Ecorra Snowmobile

I can't tell you any more than you see in the video. The accompanying text says this was a 'successful' test. I'd hate to see what they call a failure! You can watch it to the end, but it doesn't get any better than what you see in the first minute.

Any similarity between this machine and a Kristi snowcat/snowplane is purely unfortunate...errr, I mean coincidental.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcACYjZqmXQ"]YouTube - Snowmobile from Ecorra on snow[/ame]

it looks like a wind up toy that ran out of steem I w bobcat. doent seem like a sucess. Almost painful to watch

It might be a good lake cruiser for hauling ice-shacks out to remote areas for ice finishing (as long as the tow cable doesn't get caught up in the stern wheel or propeller.

I'm guessing that video is from Slovakia or maybe southern Poland. The unit is referred to as a "Tatra" and the Tatra mountain range runs along the northern border of Slovakia, not sure if it crosses into Poland. Its a beautiful area, I spent some time there, it popular for both skiing and for tourists seeking out health spas in the mountains. Anyone know the actual origin of that snowmobile-thingy?

It kind of reminds me of the old VW beetles to which some jokers would attach a wind-up key to the rear end. I don't think it would ever fly.

Bobcat said:

Any similarity between this machine and a Kristi snowcat/snowplane is purely unfortunate...errr, I mean coincidental.

Click to expand...

You said it..........I didn't. Yup Very similar to a Kristi! About the same amount of performance too............

Ok, here's the deal...

This company, Ecorra, builds prototypes, restores old vehicles, and builds replicas. The 'snowmobile' they're building and testing here is a replica of a 1942 machine built for Germany in 1942. It was originally designed and built by the well-known and innovative Tatra company of Check...Czek...an eastern-European country. Ecorra is building this replica for the Lane Motor Museum of Nashville, TN. That's right, this 'machine' is coming to the US, if it's not already here.

Here's some more pictures and videos, as well as a 27MB PowerPoint presentation documenting it and it's history. The presentation includes pictures and info of the original WWII machines. If you have the bandwidth, might be worth a looky-loo.


http://www.ecorra.com/en/galerie/preview.php?id_gal=69

http://www.ecorra.com/Download/tatra_snowmobile_update.ppt



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trRLqGuFAXs"]YouTube - Testing of Snowmobile[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMn4TnswtgA"]YouTube - Snowmobile from Ecorra[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN_Hfq0Gk_Y"]YouTube - Tatra V 855 - Snowmobile - testing[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAOLik7VVYQ"]YouTube - Tatra V 855 - Snowmobile - finishing work 2[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-Bo3mqElY"]YouTube - Tatra V 855 - Snowmobile - finishing work[/ame]