Nurburgring in the snow

[Tom Kirkham]

In an open wheel car, no less:

Nurburgring Formula race car in ice and snow. [VIDEO]

[fordracing65]

Thats funny, it kinds of reminds me of Provo in the winter.

[Murky781]

Very neat. Thank you for posting that Tom. I have a black car and I always wanted to get pictures of it in the snow, but I know I'll do something stupid like doing donuts or trying to find the only light pole in the mall parking lot. Sounded like he was doing more steering with his right foot than with the front wheels, but he got some good speed on the straights. Balls, said the Queen, if I had them I'd be king!
60 degrees here in CT on Thursday. Might just be time to let the beast out.

[Jim Kellogg]

Nice! It appears that the actual run was made with different tires than the garage shots.

I have over 8 years of winter (snow covered roads) driving in my SPF as a daily driver. The 9th winter was the last. I lifted too quickly in about 2" of snow and the engine compression put me in a spin in the blink of an eye. Did a 180 spin and went backwards into the side of a hill, ending up drivers side down. The body damage was minimal, but it took a lot to correct the effects of 8 years of salt on the chassis (just ask the guys at Olthoff Racing)!

Now that my SPF has been rebuilt, it is unlikely that it will see that much salt again.

Winter driving in the snow with a Cobra IS exciting!
Jim Kellogg

[Ralphy]

I did an interstate drive once, in about 6" of snow. Almost blizzard conditions, I drove at app. 70 MPH. No one was on the road near me, otherwise I would have never done such a thing. Drifting thru sweeping turns, I clicked off ten miles pretty fast. The positraction without snow tires worked well. It was intense! That was a different era and I was young and stupid.

Another time we went to upstate New York to ski, in built a 69 big block Vette. Heavy snow all the way there. With snow tires my buddy never used 4th. First time I ever saw 25 foot high snow packed, with only 5 feet of the telephone poles showing. Saw a garbage truck with a plow attached to the side of the compactor. Hmm... that's how!

Jim I have no idea how you stayed on the road!

Road was just like this.
Ever have you eyes freeze open?

[TButtrick]

That will sharpen the old driving skills. Good grief. Hope he had a change of briefs when he got back to the pits.

[Maricopa]

Need some studs in those tires!

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

That will sharpen the old driving skills.

x2!

I always loved driving on ice and snow. I miss it.


Cool video Tom. Thanks for posting it.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by Jim Kellogg

Nice! It appears that the actual run was made with different tires than the garage shots.

I have over 8 years of winter (snow covered roads) driving .....
Winter driving in the snow with a Cobra IS exciting!
Jim Kellogg

Yes Jim you're correct they used winter tires and not the rain tires shown in the pre clip.
Besides that, these cars have ABS and Traction Control with a 4cly engine. That means your challenge to drive your Cobra on a real road is much higher. Hands down - I salute you.

Growing up in Germany (Black Forrest) I had my share of snow and driving. Up there in Nuerberg was it never -15 degree Celsius during a sunny winter day. -18.6 was their record during a stormy night.
Just fun to watch, but it is what it is "TV".

[Jim Kellogg]

Any ride around the ring has got to be exciting! And a winter ride with snow and ice just adds to the thrill. And the cold....

Here is a photo of my SPF after another drive home from work. In the snow. And yes, I do wash it at least once a week :-)
Jim Kellogg

[Trevor Legate]

Good fun. Let's just hope that there will be a Nurburgring in the future - not looking promising due to bad (corrupt) management I am reliably informed.