R.I.P. Al Turner

[Rob 351]

Al Turner passes away at age 89

THE MAN. THE MYTH. THE LEGEND.

R.I.P. Al Turner – The father of the Falcon GTHO

Alfred A. Turner was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. in 1932. By 1939, as a young school-aged boy, he and his family had moved to Detroit where he attended St. Gregory’s school and was diagnosed as being dyslexic before ultimately dropping out in the eighth grade.

Shortly thereafter he attended Southfield Trade School and in his spare time focused on his passion for cars, building a mean ‘39 Ford street racer in the process.

Still a young man, he joined the Army Engineering Corps and while serving his country he studied for and received his GED, a high school level diploma. Once he returned from the military, Al attended the Detroit Engineering Institute before eventually being hired as a research and engineering technician by the Ford Motor Company in 1955. His work primarily focused on fuel and lubricant analysis.

His passion for fast cars ever so strong, he built and raced drag cars on his weekends until he was scouted by Fran Hernandez, head of motorsports at Lincoln-Mercury, to head their new drag racing program, where part of his contract stipulated ‘no drag racing’.

Over the next few years Al and Fran Hernandez set about designing, engineering and fielding the next evolution of funny cars.

Come 1968, ‘Big Al’ as the lanky American affectionately become known, and famed designer Larry Shinoda, were sent to Australia to create a highly visible performance image that would appeal to the more youthful market.
He tweaked the XW GT Falcon and developed the GTHO program with the expertise of the ex-Brabham Formula 1 team and headed the Ford Special Vehicles ‘Lot 6’ works racing division.

Once Bill Bourke was satisfied the GTHO Phase III program was sealed, Turner’s ‘Lot 6’ team were pushed into development of the Fiera for the Philippines.

Subsequent to the Supercar Scare and success of the Super Roo campaign, Turner was asked to stay on in a senior marketing position, but ‘Big Al’ declined and the relationship ultimately dwindled.
Turner stayed with Ford in a variety of roles until 1983, when he went to rivals Chrysler “Special Projects” where he worked on the Viper and other exciting projects until he retired in 1996.

Big Al left his mark in Australia with three marvellous phases of the GTHO, the third of which, perfected his special blend of high performance and ultimate handling, and continues to excite, fifty-years on.

Thank you Big Al - rest in peace.