Wales – time to drive

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Many of you will know of, or have driven, the B4391 in Snowdonia. This is probably the best Dawn Drive I've done yet. Love it.

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Thanks - such a good driving road, so much fun!

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Riley Blue said:

Having seen what a sheep can do to a car, rather lucky over that blind brow too. Nice car, good drive all the same.

Yes - I was very grateful they stayed put while I eased to the right.

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Claude455 said:

It’s as if the camera is panning slightly left and right. How do you do that?

The GoPro camera has optional image stabilisation software. The 'panning' is this software trying to compensate for the vibrations and rotation of the car as it winds through the bends. On a long straight road it would be mostly static, but the Caterham is not made for long straight roads. Do you find yourself 'leaning' in to the corners? I know I do.

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NeilAndHisMini said:

Enjoying your channel very much, exactly my sort of thing.

The Rhyd road is another favourite, made my own version of this and onwards to Beddgelert very early one morning a few years back.

And closer to home, the Three Lanes drive. Knew exactly where you were within the first few seconds.

Cheers mate - I've a couple more films 'in the works' and will be out driving again once the weather drys out a bit.

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Over over under steer said:

Lovely stuff, as soon as my garage is sorted a Caterham will be joining.

Do it! I spent a year getting my garage built and then another 18 months car hunting. So worth it.

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JmatthewB said:

I do love a good dawn drive. That feeling that you have the entire road network to yourself and the sunrise lighting up the spectacular scenery.

My nearest 'better roads' are in thein Peak District so you have to get there before 7am or after 7pm to get the roads to yourself, but I'm only 90 minutes from North Wales so I might have to set the alarm clock one morning for an earlier start.

Make the trip – North Wales has so much to offer.

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Crippo said:

I can show you some other great roads in Wales and the borders area

That would be great - can you DM me with your recommendations please.

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Krikkit said:

I find worrying about averaging my speed across the fun bits very boring, I'm no speed demon but it's the nagging feeling as you go... It's still a great road for the views mind.

There is always that feeling you're being watched… and measured. My mind was switching between 'careful now' and 'fu*k it' so it did distract me from some of the less engaging parts of the road. The alternative is to treat it like a regularity trial - a constant 60 - but even that becomes monotonous.

Drive it, enjoy it. Slow down on the straights.

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Adrian250 said:

This is probably one of the most enthralling vids filmed on that road by Henry Catchpole for Carfection...

https://youtu.be/oaUCdAdaaj8

Looks good doesn’t it - there are a couple of sections where the GT3 is a bit on the wide side, so give me the Caterham every time!

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I was back in Wales on Saturday for the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club "Fish & Chip" run. Leaving home before dawn, I was expecting a clear and dry drive to the start-point in Chepstow. What I got was thick fog from Buckinghamshire to Gloucestershire, which only cleared once across the (original) Severn Bridge.

Driving with Brooklands screens in fog is an experience. The glass is treated with RainX to clear any collected droplets (no wipers fitted), but the RainX 'effect' only takes place when the windspeed / pressure is enough to 'push' the droplets off the glass – at about 60mph… so in fog, with near zero visibility, you need to hit '60' to clear the windscreen. It's easier under trees, as the fog is thinner, so reaching 60 is less daunting, but on B roads and minor roads across the Cotswolds, there were times when visibility was at a premium. Made it there and back in once piece, with about 17 hours driving in the Caterham.

Wales was mostly dry, and the quiet roads (despite 104 Sevens on the event) made it a great day.