Topcats Mosler no3
Discussion
First off I must say well done Sean, Michael, Phil and all at Eclipse Racing for a great win 
I only wish we could have hung on in there to race to the line as I am sure it would have been a close one.
This is a brief what happened to car 3 Topcats Mosler.
The start of the race went well until low fuel pressure forced us into making an early pit stop, the car would only take 60 litres which meant we were missing out on a full 75 litres. This went on for a few hours until a faulty fuel pump relay was found.
After that we set about our race plan just driving to a set pace that would save fuel and look after the car. My Drivers Henry, Freddie and Julien Did a Fantastic job, in keeping the car on the track and out of trouble they were a pleasure to work with.
We raced into and through the night into the morning with no issues and it left us in 2nd place behind the Eclipse F430, This battle started on the 7 hour and went onto the 20 hour.
In the 17 hour we found ourselves in the lead by 6 laps, This was our race to lose......Enter the 20 hour Freddie was at the wheel and the paddle shift packed up, we switched to manual shift despite Freddie never having driven with the manual shift and the car misfiring at high revs he did a fantastic job of keeping up a great lap time.
We were getting ready to pit when Rubber build up under the body work (which we would have cleaned off in the pit stop) fell of the car ripping off a rear brake line which in turn caught fire and caused the throttle to stick open and at 140mph Freddie went off the tack into the wall ending our race and what would have been another tight finish to the Britcar 24h.
Big Paul
Race engineer
TopCats racing
I only wish we could have hung on in there to race to the line as I am sure it would have been a close one.
This is a brief what happened to car 3 Topcats Mosler.
The start of the race went well until low fuel pressure forced us into making an early pit stop, the car would only take 60 litres which meant we were missing out on a full 75 litres. This went on for a few hours until a faulty fuel pump relay was found.
After that we set about our race plan just driving to a set pace that would save fuel and look after the car. My Drivers Henry, Freddie and Julien Did a Fantastic job, in keeping the car on the track and out of trouble they were a pleasure to work with.
We raced into and through the night into the morning with no issues and it left us in 2nd place behind the Eclipse F430, This battle started on the 7 hour and went onto the 20 hour.
In the 17 hour we found ourselves in the lead by 6 laps, This was our race to lose......Enter the 20 hour Freddie was at the wheel and the paddle shift packed up, we switched to manual shift despite Freddie never having driven with the manual shift and the car misfiring at high revs he did a fantastic job of keeping up a great lap time.
We were getting ready to pit when Rubber build up under the body work (which we would have cleaned off in the pit stop) fell of the car ripping off a rear brake line which in turn caught fire and caused the throttle to stick open and at 140mph Freddie went off the tack into the wall ending our race and what would have been another tight finish to the Britcar 24h.
Big Paul
Race engineer
TopCats racing
Edited by farmeryellow on Monday 3rd October 19:19
I was spectating at woodcote at the time, it certainly looked a bizarre accident, the car seemed to have slowed by the time it reached the gravel and I thought that was it then it just kept going and thump, it had hit the tyres, the shape of the front of the car took it under the tyres raged than being stopped by them. Knowing now what caused it explains a lot.
Yes, that was a shame to see you finish that way but thanks for the explaination.
I had you tipped to win from the start and your untimely exit unfortunately lost me a few quid - not half as much as it will cost you to repair the damage though!!
Better luck next year, I'll be routing for you again!
I had you tipped to win from the start and your untimely exit unfortunately lost me a few quid - not half as much as it will cost you to repair the damage though!!
Better luck next year, I'll be routing for you again!
Totally feel gutted for you guys. It looked like it was in the bag, 3 laps ahead of the Fezza, and comfortable, then that. Not good. I love Moslers, and hate to see one poorly!
Like most 24hr events - a race of attrition, and just when you thought it was all going well....
I spent most of my time chasing between the two teams I was supplying radio comms for, sadly one of those went out at around 2am with a driveshaft coupler failure (CTR Developments Lotus Elise 83), the other (Piranha Motorsport Ginetta G40 91) had a torrid time following a fire early into young Ryan's first stint, a driveshaft failure, later a sticking throttle, and lots of fuel surge issues. They made it to the line in the end, and deserve a hearty pat on the back for their hard work.
Both teams had faultless radio communications all around the track, with the only grief coming from some caterers who seems to be using the same channel as Piranha's repeater output - obviously unlicenced as Ofcom said the channel was clear within 60Km of Silverstone!
Finally, did the crew of the 53 car let you play with their dolly?
In that sort of order....
(edited to correct wrong car number. Arigato & sayonara!)
Like most 24hr events - a race of attrition, and just when you thought it was all going well....
