Alexander Turner GT Prototype

[Turner Sports]

I am researching the racing history of the 1961 Alexander Turner GT Prototype raced by Wing Commander K.W.Mackenzie.

Anyone remember the car ? Do any photo's exsist?
Can anyone recall any races the car competed in ?

[John Turner]

Peter Filby mentions this car in his book 'Specialist Sports Cars' published by David & Charles in 1974. Apparently, it was the only one built and the aluminium body was built by Williams and Pritchard to a design by Mike Parkes. It was fitted with an 80bhp A-H Sprite engine and completed in June 1961. With it Wing Commander took several lap records. Exactly a year after comstruction it was rebuilt with a 1220cc Coventry Climax engine giving 98bhp and then continued to be successful. Unfortunately, the piece carries no photo and no race details. I'm now looking through my copies of Motor Sport for 1962 (Sadly, I have yet to acquire a volume for 1961) to see if I can find any more info. I imagine that Autosport for those years might also be a potential source. Incidentally, despite my name, I have no connection with the car or its manufacturers.

[klaus]

you will find a picture of the alexander turner on page 127 in the book:
specialist sports cars, richard heseltine, haynes publishing, june 2001,
isbn 1 85960 690 3.
klaus

[John Turner]

I've had no further joy so far. Nothing in 1962 Motor Sport, but will keep looking

[RAP]

I assume you have seen this site which contains pictures of what I think is the car you refer to ?
http://www.turnersportscars.com/t_photos429.html

(in case link dosnt work properly go to chassis 61/429)

[Turner Sports]

Many thanks for you help with this research , I have a copy of the British Specialist Cars book and Richard Hestletines Specialist Sports Cars book.
Story goes ... I dragged the Chassis shell of this car from a cowshed in Shropshire last year - It is a mess , But nonetheless a basis to restore a rare 'one off' Turner. I have contacted Wing Commander Mackenzie who has provided some good info on the car , and more recently the 2nd owner Peter J Smith (Team Speedwell Yorkshire) who raced the car 1963 - 64 and repainted it Yellow and Bernhard Whealan who raced the car when Red from 68 thru to the early 70's. I understand other owners could have included Malcolm Sutherland and Chris Dolman-Stuart ? I have placed quite a full history to date on our Turner website www.turnersportscars.com but strive for more History and to put together the racing history of this unique car.
I Know it raced at Goodwood in the 50th B.A.R.C Members Meeting (May 1962 does anyone have an exact date?)

Other races I have confirmed are as follows:-

BARC – Oulton Park National Spring Meeting – Saturday 15th April 1961
Wing Commander K.W Mackenzie # 37 994cc

BRSCC Brands Hatch International - August 7th Bank Holiday Meeting 1961
Wing Commander K.W Mackenzie # 120 994cc

BARC – Goodwood 26th Tourist Trophy Race – August 19th 1961
Wing Commander K.W Mackenzie # 50 994cc

Peco Trophy Race – Two 10 lap races – December 26th 1961
Wing Commander K.W Mackenzie # TBC 994cc

ECMC – Snetterton – Eastern Counties 100 Trophy Meeting Sunday 01st July 1962
Wing Commander K.W Mackenzie # 50 1216cc

SMRC - Snetterton - Autosport World Cup - Sunday 15th July 1962
Wing Commander K.W Mackenzie # 16 1216cc

BARC – Goodwood 27th Tourist Trophy Race – August 18th 1962
Wing Commander K.W Mackenzie # 40 1216cc

BARC Oulton Park – April 6th 1963
Team Speedwell Yorkshire - Peter J Smith # 55 1216cc (Yellow)

Oulton Park 13th July 1968
Bernhard Whelan # 128 (Rosso Red)

ANY Further information - Results from these races or photo's will be very much appriciated

Thanks Again all - Russell Filby (Turner Registrar)

[Turner Sports]

[RAP]

