Driving the Aero 8
by David Judkins
photos by Alice Judkins
(Please contact author for permission to reprint this article)
"I think the keys are in it." Mark said to my tentative query, "Would it be possible for a test drive?"
I have known Mark Aston, Manager at the Morgan Motor Works, for fifteen years ever since I bought my second 4/4, which I still own and drive today." Each time I visit England I try to look up Mark, but I missed him the week earlier in Cheltenham, when Alice and I were attending Mog 2001 (where the accompanying pictures were taken). But the following Sunday at Rockingham Race Track, where a small contingent of Morgans were racing, he and his wife happily appeared in the Aero 8.""
"She has thirteen thousand miles on her," Mark said of the two tone light and smoke silver car." "This is the one that got away from a journalist and ended up in a ditch." We didn't have any wings of the same color, so we had to strap on a set that look pretty good but are not matching."" I thought the car was stunning, and I was still reeling from Mark's casual reply to my ridiculous request.
It reminded me of my first visit with Bill Fink in San Francisco when he literally tossed me the keys to his Plus 8." "Take it out for a drive," he said to me." I was with my daughter, Claire, and I could see her eyes grow large and mouth open as I caught the keys and turned toward the car." "Did you want to go along," I asked Bill." "No, no, take Claire; I drive it every day.""
""Dad, he doesn't even know us," Claire exclaimed as we drove into the dense traffic around Fisherman's Wharf."" That wasn't exactly true as I had written Bill in advance and told him I would try to drop by while I was visiting San Francisco.
It was much the same way I now felt." The keys were not in my hand, they had been left in the Aero 8." I did not have Claire with me but was with David James, who quietly races an aging +4 in Morgan races throughout England." "You drive it first, David, I don't want to do anything embarrassing with all these people around."" David was happy to oblige and Mark followed us over to point out the Start button on the dash which is depressed after the key ignition is turned on." While he was about it, he pointed out a few other features." "That display on the console alerts you to low tire pressure." If the tire deflates, the side wall will support the car until you come to a stop." We then have an aerosol can to re-inflate the tire and stop the leak."" I had the impression that the aerosol can also had a kind of foam that would keep the tire up even if it were torn rather than just punctured.
David and I got into the car." Like all contemporary roadsters, passenger and driver sit deeply into the car, but unlike others, Mercedes, Boxster, BMW, you also feel very near the road surface." Mark had told us that the Aero 8 has just under 6" road clearance." David started the car and we took off through the infield, under the tunnel and out into an industrial park that surrounds the race track." In third gear at about 40MPH he gave the accelerator a gentle stab and the car surged forward." No lurching or leaping, just a rush of power from the 4+ liter BMW V8." "Yes, well," David exclaimed, "There is no way, we can really let it go around here."" Perhaps because David is an experienced and skilled racing driver, he recognized the need to have time and plenty of space to really get to know this car." "You give it a try."
He pulled over and turned off the engine." Mark had told us the hand brake was inoperable at the moment." I got in pushed in the clutch." Heel and toe worked very easily so I could keep the brake pedal depressed as I tapped the accelerator and started the engine." As I let out the clutch, the engine died." Thank heaven we were well away from any spectators, and David was kind enough to cover his mouth while laughing." A second start was more successful and we were off and running." I believe I have read that the throttle is by wire; in other words electronics controls the throttle rather than a cable." If that is the case, I could tell absolutely no difference." The car was enormously responsive." I make no claim as an automotive expert, but I personally have never before been behind the wheel of such an explosive vehicle." I don't know what the quarter mile time is claimed by Morgan, but my guess is that most owners will never muster the courage nor perhaps acquire the skill to accelerate the car as fast as it is capable of going." In second or third gear with the clutch fully released, a sharp punch of the throttle will break lose the rear wheels." I could only think back about the stories of Big Blue, the Morgan based race car that Charles Morgan and Bill Wykham campaigned a few years ago." This car, the Aero 8, grew from that experience, and I felt that I was driving the nearest thing to a full blown serious modern racing car that I would ever drive in my life." Unfortunately, we were on very smooth roads, so I cannot testify to the improved ride quality of the vehicle. The limited amount of cornering that David and I were able to manage was pure Morgan with the car sticking admirably to the road surface.
Now for other impressions." I thought the clutch was very strong and took a considerable effort to operate." David disagreed, "It's just like mine," he said referring to his Plus 4 race car that has a full racing clutch installed." The driving position is quite different from other Morgans." You sit further from the steering wheel with arms much more extended." As already noted, you are lower in the car with the window sill near shoulder level. The Morgans we are currently driving were mainly designed prior to World War II and with limited or no seat adjustment are sometimes not very comfortable for larger people. The Aero 8 seems set up for an over 6' driver." At 5'8" I frankly felt a bit small in it."" Although the car is nearly all aluminum, it nevertheless has a solid somewhat heavy feel to it." Remarks about it being ugly are to my mind greatly exaggerated." The headlights, slightly canted inward, are very stylish (c.f. all new Mercedes, the new Maserati 3200GT and even a hint of" the new BMW Seven series) and the large front fenders give the car a powerful, masculine look." Everyone will have his or her opinion on looks, but I believe the styling of the Aero 8 will wear well, and it should be around for a long time." Mark told me that the factory currently had 800 orders with deposits." This month the first Aero 8s will be delivered to customers at the rate of about 2-3 cars per week." When the new shop currently under construction is completed and operational the output will significantly increase." Morgan has already enlarged its work staff taking on and training ten new employees just for the Aero 8. I also understand that BMW has on site at Malvern a full time specialist technician to address any problems that arise in fitting the drive train.
But don't look for one cruising along I-10 anytime in the near future." Only last month all European approvals were completed." Morgan now plans to begin US certification, and Mark estimates that will take at least eighteen months." "The EU and US standards are quite similar, but the testing methods are different," he told me." Interestingly, much of the certification work may be done in Houston by a consulting firm here.""
The Aero 8 remains a mildly controversial vehicle." Some observers don't like its looks, others think that other cars on the market do what the Aero 8 will do for the same or less money." But most important, some of the Morgan faithful think that the factory has taken off in a new direction without their approval." In addition, they fear that the energy and expense of the new car may make Morgan vulnerable to a takeover or at least a public stock offering to raise capital."
My own view is somewhat different." Clearly Morgan is in the third generation." It is important that Charles has a strong vested interest in the company lest he divert his attention elsewhere." The Aero 8 is his contribution to the history and development of the Morgan Motor Works." It is not a one man car." Many others including Chris Lawrence, Bill Beck, and Mark Aston have made critical contributions to its development." But it is Charles Morgan's dream, his concept, and those of us who look forward to 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Morgan should keep our fingers crossed that the Aero 8 will become a raging success and make us all proud that we are a part of that eccentric but long running tradition of the finest English sports car."
Questions or remarks on this article may be addressed to djudkins@uh.edu