Topcats Tuscan Experience
Discussion
Don't tempt me Ted!
I enjoyed the first Topcats day so much I went back to Thurleigh on Saturday for another go. It's hard to put into words just how extreme this experience is, you won't understand until you try it. If you don't fancy paying for the whole day, ring up and arrange to go along for a single session or even just a hot lap. But whatever you do, you *have* to have a go in this car, it is absolutely awesome! I can still hardly believe I actually got to drive it!
A Race Tuscan is now right at the top of my Christmas present list, it'll take me about thirty years to save up enough money for one of these but I just HAVE to have one!
Only one place left, don't hang around!
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (still with a huge grin!)
I enjoyed the first Topcats day so much I went back to Thurleigh on Saturday for another go. It's hard to put into words just how extreme this experience is, you won't understand until you try it. If you don't fancy paying for the whole day, ring up and arrange to go along for a single session or even just a hot lap. But whatever you do, you *have* to have a go in this car, it is absolutely awesome! I can still hardly believe I actually got to drive it!
A Race Tuscan is now right at the top of my Christmas present list, it'll take me about thirty years to save up enough money for one of these but I just HAVE to have one! Only one place left, don't hang around!
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (still with a huge grin!)
Peter, you can probably answer this - obviously the price is putting many people off as regardless of the value for money factor, it is a lot of readies to lay your hands on.
Would half day sessions for half the price work in your opinion? Provide enough time in the track and be workable for Top Cats?
Would half day sessions for half the price work in your opinion? Provide enough time in the track and be workable for Top Cats?
quote:
Peter, you can probably answer this - obviously the price is putting many people off as regardless of the value for money factor, it is a lot of readies to lay your hands on.
Would half day sessions for half the price work in your opinion? Provide enough time in the track and be workable for Top Cats?
Don't know, been thinking the same. Can't believe there aren't five thousand TVR wannabees lined up round the block, who among us doesn't aspire to driving one of the fastest and wildest cars TVR ever made, and if you're driving round in a car that cost thirty grand and costs 80p a mile to run surely a few hundred quid isn't *that* much of a shock to the system.
My guess is there's a mental block of around, I dunno, maybe thirty quid that people already at a track day might be willing to spend on impulse. For this they could potentially get several hot laps as a passenger or drive themselves for five minutes or so. Not too expensive, just enough to get a taster. The next step up might be to drive for a whole session (15 / 20 minutes) which would cost, I'm guessing, around a hundred quid. This would be enough to know whether this is your cup of tea and it's worth booking a full day. The people I spoke to who had done it said they definitely wanted another go. It's just the first step seems like a lot of money until you find what an experience you're getting out of it.
As you can imagine, its very addictive. Fortunately for me I'm in control and I could give it up any time I want to, not a problem. Sorry, the shaking has started again, need to go sit in the car for a few minutes and make brrrm brrrm noises ...
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
quote:
If 2 people wanted to share a space is that a possibility, that way it's half price and you do the morning and your mate does the afternoon, or alternate sessions, just a thought, would it cause any problems to Top Cats?
:searchesforcreditcardaddressbookandphone:
No problem at all.
The only problem with people sharing a place is that everybody will require a sighting lap with Charlotte which takes time. If there is any stoppage on track, or other delays then you (and others) potentially have more to lose too.
Not sure if one session would be value for money - it takes at least that long to get used to the mind warping cornering speeds and braking! Better off doing the whole day; you'll be wishing you had anyway.
Truly awesome experience!
Out with the poncy road going Cerbera... in with a slick shod Caterham!
Not sure if one session would be value for money - it takes at least that long to get used to the mind warping cornering speeds and braking! Better off doing the whole day; you'll be wishing you had anyway.
Truly awesome experience!
Out with the poncy road going Cerbera... in with a slick shod Caterham!
Peter & Ted,
I'd say give it time... the idea has only just been launched & alot of people can't "just lay their hands on 550 squid" or whatever it is. I'm planning to do a day, but just fit it in the calendar yet. Don't see the price as a real problem as it's got to be a once in a life experience.
Perhaps the only fear is I'll spend too much time spinning off the track with sooo many horses to play with, but maybe the grip will counter that? Who knows, I'll be finding out.
I'd say give it time... the idea has only just been launched & alot of people can't "just lay their hands on 550 squid" or whatever it is. I'm planning to do a day, but just fit it in the calendar yet. Don't see the price as a real problem as it's got to be a once in a life experience.
Perhaps the only fear is I'll spend too much time spinning off the track with sooo many horses to play with, but maybe the grip will counter that? Who knows, I'll be finding out.
Peter,
Henley have a nice Tuscan Racer
for sale at the moment www.henley.tvr.com
.......tempted?
bandit.
>> Edited by bandit on Monday 14th October 13:21
Henley have a nice Tuscan Racer
for sale at the moment www.henley.tvr.com .......tempted?
bandit.
>> Edited by bandit on Monday 14th October 13:21
Just looked at the Henley car on their website. I don't think it looks that great from the photo. The front end doesn't look very well aligned and the wheels look too small compared to the racing ones. Grant's road going Tuscan looks better IMHO.
There was no info on the website that I could see - only photos and a price. Anyone know what engine is in it?