Russell
From my records -
1961
11 March Goodwood 44th Members Spt 1200 #95 2nd
3 April Brands Easter Spt 1200 #100 948cc 4th
15 April Oulton BARC National GT #37 950cc 3rd class
29 April Silverstone Maidstone MK MC Autosport GT 1000cc #45 994cc 3rd
22 May Crystal Palace Norbury Trophy GT #82 994cc 9th overall/3rd class
3 June Brands Int Peco Trophy #116 978cc not placed
10 June Goodwood 46th Members Spt 1200 #48 992cc 5th
Handicap 6th
18 June Snetterton ECMC Autosport GT # 68
1 July Goodwood 47th Members Spts 1200 #64 992cc dna
8 July Silverstone British Empire Trophy Mtg GT #3 994cc
15 July Aintree GP Mtg GT #29 994cc dna
23 July Snetterton Autosport GT #5
7 Aug Brands Aug Monday Int Peco Trphy GT #120 994cc not placed
19 Aug Goodwood Tourist Trophy #50 1098cc dna
16 Sept Goodwood 48th Members Spts 1200 #43 994cc 15th (inc 60” penalty)
Handicap 7th


1962
23 April Brands Easter Peco Trophy GT 1000-1600cc #102 1216 4th
28 April Silverstone Maidstone & MK MC Autosport GT #39 1216 dna
26 May Goodwood 50th Members Spts/GT #42 1216cc ret
Handicap Ret
27 May Brands National Peco Trophy GT #82 dna
3 June Snetterton SMRC GT #97 1216
11 June Goodwood Whitsun Trophy #9 1216 dna
1 July Snetterton ECMC Autosport GT #50
15 July Snetterton World Cup #16 1216 Reserve
6 Aug Brands Aug Monday Int Peco Trophy GT #96 dna reserve
18 Aug Tourist Trophy #40 1216 dna
1 Sept Crystal Palace GT 1600 #46 1216 dna
2 Sept Snetterton SMRC Marque Spts #62 1216cc
GT #62

1963 P J Smith
16 March Oulton BARC Members #47 1216cc
6 April Oulton BARC National #55

My records are much more limited on Northern events so the info. on P J Smith is obviously far from complete but it seems that in 63-64 Smith was usually driving a Speedwell GT which I assume to be a different car.
RAP

[Turner Sports]

RAP - This is AMAZING ! Thank you so very much for taking the time to post this valuble information - That's quite a History! I have to say I am new to tentenths.com and have been overwhelmed by the depth of Knowlege and amount of help and information provided by viewers of the forum - Thank you again - Fantastic !! - You have made my day!
That must be quite some racing archive you have !

Oh by the way - Peter J Smith - You are quite correct , The other car is a Speedwell Sprite GT which he raced under the Team Speedwell Yorkshire banner. I understand he still has the same car today!

Peter did mention he ran the Alexander GT at Rufforth where he had a big off and rolled the car which is why the outings were so limited that year , It was then sold on and was thought to have had an outing at Croft in 64 with Malcolm Sutherland at the wheel. I have nothing more really other than a photo from 13th July 68 with Bernard Whealan at the wheel.

Thank you once again - Russell

[Turner Sports]

Anyone have any info on the car post 63 when raced by Bernard Whealan (Circa 1968) I understand it ran at Brands Hatch , Croft and Oulton Park but unsure which series or club? - Also looking for any pictures of the car in action.
Car now well under restoration

[Turner Sports]

Would anyone have the race results for the Snetterton Int Lombank Trophy Meeting Sat 25th March 1961 ?? In particular Event 1 - 12 lap scratch race for GT Cars complying with Appendix J Group 3?

The W/Cdr Mackenzie Alexander GT was #3 in class A upto 1000cc
Would love to know how it got on in this race if anyone can help ??

Russ

[John Turner]

I don't know whether anymore came of this research? Who owns it now?

http://www.turnersportscars.co.uk/t_photos429.html