Al’s Towing refurbishes original raft for upcoming race
Published 10:20 am Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Robert Turner, owner of Al’s Towing, poses with the raft that he is currently fixing up. — Alaina Denean Deshazo
By Justin Fedich
The Selma Times-Journal
Most rafts aren’t built out of bicycles, corner pieces of metal buildings and two jet fuel tanks. In fact, there’s probably only one raft like that in the world and it resides in Selma.
Robert Turner at Al’s Towing has spent the past few weeks remodeling his old raft for The Alabama River Raft Race. The race, which hasn’t been run since the early ‘80s, will take place over Labor Day weekend.
Turner’s raft, which has been sitting behind the shed of Al’s Towing for more than 25 years, is full of fond memories and good times.
“I’m probably the only one who has an original one left,” Turner said.
Turner and his father Andrew L. Turner, who died 11 years ago, built the raft in 1976 when Robert first started working for Al’s Towing out of college. The jet fuel tanks came from Craig Field and were used in a Jet Drive-In Restaurant Turner’s family used to own before they became part of the raft.
Robert and his father Andrew Turner are seen on the river with the raft in the 1970s.
In the ‘70s and ‘80s, the race course was over seven miles long. Turner and his father would be worn out from pedaling all that distance on the bicycle seats of the raft. Regardless, the Turners’ raft won nearly every raft race there was.
Turner said he has a full trophy case of every race him and his father won.
The Raft Race, now just two miles long, will serve as a chance for people all around Selma to relax and have some fun during Labor Day weekend.
Turner, who has been working at Al’s Towing for over 40 years, has more on his mind than just a relaxing day on the river.
“I hope it’s just good advertising. We need something good going on,” Turner said with a laugh.
Although it’s the same raft, Turner has some new additions to the raft team that weren’t present 30 years ago.
Rick Walker, an employee at Al’s Towing, puts a fresh coat of paint on the raft.
Turner’s son Andy will be the captain of the team this season. Andy will bring three of his friends to help pedal the raft.
Rick Walker, who has been with Al’s Towing for about 10 years, is helping Turner with the remodeling of the raft. Turner expects the raft to be ready by next week.
Turner always had plans of taking the old raft out and bringing it back on the water. Now, he has a reason to do so. The raft started as a father-son team and it will continue as a father-son team.
With his son leading the charge, Turner thinks he will still have one of the quickest rafts on the water. Much like the raft, Turner’s expectations haven’t changed much from 30 years ago.
“Oh yeah, we’re always trying to win it,” Turner said.
