Guess what I got a ride in at Topcats yesterday!
Discussion
Paul (thanks!!) very kindly let me have a ride in his Sagaris with the Topcats LS7 engine conversion while I was having my Cerbera corner weighted.
To be honest I have always been fairly against engine conversions in unusual cars butI have to say that I was utterly blown away by both the performance and the quality of the installation!!
The engineering of the install is impeccable, the bodywork is totally unmodified and the only modification the the chassis is the addition of 2 engine mounts. Everything been tailored to fit in such a way that a Speed 6 would drop straight back in in ever required. It truly is a beautiful job that the Topcats guys have done
The performance is absolutely staggering. I haven't had my face ache from grinning like that since I first brought my Cerbera home. Ok -you expect fast, but this thing is totally brutal!!! Even more impressive than the acceleration is the humongous amounts of torque. Warren put it into 5th gear at under 20mph and it kept pulling quite happily - something you wouldn't even dream of in the Cerb, then he floored it. The thing just smoothly and very rapidly pulled all the way up well past 130 mph in the space we had available. Absolutely astonishing!
Despite my scepticism I have to say that if its monster performance and ear to ear grins that make a TVR special then this is every bit what a Sagaris should be!
Would I have an LS conversion on my Cerb if the AJP blew up? Prior to yesterday I wouldn't have even considered it, today it would be one of the options that I would be seriously looking at.
Thanks for the ride chaps!
[edited for spelunking]
To be honest I have always been fairly against engine conversions in unusual cars butI have to say that I was utterly blown away by both the performance and the quality of the installation!!
The engineering of the install is impeccable, the bodywork is totally unmodified and the only modification the the chassis is the addition of 2 engine mounts. Everything been tailored to fit in such a way that a Speed 6 would drop straight back in in ever required. It truly is a beautiful job that the Topcats guys have done
The performance is absolutely staggering. I haven't had my face ache from grinning like that since I first brought my Cerbera home. Ok -you expect fast, but this thing is totally brutal!!! Even more impressive than the acceleration is the humongous amounts of torque. Warren put it into 5th gear at under 20mph and it kept pulling quite happily - something you wouldn't even dream of in the Cerb, then he floored it. The thing just smoothly and very rapidly pulled all the way up well past 130 mph in the space we had available. Absolutely astonishing!
Despite my scepticism I have to say that if its monster performance and ear to ear grins that make a TVR special then this is every bit what a Sagaris should be!
Would I have an LS conversion on my Cerb if the AJP blew up? Prior to yesterday I wouldn't have even considered it, today it would be one of the options that I would be seriously looking at.
Thanks for the ride chaps!
[edited for spelunking]
Edited by Tanguero on Thursday 24th June 13:58
Hi Peter,
No problems at all, it was great to meet you and get your feedback.
Excellent day yesterday with Topcats coming to Silverstone to help get the car tuned for the track including some time with Charlotte next to me giving me some lessons.
A1 back up service and interest in making sure it is right.
See you again sometime.
Paul.........
No problems at all, it was great to meet you and get your feedback.
Excellent day yesterday with Topcats coming to Silverstone to help get the car tuned for the track including some time with Charlotte next to me giving me some lessons.
A1 back up service and interest in making sure it is right.
See you again sometime.
Paul.........
Love to get another look and ride this time in Paul's car, even though I've already got the other Topcats conversion.
Lord G, I was also at Castle Coombe so it was a shame we didn't meet. I did see a few TVRs in the car parks but didn't bring mine. I thought if I went to Tower I may see people standing around a flag but it was not to be.
The TVRs were fast, of course, but also the Topcats Marcos (silver/green) running the same engine as Paul's was leading £1/2 million Ferraris until getting blocked in the pit lane. The performance all the LS powered cars displayed showed how great these engines are (oh, and good drivers too). If anyone has seen Motors TV and the Snetterton round of TVR Challenge you would have seen the reliability problems the AJPs. However, I absolutely enjoyed the race and hope all the guys can finance their season and keep their cars together because TBH it's more fun and eventful than most F1 races.
Lord G, I was also at Castle Coombe so it was a shame we didn't meet. I did see a few TVRs in the car parks but didn't bring mine. I thought if I went to Tower I may see people standing around a flag but it was not to be.
The TVRs were fast, of course, but also the Topcats Marcos (silver/green) running the same engine as Paul's was leading £1/2 million Ferraris until getting blocked in the pit lane. The performance all the LS powered cars displayed showed how great these engines are (oh, and good drivers too). If anyone has seen Motors TV and the Snetterton round of TVR Challenge you would have seen the reliability problems the AJPs. However, I absolutely enjoyed the race and hope all the guys can finance their season and keep their cars together because TBH it's more fun and eventful than most F1 races.
ajp70 said:
Lord G, I was also at Castle Coombe so it was a shame we didn't meet. I did see a few TVRs in the car parks but didn't bring mine. I thought if I went to Tower I may see people standing around a flag but it was not to be.
