Company Profile – SAS Turrino Wheels Limited

SAS Turrino Wheels

Driving through a typical English village, passing 18th century period cottages, the Norman-towered church, the post office and public house all constructed from local stone, it is difficult to imagine motor racing would have any place within its bounds. However, Kings Cliffe, situated 12 miles to the west of Peterborough, UK, camouflages the premises of SAS Turrino Wheels Limited, a company specializing in the art of wheel building.

The company originally known as “Specialised Automobile Services,” had its roots, over 40 years ago, on the perimeter of industrial England at Macclesfield, Cheshire, but moved to its present idyllic surroundings in 2009.  It was founded and headed by Steve Hopkins, affectionately known as “Steve the Wheel,” until present owners Will Tomkins and Sean Mooney took over in 2009.  Prior to the move, current workshop manager Ken Dean spent much time working with Steve at the original headquarters learning the art of wheel building. Since those early days the company has engaged in a hard and continuous process of development of tooling, jigs and processes that applies to both the traditional pre-war style steel rim wheels, and to an even greater extent the “Turrino” alloy rim wheels.

SAS Turrino Wheels runs its own competition and road vehicles on wire wheels and engages in extensive track and road mileage to test, prove and improve new designs. These include a 600 bhp Ferrari 575GTO Speciale (now on prototype 7.5 and 9 x 18 alloy rim wire wheels), 3-liter supercharged methanol-burning Riley/Autovia V8 VSCC racer, 1965 Vixen Formula 4 racer on prototype 4.5 x 10 wire wheels (will fit Minis!), Daimler SP250 roadcar, with other projects in the pipeline.

The Turrino brand of wire wheels, manufactured by the company, has become the wheel of choice for pre-war, historic and classic competition, Concours and roadcars since it was introduced during the latter part of the 1990s. Each wheel is hand-built and finished to order by skilled craftsmen. The alloy rim used in Turrino wheels is 25-45 perent lighter (depending on size) than the steel alternatives, making Turrino the lightest and strongest wheels on the market today. They are available fully polished with stainless centers and spokes, or painted any color with the option of a polished outer edge. Turrinos are the perfect upgrade for fast road and competition use.

While the company offers the Turrino brand, they also have a bespoke wheel-making service for all vehicles in both steel and alloy. This includes the manufacture of period replacement wheels for early Edwardian vehicles, to the production of wire wheels for contemporary sports, GT, prototype cars and everything else in between both for road and track. Completion of most projects is just around six weeks as most of the production is “in house.”  On offer too, is a wheel repair service for any kind of wire wheel, including Borrani, together with a full polishing service for alloy rims, CNC milling, rolling welding and pressing of the rolled-edge steel rims, cutting and expansion of the alloy rim blanks prior to spinning using a 200-ton hydraulic press.

In conclusion, the idyllic village camouflage may also mask the abilities and services provided by SAS Turrino Wheels Limited, who are possibly the “best kept secret” in the business. They continue to achieve high levels of accuracy and finish, and are always eager to investigate, improve and design wheels to any requirements, as well as building historic wheels to exact original specifications when required.

CONTACT INFO:

• SAS Turrino Wheels Limited
• Units 8/9 Elliott’s Yard, Park Street, Kings Cliffe, Nr Peterborough, PE8 6ER UK
• Tel: +44 (0)1780 460470
• Mob: +44 (0)7747 601668
• Email: [email protected]
• Web: www.turrinowheels.com