Hennessey Venom F5 Drifts in the Snow and Tows a Special Skier Around the Track, but Why?

America’s most radical contribution to this Third World War of Horsepower – the Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution – is one cool Texas machine of speed and power. I don’t know the appropriate order of precedence between the two attributes. Still, I believe power should come first - for now. Until the Lone Star hypersonic missile breaks the 300-mph barrier, its power is more impressive than its achievement, so it should have the right of way.

And what about cool? That's the next thing - before stamping all over Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Rimac, and other low-production carmakers like the ones named above, the Hennessey took a winter break to the mountains for a short skiing trip in Aspen, Colorado. The snow-playing session happened in February, but Hennessey decided May was a good time to brag about the car’s adventurous joyride.

Officially, the event is called the F.A.T. Ice Race Aspen 2024, and this year’s stage marked the inaugural edition in North America. It’s a snow drift for the rich type of car gathering, with tickets going from $2,000 a day upward. Naturally, it’s not a place for Grandpa Joe’s old crusty Mopar but a more select, blue-blooded affair, with former Le Mans-winning cars and other automotive legends, past and present.

Since it was held on American soil, the Venom F5 Revolution was a guest of honor, but it made a very self-preserving appearance and stayed out of the spotlight until now. The short video uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Texas House of Go-Like-Hennessey shows the playful demeanor of the velocity-centered machine, dancing gracefully over solid water. That’s snow and ice, but water nonetheless, and this should clear the opening paragraph.

A 1,817-hp precision instrument like the Venom F5 is sure to attract all eyes toward itself, no matter where and what it does, so imagine how it looks and feels among a crowd of other multi-million, thousand-horsepower radical racers: right at home, even on a slippery surface that’s not cut out for America’s hypercar.

Its 6.6-liter V8 probably had no intention of playing cooler than it already does when pushing the bulk of the car at 250 mph (or thereabout) under regular operations. You bet the car didn’t do that speed over the snow track in Aspen, but splicing the air at wide-open throttle isn’t the only thing the Hennessey can do.

Of course, having 1,193 lb-ft (1,617 Nm) for the two wheels at the rear means that any surface is slippery, let alone one designed and engineered by Mother Nature to provide as little friction as possible. However, the Hennessey was only out to play. Hence, it took it easy—very easy—and slow (that must have been painful for the twin turbochargers). Slow enough to tow a skier—none other than Ryland Hennessey.

The name coincidence is purely family business (literally) – John Hennessey’s son is a ‘Venom F5 wrangler’ (Ryland’s own words) who volunteered to test the car’s ability to tow… anything. While not specifically designed for this purpose – on snow or elsewhere – the car stood up to the challenge and went around the 1,800-foot track (550 meters) – at what can best be described as the slowest-ever run recorded by a Hennessey-branded vehicle.

In February, a Hennessey team went to Colorado for a cold-and-snow testing session (for whatever reason) and jumped on the bandwagon to join the F.A.T. Ice Race while it lasted. I assume there’s a method behind the ‘Henneski’ fun and games, but hauling the company’s founder heir while on skis is not it.

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