I'm there pretty much every meet - I get season tickets. A few years ago there would have been a few of us at Tower but TVRCC Bristol doesn't seem to be interested these days - I'm no longer a member so can't say why. There are usually a few from Bristol, C3C and Wiltshire dotted about but no 'official' TVR area.I was there to follow Owen O'Neil {Obiwonkeyblokey} in the BritCars this year - he was one of the crashees in last year's Tuscan Challenge at Combe if you remember. He came second in class and I think sixth overall.
ajp70 said:
Love to get another look and ride this time in Paul's car, even though I've already got the other Topcats conversion.
Lord G, I was also at Castle Coombe so it was a shame we didn't meet. I did see a few TVRs in the car parks but didn't bring mine. I thought if I went to Tower I may see people standing around a flag but it was not to be.
The TVRs were fast, of course, but also the Topcats Marcos (silver/green) running the same engine as Paul's was leading £1/2 million Ferraris until getting blocked in the pit lane. The performance all the LS powered cars displayed showed how great these engines are (oh, and good drivers too). If anyone has seen Motors TV and the Snetterton round of TVR Challenge you would have seen the reliability problems the AJPs. However, I absolutely enjoyed the race and hope all the guys can finance their season and keep their cars together because TBH it's more fun and eventful than most F1 races.
Have to defend the AJP's a little bit as one had a problem on the wiring loom for one of the injectors, and the other had the throttle stuck open Could have happened any car.Lord G, I was also at Castle Coombe so it was a shame we didn't meet. I did see a few TVRs in the car parks but didn't bring mine. I thought if I went to Tower I may see people standing around a flag but it was not to be.
The TVRs were fast, of course, but also the Topcats Marcos (silver/green) running the same engine as Paul's was leading £1/2 million Ferraris until getting blocked in the pit lane. The performance all the LS powered cars displayed showed how great these engines are (oh, and good drivers too). If anyone has seen Motors TV and the Snetterton round of TVR Challenge you would have seen the reliability problems the AJPs. However, I absolutely enjoyed the race and hope all the guys can finance their season and keep their cars together because TBH it's more fun and eventful than most F1 races.
The Tuscan that stopped was a Rover v8 car, with wire coming off the ECU.
TVRleigh_BBWR said:
ajp70 said:
Love to get another look and ride this time in Paul's car, even though I've already got the other Topcats conversion.
Lord G, I was also at Castle Coombe so it was a shame we didn't meet. I did see a few TVRs in the car parks but didn't bring mine. I thought if I went to Tower I may see people standing around a flag but it was not to be.
The TVRs were fast, of course, but also the Topcats Marcos (silver/green) running the same engine as Paul's was leading £1/2 million Ferraris until getting blocked in the pit lane. The performance all the LS powered cars displayed showed how great these engines are (oh, and good drivers too). If anyone has seen Motors TV and the Snetterton round of TVR Challenge you would have seen the reliability problems the AJPs. However, I absolutely enjoyed the race and hope all the guys can finance their season and keep their cars together because TBH it's more fun and eventful than most F1 races.
Have to defend the AJP's a little bit as one had a problem on the wiring loom for one of the injectors, and the other had the throttle stuck open Could have happened any car.Lord G, I was also at Castle Coombe so it was a shame we didn't meet. I did see a few TVRs in the car parks but didn't bring mine. I thought if I went to Tower I may see people standing around a flag but it was not to be.
The TVRs were fast, of course, but also the Topcats Marcos (silver/green) running the same engine as Paul's was leading £1/2 million Ferraris until getting blocked in the pit lane. The performance all the LS powered cars displayed showed how great these engines are (oh, and good drivers too). If anyone has seen Motors TV and the Snetterton round of TVR Challenge you would have seen the reliability problems the AJPs. However, I absolutely enjoyed the race and hope all the guys can finance their season and keep their cars together because TBH it's more fun and eventful than most F1 races.
The Tuscan that stopped was a Rover v8 car, with wire coming off the ECU.
Edited by Keithyboy on Friday 25th June 17:41
rpla102 said:
Hello...
Saw this thread and though of this. Saw it at Castle Combe last Sunday...looked 'different' i guess...anyone care to divulge info on her?
That will be part of my garage then Saw this thread and though of this. Saw it at Castle Combe last Sunday...looked 'different' i guess...anyone care to divulge info on her?
- and I was also the driver of the Silver Green Marcos leaving those very expensive Italian exotica in my wake .... Hello 
Edited by NeilH on Friday 25th June 17:56
I stand corrected. Apologies.
So where do you congregate now? I met Simon (Mr MoJo) the last few meets and previous to that I was with Perry & Rob (Wadsapple & Flyin Banana). Each time I've walked around the circuit looking for you lot but you're not at Tower where you used to go. The last time I saw TVRCC at Combe was last years Tuscan challenge but that was at Camp. Usually see Bob and Martin from C3C though.
So where do you congregate now? I met Simon (Mr MoJo) the last few meets and previous to that I was with Perry & Rob (Wadsapple & Flyin Banana). Each time I've walked around the circuit looking for you lot but you're not at Tower where you used to go. The last time I saw TVRCC at Combe was last years Tuscan challenge but that was at Camp. Usually see Bob and Martin from C3C though.
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