Description
By: Stuart Turning . 2nd hand book in excellent like new condition
'A fast, funny, interesting and informative book... easy to get into, but hard to get out of. Actually, just what I would expect from the best after-dinner speaker I know' — Stirling Moss, OBE
Here is the autobiography — fascinating, funny, sometimes controversial — of Stuart Turner, one of the leading motorsport figures of the past 40 years. In a career that spanned an exciting period in the automotive business, he reckons to have had two major pieces of luck.
He joined the British Motor Corporation as Competitions Manager when the Mini Cooper was coming on song, then, some years later, moved to Ford as the Escort was starting to shine.
It all began with a chance invitation to a North Staffs Motor Club Sunday afternoon rally. Sitting in the back of the Rover 14 the young trainee accountant took over the map reading. He was hooked. In the 1950s Stuart Turner navigated for many drivers and several works teams, and was champion British rally navigator for three consecutive years. He won the RAC Rally sitting alongside Erik Carlsson in a Saab and. while Sports Editor at Motoring Alcvvs, introduced the MN Rally Championship.
At BMC the man The Economist described as a 'brilliant competitions manager' became famous for his organising ability which played no small part in the many wins by Austin-Healeys and Mini Coopers. including three Monte Carlo Rallies. After seven years, Turner had an interlude at Castrol before returning to the sport as Ford of Britain's
Competitions Manager. He led Ford to countless victories, including a win on the longest rally ever held. From London to Mexico. Later, running the factory producing Escort Mexicos. he introduced the first RS 2000 which became one of the most successful clubman's cars of all time.
After a spell as PR Director of Ford. Stuart Turner was appointed Director of Motorsport for Ford of Europe. During this period he pioneered such cars as the Sierra Cosworth, the RS500. which won
the World Touring Car Championship. and the RS200. Before retiring from Ford he also got approval for the Escort RS Cosworth which went on to win the Monte. Turner is still closely involved with the sport, working with the Motor Sports Association to strengthen the grass roots through support for motor clubs. He is also a trustee of the Motorsport Safety Fund.
Stuart Turner has worked with many of the top drivers and designers. from Paddy Hopkirk to Carlos Sainz, Alec Issigonis to Keith Duckworth. But this is not a dry history of events because Turner, who has written more than 20 other books, is also renowned for his humour. This puts him in demand for after dinner speeches - he gives more than 80 a year - and won him an After Dinner Speaker of the Year award. It also makes him a highly entertaining writer.
