Caterham in the Snow

[cosworth151]

Who says you need front wheel drive in the snow? Here's a Caterham Supersport proving that rear wheel drive, a good set of tires and proper skills will take you just about anywhere you want to go. And, you'll have a lot more fun getting there! Just watch how often he has the wheel at opposite lock.

I would prefer mine with a top (hood, for our Brit friends).

[vintly]

Excellent post - that looks like a load of fun. And he was certainly enjoying it. Loved the little smile at the end, what a geezer.

Not sure if we do call it a hood cos? I've always thought of it as a top - soft-top, hard-top etc. Anyway, it's thanks to us Brits you can even read.

[cosworth151]

I was just going by what they call them in the MG parts catalogs. 

[David]

Nice run up the mountain without the snow, he has some balls pushing like that on such a slippery looking road. Surprised he was able to smile at the end given how cold he would have been...Brrrrrrr!

[lkjohnson1950]

Lots of fun, but I seriously doubt the average driver would have made it a couple of turns without spinning or crashing.

[F1fanaticBD]

Please forgive my ignorance, but is this the same Caterham, that we have in the F1 grid?

If not, why is this particular team is determined to make this marques confusing for us?

First with the Lotus and now possibly Caterham..

Regarding the video awesome drive... Even if I could a passenger to that drive I would love that equally, great driving skill and technique not to mention..

[Wizzo]

Its a great drive in the snow although the drop off would scare the hell out of me.

Every time I visit the Autosport show I treat myself to the Caterham drifting experience.

[cosworth151]

Caterham's current road car, the one shown in both vids, started life as the Lotus 7 in 1957. It was as close as you could get to a two seat, street legal version of the F1 cars of the day. About 1972, when Lotus stopped production, Caterham purchased the rights and continued with the car to this day. So, in a way, Caterham's production cars are Lotuses (Loti?)

Here is one of the most famous Lotus 7's, the one Patrick McGoohan drove in The Prisoner. Actually, I refer the looks of the clamshell front fenders on the earlier ones, like this one, to the cycle fenders on the newer models

[John S]

Actually the Lotus 7 was the successor to and based on the Lotus 6 (VI) a kit sportscar chassis for Clubman racing. Colin wanted the 7 to be a car that you could use on the public roads but still race competitively in Clubman racing at the weekends, either as a factory built car or as a kit car. Plenty of the cars, as Caterhams now of course, still fufill both roles 55 years later. 

The clam style mudguards may look cool but when bigger and faster engines were used, in place of the original 1200cc Ford side valve unit, these same mudguards had a tendency to make the front of the car lift dangerously, the cycle style cured most of this problem.

[F1fanaticBD]

Still in a bit of a confused state, does this Caterham have anything to do with the formula one team?

Please forgive my ignorance again, because this team is really making me confused

[lkjohnson1950]

Tony F started his F1 team and called it Lotus, with the idea he would take over the road car company and reunite the two. That didn't happen. He released the Lotus name after the court proceedings. He then took the next step of investing in Caterham Cars, a company that produces small sports cars, renaming his team Caterham. His goal has always been to have an F1 company that represents a road car company. He feels there is or will be a market in Asia for a small inexpensive sports car and he wants to provide one. Since he couldn't do that with the Lotus brand, he intends to build up the Caterham brand. The link with Renault/Alpine is another step in that direction.

[lkjohnson1950]

Here's the goal in Fernandez' own words:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/caterham-hints-supercar-future

[F1fanaticBD]

Thank You Lonny, and apologies for being A BIT LATE..