Turner became synonymous with the Skoda across a Herculean 23-event season, including in the mighty Super Saloon category, in 1974.
The Dorset timber merchant’s quiet understated character was diametrically-opposed to the steely determination with which he drove his cars.
As lynchpin of a strong band of friends who burned much midnight oil building a stream of winners in a workshop in the wood yard, Turner’s results speak for themselves.
He started racing a 1000cc Hillman Imp in the late 1960s and by 1970 was a difficult man to beat in a hugely competitive class. That year he won both the British Automobile Racing Club’s Osram-GEC and Brands Hatch-based Atlantic Petroleum championships.
In 1971, with preparation support from local motor engineer Richard Guy of Marnhull, Turner graduated to the British Saloon Car Championship with a Group 2 Sunbeam Imp.
While Bill McGovern dominated the 1000cc division, defending his overall crown in George Bevan’s superbly developed Imp, Turner was one of two drivers to snatch a round win, at Silverstone where the Irishman tripped up.
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Having notched up more Special Saloon victories at Thruxton and Castle Combe, Turner then changed horses to Ford.
After a season in the ex-John Macdonald Anglia with its screaming 1000cc BRM Formula 2 engine, continued sponsorship from the Insurance Advisory Service enabled his team – with brilliant engineer Ted Howard a trump card – to build an Escort with a two-litre Tasman V8 unit sourced from Sid Latter at BRM for 1973. It too won races, but sadly was wrecked at Silverstone late in the year.
Source: Autosport