The Turner Sports Car Rally took place at Bantock Park on 21st August, 2005. This was the first time that the event had been held there and judging by the steady stream of visitors throughout the day, it was a great success. We hope that the organisers will consider using the venue again.

Rally Report by Russell Filby, Turner Registrar.

Bantock House in the heart of the city of Wolverhampton was the venue for our second UK Turner gathering this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jack Turners first production sports cars and once again glorious sunshine came out to greet us at this wonderful venue.

Jack Turner talking to Stuart Bennett in July 2005. He is the proud owner of this early 1951 Turner racing car. Courtesy of Russell Filby.
We were joined on the day by three Former Turner employees, Maslen Thomas, Laurence Davies and Ken Robbins who provided ‘Works Support’ in Jack Turners absence spending considerable time sharing their recollections of the production years at the company with owners enthusiasts and the general public.

The event attracted an impressive 12 cars on the day including an early Turner racing car, two A30 Sports, four MKI, three MKII and two MKIII including a variety of Climax B.M.C. and Ford engine versions – Both road and race prepared.
The famous Tatty Turner stole the show, looking far from what it’s famous nick-name suggests as Tatty has been completely renovated by DWR (Dave Whitehurst Racing) and fitted out with a state of the art Coventry Climax engine.

 Tatty Turner will very soon be taking the back on the historic racing scene and will I am sure be setting the pace again just as it did back it its heyday with Pat Ferguson and Warwick Banks at the wheel.

The "Tatty" Turner with Warwick Banks at the wheel. Courtesy of Russell Filby.
The "Tatty" Turner with Pat Ferguson at the wheel. Courtesy of Russell Filby.
The day was rounded off by a number of cars and owners taking in a road run around the various sites of the former Turner works, accompanied by Ken Robbins and Lawrence Davies , we headed in procession to Seisdon for a photo shoot outside the Old Smithy which still looks very much as it would have during those early days, then on to the former Merridale Street location (Now a fire station) and on then to Pendeford business park which is built on the site of the former Pendeford Airport works for a final photo opportunity.
The day was certainly a terrific success and no doubt gathered together the largest number of Turner cars in Wolverhampton since the Pendeford works closed for the last time back in 1966.I would like to personally thank Brian Shaw and Ken Robbins for all their help in both arranging the event and suggesting such a fitting location for the gathering.
Some of the cars on the road run parked opposite the Old Smithy at Seisdon. Courtesy of Russell Filby.
Cars in attendance at Bantock House August 21st 2005:
John Kenyon (004) MAB 121 Bill Sherras (30/040) TSV 483
Brian Shaw (30/095) 959 CMB James Bilderbeck (60/289) KJE 460
Nigel Taylor (60/291) 700 AOV DWR – Tatty Turner (60/369) 678 ERC
Derek Bentley (60/375) 2 RTD Ray Jones (61/475) PBF 570
Pip Greasley (61/494) 838 BWB Russell Filby (62/563) BTU 737B
David Valsler (65/631) YRD 518C Brian Shaw (66/656) GOK 444D
The cars lined up on the former Pendeford airport site.
Courtesy of Russell Filby.
View some photographs taken at the rally

We would like to thank Russell Filby and Brian Shaw for their help in producing this report.


Return to the
list of rallies