TVRCC/MoC Home Counties: Topcats Open-day, 17th July
Discussion
Hi all!
As part of the events arranged for 2021, we are running an open-day at Topcats in Aylesbury for those
who are car orientated - hopefully everyone on this forum!
Event Summary
The event starts at 1000-1030, 17th July and closes at approx. 1400-1430 (TBC).
Ramps will be available throughout the day for inspections as will food, coffee, technical advice etc.
and other items yet to be confirmed.
Of course, Topcat specialists will be on hand all day to offer advice or inspections as needed.
Event Address
Topcats is located at...
Topcats Racing (UK) Ltd
1020 Endurance House
Westcott Venture Park
Westcott
Bucks
HP18 0NP
So, who are Topcats Racing? A little history…
Topcats Racing is owned and directed by husband and wife team, Warren and Charlotte Gilbert.
They have a long history with TVR. Charlotte raced TVRs in the TVR Tuscan Challenge in its
heyday from 1994 until 1999 and raced against an illustrious line up of drivers, including people
like - Tiff Needell, Jamie Campbell Walter, Michael Caine and even the TVR owner himself, Peter
Wheeler.
Warren cut his teeth in Caterham racing when he built his own Caterham K Series back in 1994
and even spent several years fighting with Michael Caine for the top spot on the podium. The
couple met in 2001 when Charlotte (then Osborn) was chosen to join Promotosport to race a
Marcos Mantis in the British GT. Warren Gilbert managed the team at the time and by the end
of the season a relationship had blossomed and the pair set out the following year to start a racing
team of their own. The team’s then senior engineer, Brian Howard, joined them and remains with
them still as Chief Engineer.
In 2002 the new team was named by Charlotte and so, Topcats Racing was born! The team was
lucky enough to retain their British GT Marcos Mantis car and ran a TVR Tuscan in the Tuscan
Challenge with the new, up and coming driver, ‘Rocket’ Rob Urquart. A driver, who, at 18 years
of age, earned the title of “Rookie of the Year” in his first year with the team.
Topcats grew and the team acquired a second Marcos Mantis to compete against its sister in
the newly formed Britcar Endurance Series. From thereon in, Warren and Charlotte never
looked back. The team were hugely successful in endurance racing with multiple wins and
arguably, the most successful Marcos Mantis race-cars in existence. The Marcos’s still race
against £250k Ferrari’s, Porsches, McLarens in the GT Cup today and they still kickass! The t
eam have since branched out into historic racing too with a little TVR Grantura, competing
at world-renowned events like Silverstone Classic, Oldtimers GP, Nurburgring and the Spa
6 Hour Race.
As the race team and their successes grew, so did the TVR specialist division that was set
up by Warren and Charlotte during their first year together. Topcats Racing have earned a
reputation for creating some of the best LS engine conversion TVRs in the world, having a
grand total of 22 cars so far that have undergone the transformation.
As part of the events arranged for 2021, we are running an open-day at Topcats in Aylesbury for those
who are car orientated - hopefully everyone on this forum!
Event Summary
The event starts at 1000-1030, 17th July and closes at approx. 1400-1430 (TBC).
Ramps will be available throughout the day for inspections as will food, coffee, technical advice etc.
and other items yet to be confirmed.
- Various technical talks on engines and racing is also being lined up including: -
- Engine conversions to LS (detailed walkthrough)
- Racing talks
Of course, Topcat specialists will be on hand all day to offer advice or inspections as needed.
Event Address
Topcats is located at...
Topcats Racing (UK) Ltd
1020 Endurance House
Westcott Venture Park
Westcott
Bucks
HP18 0NP
So, who are Topcats Racing? A little history…
Topcats Racing is owned and directed by husband and wife team, Warren and Charlotte Gilbert.