There was no info on the website that I could see - only photos and a price. Anyone know what engine is in it?
DannyIT - i take it you enjoyed the day on Sat even though you didn't get your Cerbera out on track ??!! The change from wets to slicks made all the difference right?? even if you did mange to destroy 1 wet and 1 slick tire 
Have a word with the rest of your mates and come back for another session you know you want to !!
Darren
Have a word with the rest of your mates and come back for another session you know you want to
!! Darren
Hi Darren,
Yep - fantastic day, and while the wet tyres had surprising grip in the deluge, the slicks are truly incredible!
Not bothered I didn't get to take the Cerbera out all afternoon - just those few quick noise testing laps were enough to show how slow it was in comparison!
However, I deny that it was me who ruined them - wasn't that all the spinners? Or has Charlotte slandered me behind my back - she was very polite to my face!
Anyone else who's thinking of doing it, don't hesitate! Charlotte is fantastically brave and a great instructor - she won't be making you hold back, she'll be encouraging you to explore the limits!
danny
PS I guess an explanation mark after every paragraph says it all...
Yep - fantastic day, and while the wet tyres had surprising grip in the deluge, the slicks are truly incredible!
Not bothered I didn't get to take the Cerbera out all afternoon - just those few quick noise testing laps were enough to show how slow it was in comparison!
However, I deny that it was me who ruined them - wasn't that all the spinners?
Or has Charlotte slandered me behind my back - she was very polite to my face! Anyone else who's thinking of doing it, don't hesitate! Charlotte is fantastically brave and a great instructor - she won't be making you hold back, she'll be encouraging you to explore the limits!
danny
PS I guess an explanation mark after every paragraph says it all...
dannylt said:
However, I deny that it was me who ruined them - wasn't that all the spinners?
umm...... not my fault.... err.....spinning it up in every gear, well almost every gear in the drying conditions
still well worth knackering the tyres for the grin factor alone !!! Glad you had a great time, hope to see you on another track day soon
>> Edited by d_drinks on Tuesday 15th October 08:32
GreenV8S said: You are lucky bggers, glad to hear you enjoyed it. Did anything come of the in-car video, in the end?
Peter, the in-car video is a maybe, some was taken on the day have to wait and see what comes out. I wasn't driving, I was there helping out the rest of the TopCats bods.
Some people have been humming and har-ing over the costs while other have taken a sharp in-take of breath
so i'm going to climb on my 
- it has guard rails it's so high 
The day at Bedford Autodrome on the 12th Oct would have cost you £245.00 to take your own car. In any car with a bit of ummph i.e. M5, 911, TVR you'll be using £80-£100 worth of fuel, pay for trackday insurance, pads, tyres, plus the general hammering on your car (think of the battering the drive train will take as you bang up and down the gears) you'll be looking at a easily spending £400 and if you bin your car then £1000's
The Tuscan on Sat ended the day (It was the last car still on track at the end of the session)with a possible drive train problem - fancy paying for that yourself if it was your car?
Performance of your car?? 0-60 3.5 seconds, no??180mph+, no?? what about 18" Dunlop slicks?? no again?? the Tuscan offers all of this + an instructor (this would cost £30 for 1/2 hr at most track days) who will tell you drive faster (even if through gritted teeth !!) as well as help you develop you skills.
Spending about £500 is a total bargin. Ask anyone who has done it and they want to do it again. Anyone who's not sure stop think and book NOW !! the only danger is you'll want to do it again
I'm now safely down from the soapbox
>> Edited by d_drinks on Wednesday 16th October 15:16
I've done exactly the same sums, the figures I came up with were actually a little higher. By my reckoning a typical track day costs me about £300 plus the cost of the track day. So it would have cost me *more* to take my own car on track, without instruction, than to go play in the Tuscan. That's ignoring the hidden wear and tear on transmission and suspension and so on, and the risk of damage.
Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Definitely :thumbsup:. Will I be doing it again? Just as soon as I can afford it!
Look forward to seeing how the video comes out!
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
Peter,
I don't know about all these sums....my last trackday cost nothing close to the figures you are talking about........unfortunately the TowerView bill for the upgrades/maintenance before my next trackday makes the Tuscan day an utter bargain...
Me thinks Charlotte will be telling me to drive faster very soon ;-)
I don't know about all these sums....my last trackday cost nothing close to the figures you are talking about........unfortunately the TowerView bill for the upgrades/maintenance before my next trackday makes the Tuscan day an utter bargain...
Me thinks Charlotte will be telling me to drive faster very soon ;-)
I agree running a TVR on trackdays makes the Topcats cost look sensible. And I would definitely recommend the experience of driving a real race car - rose jointed, crash box and race engineer support!
However, to get close to that experience, i.e. slicks, handling feedback and close ratio madness while keeping costs down I think getting a Caterham is the only way - cheap initial outlay, cheap running costs. Only snag is being broadsided by an M5 on a track day!
Anyone want to swap the Cerbera for an SLR/R500 + trailer?
danny
However, to get close to that experience, i.e. slicks, handling feedback and close ratio madness while keeping costs down I think getting a Caterham is the only way - cheap initial outlay, cheap running costs. Only snag is being broadsided by an M5 on a track day!
Anyone want to swap the Cerbera for an SLR/R500 + trailer?
danny
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