OWEN TURNER

History

​

After leaving school in 1992 I trained as a mechanical engineer at the University of Hertfordshire.  I then entered the motor trade, it wasn’t long before I realised that my ambition was to use my skills and abilities run my own garage. So I started an independent garage specialising in Austin Metros. My aim has always been to bring my own culture of integrity and hard work to as many customers as possible.

​

I had raced karts as a child, followed by auto testing when I was old enough to drive, and so progressing to rallying was the next natural step. At the same time as starting the garage I started competing in road rallies in a Hillman Imp, achieving my first outright rally win in the Imp.

     

Fairly soon fellow competitors saw the proof of my abilities as a rally car preparer with their own eyes and I found myself in demand from people looking for someone who could prepare good, reliable and affordable rally cars. What set me apart, aside from my knowledge of rallying from behind the wheel, was my desire to help customers by offer training, advice and support in all aspects of their rallying not just in the garage.

​

I was joined by my brother, Jamie, also an experienced rally driver and mechanic and between us we grew the garage into a successful business, now called The Rover Centre. While a partner at The Rover Centre I prepared competition cars alongside our bread and butter road car repair work. By the time I left the company we had built over 50 rally cars and these have earned over 100 outright rally wins and countless class wins in a variety of rallying disciplines including Stage, Road, Endurance, Targa, and International Endurance rallies.

​

Following on from the reputation I had gained preparing cars for long distance rallies including The London to Cape Town Rally and The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, I have gone on to work as a traveling mechanic for the Endurance Rally Association on many of their events.

 

Working on these events led me to realise there was a need for training courses in car preparation, maintenance and navigation aimed specifically at long distance rallies, and I have now organised many of these along with private tuition, building peoples skills, knowledge and confidence.

 

What Now?

 

My passion is competition and competition cars and in late 2015 I decided to find a workshop where I could concentrate fully on preparing both cars and crews.

 

I have a fully equipped premises in Bury St Edmunds, just off the A14, a great location for both UK and international customers.  My workshop is fitted with fabrication and machining facilities and no job is too big or too small.

​

Since the move to Suffolk, I have completed a number of large projects as well as taking on rally organisers fleets, film projects, navigational training classes whilst continuing with my sweep mechanic role. I have been very fortunate to be involved with some very unique builds, overcoming the many challenges of creating competitive cars that fit the rules, whilst overcoming their shortcomings.

​

I provide a very friendly, approachable service offering rally preparation training courses for on-event maintenance, navigation, driving and general event preparation for all members of the team.

​

I offer a project completion service where I will give over my knowledge and time, my workshop and my equipment to work with you to kick start or complete that project that has got “stuck”.

​

I have a wealth of experience, contacts and suppliers.  I am confident of taking on any project, whether it is just the finishing touches to crew and car, or a complete preparation of both car and owner who are either rusty, or simply new to the sport.

​

If you provide the car and the passion then my aim is to get all of your team - car, driver and navigator - working to the best of your potential so give me a call and let’s have a chat!