I spent most of my time chasing between the two teams I was supplying radio comms for, sadly one of those went out at around 2am with a driveshaft coupler failure (CTR Developments Lotus Elise 83), the other (Piranha Motorsport Ginetta G40 91) had a torrid time following a fire early into young Ryan's first stint, a driveshaft failure, later a sticking throttle, and lots of fuel surge issues. They made it to the line in the end, and deserve a hearty pat on the back for their hard work.
Both teams had faultless radio communications all around the track, with the only grief coming from some caterers who seems to be using the same channel as Piranha's repeater output - obviously unlicenced as Ofcom said the channel was clear within 60Km of Silverstone!
Finally, did the crew of the 53 car let you play with their dolly?
In that sort of order....
(edited to correct wrong car number. Arigato & sayonara!)
Edited by thunderbelmont on Monday 3rd October 23:02
firstly i'd like to say what a great effort all you're team put in on the weekend,it's a shame what happened especially so close to the win.on the lap that you went out, i was watching down at the start of the new pit straight, and the n/s rear of the car was well alight by then. at least no one was hurt and we all hope to see you back next year
A sad ending for the Topcats Mosler and Im sure no one wants to win or loose a race this way.
This was taken passing the new pits complex on the Moslers final lap, look under the rear left tyre.
Unfortunately no time to warn the team.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyharman/6205221375...
This was taken passing the new pits complex on the Moslers final lap, look under the rear left tyre.
Unfortunately no time to warn the team.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyharman/6205221375...
Sorry to hear that it was something as daft as that that ended your race - we hope Freddie is ok, the car was certainly a bit of a mess afterwards.
It is interesting to see you said you had a misfire at high RPM - we had the same issue, as did the TVR, and I heard (though not verified) the other Mosler did too - interesting as we are all using LS7's. Was it at around 5000RPM on the upshift? If you could PM me your thoughts I would be most interested to hear them. It seemed like fuel starvation as the ignition was fine - we tried several different maps, added a fuel radiator and various other bits, but the cutting in and out was so vicious we eventually wrecked the gearbox ending our race.
Jonny
MacG Racing
It is interesting to see you said you had a misfire at high RPM - we had the same issue, as did the TVR, and I heard (though not verified) the other Mosler did too - interesting as we are all using LS7's. Was it at around 5000RPM on the upshift? If you could PM me your thoughts I would be most interested to hear them. It seemed like fuel starvation as the ignition was fine - we tried several different maps, added a fuel radiator and various other bits, but the cutting in and out was so vicious we eventually wrecked the gearbox ending our race.
Jonny
MacG Racing
We were most surprised to see the car suddenly disappear - didn't see it go off, but it was conspicuously absent all of a sudden! Must have been absolutely gutting for you to end the race in that way, especially because as you said, it was yours to lose. Looking at the pace, it would have been close, but the Ferrari would have been hard pushed to beat you.
Commiserations, but look forward to watching you next year!
I have several shots of the car after it had been recovered to the paddock, if anyone's interested in seeing its condition after the accident?
ETA - Plus, I was wondering what had caused your mint-looking Ultima to end up in the garage for the end of the race, Jonny - thanks for that info.
Wasn't the Aquila also using an LS7?
Commiserations, but look forward to watching you next year!
I have several shots of the car after it had been recovered to the paddock, if anyone's interested in seeing its condition after the accident?
ETA - Plus, I was wondering what had caused your mint-looking Ultima to end up in the garage for the end of the race, Jonny - thanks for that info.
Wasn't the Aquila also using an LS7?
Edited by McSam on Tuesday 4th October 22:22
macgtech said:
Sorry to hear that it was something as daft as that that ended your race - we hope Freddie is ok, the car was certainly a bit of a mess afterwards.
It is interesting to see you said you had a misfire at high RPM - we had the same issue, as did the TVR, and I heard (though not verified) the other Mosler did too - interesting as we are all using LS7's. Was it at around 5000RPM on the upshift? If you could PM me your thoughts I would be most interested to hear them. It seemed like fuel starvation as the ignition was fine - we tried several different maps, added a fuel radiator and various other bits, but the cutting in and out was so vicious we eventually wrecked the gearbox ending our race.
Jonny
MacG Racing
Hi JonnyIt is interesting to see you said you had a misfire at high RPM - we had the same issue, as did the TVR, and I heard (though not verified) the other Mosler did too - interesting as we are all using LS7's. Was it at around 5000RPM on the upshift? If you could PM me your thoughts I would be most interested to hear them. It seemed like fuel starvation as the ignition was fine - we tried several different maps, added a fuel radiator and various other bits, but the cutting in and out was so vicious we eventually wrecked the gearbox ending our race.
Jonny
MacG Racing
Our 1st misfire was caused by low fuel pressure (a fuel pump relay was at fault)
The 2nd one was a mapping issue as we had to manual shift (the paddle shift broke)
The green Marcos (LS7 engine) also had a misfire, faulty coil pack was the problem.
Paul.
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