They have a long history with TVR. Charlotte raced TVRs in the TVR Tuscan Challenge in its
heyday from 1994 until 1999 and raced against an illustrious line up of drivers, including people
like - Tiff Needell, Jamie Campbell Walter, Michael Caine and even the TVR owner himself, Peter
Wheeler.
Warren cut his teeth in Caterham racing when he built his own Caterham K Series back in 1994
and even spent several years fighting with Michael Caine for the top spot on the podium. The
couple met in 2001 when Charlotte (then Osborn) was chosen to join Promotosport to race a
Marcos Mantis in the British GT. Warren Gilbert managed the team at the time and by the end
of the season a relationship had blossomed and the pair set out the following year to start a racing
team of their own. The team’s then senior engineer, Brian Howard, joined them and remains with
them still as Chief Engineer.
In 2002 the new team was named by Charlotte and so, Topcats Racing was born! The team was
lucky enough to retain their British GT Marcos Mantis car and ran a TVR Tuscan in the Tuscan
Challenge with the new, up and coming driver, ‘Rocket’ Rob Urquart. A driver, who, at 18 years
of age, earned the title of “Rookie of the Year” in his first year with the team.
Topcats grew and the team acquired a second Marcos Mantis to compete against its sister in
the newly formed Britcar Endurance Series. From thereon in, Warren and Charlotte never
looked back. The team were hugely successful in endurance racing with multiple wins and
arguably, the most successful Marcos Mantis race-cars in existence. The Marcos’s still race
against £250k Ferrari’s, Porsches, McLarens in the GT Cup today and they still kickass! The t
eam have since branched out into historic racing too with a little TVR Grantura, competing
at world-renowned events like Silverstone Classic, Oldtimers GP, Nurburgring and the Spa
6 Hour Race.
As the race team and their successes grew, so did the TVR specialist division that was set
up by Warren and Charlotte during their first year together. Topcats Racing have earned a
reputation for creating some of the best LS engine conversion TVRs in the world, having a
grand total of 22 cars so far that have undergone the transformation.
I went to an open day at Topcats 3 years ago (enjoyed it) in my then, Chimaera.
But it may be that people don't know about it, because there is no mention of it on the Topcats website. Indeed, it seems not to have had any updates for some time:
https://topcatsracing.com/events-calendar/month/
Is this because it is limited to the Home counties owners club rather than everybody? I realise this may also be because of the extension of the date that Covid19 rules are relaxed.
But it may be that people don't know about it, because there is no mention of it on the Topcats website. Indeed, it seems not to have had any updates for some time:
https://topcatsracing.com/events-calendar/month/
Is this because it is limited to the Home counties owners club rather than everybody? I realise this may also be because of the extension of the date that Covid19 rules are relaxed.
Please note - for those coming to this event, we will expect people to respect Covid19 rules and precautions - like wearing masks inside and social distancing.
If a marshal asks you to keep distance or put on a mask whilst inside, please respect this.
Any unwarranted rudeness or whatever and you may be asked to leave the event, i.e. I am not interested if you believe or disbelieve in it and I do not have the time nor interest to argue with you. I just want to keep folks safe
Many thanks!
If a marshal asks you to keep distance or put on a mask whilst inside, please respect this.
Any unwarranted rudeness or whatever and you may be asked to leave the event, i.e. I am not interested if you believe or disbelieve in it and I do not have the time nor interest to argue with you. I just want to keep folks safe
Many thanks!
Edited by alex_gray255 on Thursday 8th July 17:19
Edited by alex_gray255 on Thursday 8th July 17:20
Excellent!
A big call out to all at @Topcats for a great day out!
A small video from the day can be found here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oag0t5Mw1vY
Unfortunately, due to traffic and other "fun" in the morning, I arrived about 90mins later than
I had intended... Hey ho...
A big call out to all at @Topcats for a great day out!
A small video from the day can be found here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oag0t5Mw1vY
Unfortunately, due to traffic and other "fun" in the morning, I arrived about 90mins later than
I had intended... Hey ho...
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