his opinion for better or worse. Some of us appreciated his honesty and commitment. He's doing bloody good in the rally car now as well.
On another tack, about time motorsport was given the media it deserves in this country. We have drivers/builders/inovators and leaders involved in so much motorsport throughout the world. Rugby, netball, cricket etc gets government funding but how much support does our motorsport get? Must ask Reg Cook who's looking to go back to Bonneville and show them just how fast kiwis can fly.
eddiedean1, Jun 27, 4:52am
It's a huge technical skill to drive well at those speeds. I could never do it but i respect the driver's skill. Lots of cars on the track too, lots of strategy. Not sure if Joe public realises how technical and hard it is. The media never seem to get behind motorsport these days
whqqsh, Jun 27, 4:52am
One of the funnier Wind Up Your Wife calls on the Rock was when they called pretending to be a wannabe team owner & trying to get Murph to drive a Ford
socram, Jun 27, 7:54am
Spot on. Many seem to think that in cars, just because the driver is sitting down and twiddling a steering wheel, it is easy. When was the last time a rugby player lost 2kg during a match, from the sheer physical exertion?

Remember Clive James interviewing Damon Hill at home? Damon was training with a 13kg (?) weight attached to the side of his crash helmet to strengthen his neck muscles to cope with the G forces. I may be imagining this, (memories fade) but Clive James couldn't even lift his head up!
eddiedean1, Jun 27, 8:50am
Too right. The look on their faces when they take their helmets off at the end of the races, veins bulging, skin flushed and sweaty, eyes exhausted, tells you the real story. To concentrate that hard for so long with all of the potential obstacles and near misses in your way, g forces and everything else. Not too many could do it. But the media only seem to care about cricket and rugby
nz_stacie, Jun 27, 9:06am
Murphy USA I think you mean
no1holdenfan, Jun 27, 9:24am
He's the reason I got into Motorsport. Met him when I was 12, and followed his career since the early 2000's. Since his retirement I've been following Scott McLaughlin and the guys overseas - Hartley and Bamber.
sr2, Jun 27, 10:34am
I was lucky enough to be in a corporate box at Pukekohe in 2006? when Murphy was up there in the V8's, from memory (and it's a bit rusty) it was also the meeting when a Porsche almost managed to climb over the fence on the front straight? As an avid amateur motor-sport competitor it was an education and a privilege to see a true master at work.

Have to say I also enjoyed seeing him pranking Cameron Smith when they made him an HSV ambassador, great video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3UfXnK5q78

Love the "how goods this thing" and the "ya dreaming"!
soundsgood, Jun 27, 2:11pm
I don't recall him every winning a 'foreign' championship, Supercars or other.

He was a very good touring car driver though and, as stated above, good at doing interviews in the garages during current Supercars series.
elect70, Jun 28, 12:47am
Won Bathhurst few times , many past drivers never even won a race so was good when he had decent cars .
I always was a fan of his took no shit from others . , which didnt go down well with the PTB they want it all nice & friendly no blaming others . Nascar boys still have a go at each other & its OK with the PTB in fact few years ago they actually said it was Ok so long as no fisticuffs .
socram, Jun 28, 2:16am
Don't forget he also had a single seater career before the Aussie V8s.
eddiedean1, Jul 1, 1:49am
Greg Murphy was pretty old school. He used to come to the old swap meets the vintage car club used to put on at mcleans island. Chat to people and offer advice. Just a down to earth lovely guy. Very good with technical advice and always generous with his time. I don't think alot of people appreciated the 'murph' off camera
newtec1, Jul 2, 7:42am
I am a great petrol head fan and have been since i was old enough to sit on my old mans shoulders at ardmore,but you can't compare racing drivers to rugby players in the physical stakes,rugby players are hardened animals who do far more gym work than any FI driver and would match them anytime in that regard. But i know you have mentioned it before,rugby players don't need 100% concentration and don't put themselves in dangerous situations as much as racing drivers.They do get plenty of injuries,just none of them life threatening if they make a mistake.
newtec1, Jul 2, 7:44am
Yes i have seen him at meetings and is always willing to talk and quite happy doing it.
newtec1, Jul 2, 7:48am
If only he could kick that dropkick McIver to the kerb on speedshow we could enjoy it from a real drivers perspective instead of a pretender bluffing his way through.
newtec1, Jul 2, 7:53am
Take a look at a boxer,marathon runner,rugby player, or any other top sportman after a match and see what they look like. All top sports drain the competitor and motor racing is no exception.