The tenth annual Turner Sports Car Rally was held at Bantock Park, Wolverhampton on Sunday 17th August, 2014 on a lovely summer's day, to celebrate the Turner sports cars that were produced in Wolverhampton.

The cars were manufactured over a period of eleven years between 1955 and 1966 by Turner Sports Cars (Wolverhampton) Limited, named after the founder of the company, the late Jack Turner. It is thought that between 650 to 700 sports cars were produced by the company, initially in Merridale Street, Wolverhampton before moving to the factory at Pendeford.

The earliest car on display was Ken Robbins' excellent 950S which dates from 1959, the most recent being Brian Shaw's MKIII built in 1966, one of the last Tuner sports cars to be produced.

Quite a lot of visitors came along to admire the cars, including ex-Turner employee Ron Jones. As usual Brian Shaw had an excellent indoor display about the cars and the company, and Ken Robbins displayed a film that showed some of the cars taking part in sporting events.

Rachel Lambourne and some of her colleagues were also on hand to inform people about the Black Country Echoes project which celebrates manufacturing in the Black Country.

It was an excellent event which went by all too quickly. Most of the visitors sampled the first-rate food in Bantock café, or looked around the house.

As usual thanks must go to Brian Shaw for organising a superb event.

The cars and their owners are as follows:
Owner Car type Year Registration No.
Roy Beasley MKI BMC 1960 922 XUL
Derek Bentley MKI BMC 1960 2 RTD
John Cullis MKIII 1964 BAX 500B
Ray Jones MKII BMC 1961 PBF 570
Ken Robbins 950S BMC 1959 9 NPC
Brian Shaw MKIII Ford, 1500c.c. 1966 GOK 444D
Nigel Taylor MKI BMC 1960 700 AOV

The Cars:


Some of the cars outside Bantock House.


Roy Beasley's Turner MKI from 1960.


Another view of Roy Beasley's car.


Derek Bentley's Turner MKI from 1960.


Another view of Derek Bentley's car.


John Cullis's Turner MKIII from 1964.


Another view of John Cullis's car.
 

John Cullis brought along his most recent Turner rebuild, currently a 'rolling chassis' which generated lots of interest.


Another view of John Cullis's chassis which will soon receive a body..


Ray Jones' Turner MKII from 1961.


Ray Jones (on the left) chats to ex-Turner employee Ron Jones about his car.


Ken Robbins and his Turner 950S from 1955.


Some of the visitors admire Ken Robbins' car.


Brian Shaw's Turner MKIII from 1966.


Another view of Brian Shaw's car.


Nigel Taylor's Turner MKI from 1960.


Another view of Nigel Taylor's car.


The line-up of cars outside the house.


Part of Brian Shaw's excellent display about Turner sports cars.


Ken Robbins' film show.


The courtyard behind Bantock House.

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