“His team owner said: ‘If you put him in that car, he’s going to win that race,’” Turner recalled. “I didn’t think this guy was going to come into my car and win the race. That wasn’t what we were thinking. We thought we were going to get someone with more experience to help us with our setup and he might be able to do OK. I didn’t have the thought that this guy could win the race. His team owner said he would win the race.
“I negotiated a deal with Mr. Auberlen for a little bit of cash and all the prize money. That was his thing, he wanted all the prize money,” Turner continued. “The first couple of laps (in practice) in our car and the engine blew up. Well, that was easy, I think he’s done. My guys said they could put another engine in, he’ll just have to start from the back. We pulled it all together and put an engine in overnight.
“He started the race from the back with literally two laps in the car, it started raining. And everybody will remember that Bill Auberlen started that race and drove through the field, put on a clinic and won the race,” Turner recalled. “People still talk about it to this day. It was raining enough that the track was wet, but not enough that the fans left the hill (a prime viewing spot). Long story short, that’s how I first met him.”
It was the beginning of a long relationship.
“It was a great start and it’s a great story,” Turner added. “That year he ran a few other races with us. He won another race and podiumed in another. From then on, I still try to have Bill on our team, race for our team and be somewhat involved. He ran in other races and series during that time. We have won quite a few races together.”
That’s a bit of an understatement.
“It’s been a great run,” Auberlen said. “When they told me I was getting close to Pruett’s record I drove entirely different. Oh my God, I gotta get that win. I gotta get that win. Will told the team to settle in and the wins will come. We did our job and the wins came.”
Auberlen, who turns 56 on Oct. 12, has all the motivation he needs to continue winning races.
“Now, I have won seven championships. I have won the most races for BMW in the world. This is just surreal how this has come together and I’m not going to stop anytime soon,” Auberlen said. “I’m at the top of my game. The speed is there and I’m having a great time. It’s the best time in racing that I’ve ever had. You know what? People don’t have careers that are 26 years long.
“You’re always fighting and you’re always scrambling and they never appreciate where you’re at and all the things happening to just sit and smell the race fuel. I’ve done it,” Auberlen continued. “I can look back now and the history I have made. Wow, I am having the best time to enjoy, I can still perform while I am having a great time. People don’t realize it until it’s gone.”
Taking liberties with BMW’s popular slogan, “Ultimate Driving Experience,” Auberlen and Turner have enjoyed “The Ultimate Racing Experience” with the marque. Turner started with BMW because he said it was easy to convert a street car to a race car. With the success that has followed, he’s found no reason to stray to another manufacturer.
Turner is equally committed to Auberlen.
“I don’t want this to come off the wrong way because the Turner team has been so successful and because the brand (team and BMW) is so recognized,” Turner said. “We are a staple in sports car racing, I get people sending me their résumés, calling me and saying they want to be in my car. You can imagine. It’s flattering and we’ve earned it for sure, but my answer is, ‘I’m full, I have my driver.’ I’ve got my pro driver, but I am interested in gentlemen drivers.
“My business model (because of the GTD Pro/Am rule), so if you’re a gentleman driver, please send me your résumé.’ I’ll take those all day long, but other pro drivers I tell them I have my guy and he’s not slowing down.”
Turner had the last word, “It’s not easy and the competition is fierce. You ride success when you can and rebuild it when you can’t. That’s racing.”