FIRST SLR RETURNS TO UK RACING! Silverstone, UK  May 9 2009 The first SLR, owned by Simon Orebi Gann returned to racing in the UK after undergoing a stunning restoration. Piloted by Orebi Gann and the legendary Rick Bourne, the debut was distilled excitement. Full story HERE.  AERO SUPER SPORTS Malvern, UK, April 16, 2009 Dealers gathered at the Factory yesterday for the debut of the newest in the Aero line. The 6th official version to bear the Aero name was presented to wide acclaim. The car will again vbe a limited edition and is modelled on the Aeromax version but with some changes. It is now  a coupe with a removable hard top. and the rear end has been redesigned, with the rear glass recessed. The MMC has stated that the new car will be made US compliant and shipments will being early in 2010. Dealers have been instructed to take deposits of £25K on a 125K sticker price!  AERO 8 PRODUCTION ENDS Malvern, April 16, 2009 The Morgan Motor Company has announced that Aero 8 production will cease by the end of 2009. The model line, unveiled in 2000 and first shipped in 2002 went through numerous modifications  and four Series versions during its time-line. Approximately 650 customer Aero 8s will have been produced by the time the last rolls off the line this Fall. The new sleek Aero SuperSports will replace the less expensive Aero 8. The limited Aeromax production will end with its 100th unit. ISIS ANNOUNCES GM ECOTEC Bodega California, USA, March, 2009 Bill Fink of Isis Import, a Morgan Main Agent has announced a retrofit of the new GM Ecotec engine into earlier 4 cylinder Morgans. The Ecotec package comes with GM's all alloy, twin cam, 2.4 litre Ecotec 4. Current production engine found in the Pontiac Solstice driven through the original rear axle and cooled by a Plus 8 radiator. A Road & Track review will appear in the April edition of the magazine. For details & the full review, click HERE.  opinion: editors@mogwire.com news: newsdesk@mogwire.com

AERO SUPERSPORTS  WINS! Silverstone, UK, May 5, 2009 The French Auto GT Racing Morgan Aero SuperSports team, sponsored by Banque Barings Sturdza, won the first round of the 2009 FIA GT3 European Championship at Silverstone. Prepped and piloted by Dimitri Enjalbert and Johan-Boris Scheier the maiden win for the Aero family has excited the team, the Factory and the Morgan community. The Morgan Wire later interviewed  LeMans winner Chris Lawrence,  designer and father of the Morgan Aero. Mr. Lawrence is  well-pleased with the result, and happy that the car has received the sponsorship support necessary for it to blossom. Our congratulations to Barings-Sturdza and the Team! We look forward to a great season.  UK CENTENARY UPDATE Malvern, UK, February 19, 2009 The Morgan Centenary Company Ltd. opened up the activity booking to everyone on January 12, 2009. (It has been available to those who booked 10 day hotel stays with them since the Fall.) Most of the activities are full and the Gala dinner at the Cheltenham Raceway was largely subscribed before the January date for the Morgan public and is now full along with the Receptions at both Malvern and Cheltenham. However, the Centenary Committee has informed the Morgan Wire that other activities have been expanded to allow for more people. Additional trips will be arranged for the train trip, the Severn Boats trips and the Castle visits. Cheltenham week end ticket sales have plenty of spaces left along with the Saturday and Sunday concerts. The Cheltenham racecourse space for open air activities is no problem. There are now visitors registered booked in from 17 countries. Make your booking at the Centenary Ltd site. eMog HITS RECORD! Internet, March 2009 The eMog Pub, the oldest active Morgan Discussion Group has passed 1700 members from 39 countries and went well over 200,000 separate  postings,  representing 60 million emails and many friendships in 9 years. The eMog  Moderators thank the Morgan Community for its patronage. To mark the occasion, a contest for the best Morgan story or poem is being held. Anyone can enter by clicking the CONTEST tap at the Pub. Prizes have been donated from Agents from three continents.

CENTENARY TRADE FAIR Hanley Swan, UK June 2009 The Morgan Community's most prestigious suppliers and designers have banded together for a Trade Fair displaying their products and latest advances during Centenary weekend. They include Steve Simmonds, Rob Wells of Librands, John Worrall of Heart of England Morgans, Peter Mulberry of Mulfab, Chas Windridge of MogSport and Jancraft . Ample space in a lovely rural setting has been secured at  the Hanley Workshops, a few minutes from Malvern and a short drive from Cheltenham. Entry will be free, along with an unlimited supply of Morgan chatter and mates! More details and Directions can be found HERE. BA CENTENARY DISCOUNTS North America, March 20, 2009 Arrangements have been made with British Airways to offer discounts on Economy and Business travel between the US/Canada and the UK for the Centenary Year. A special site has been announced on eMog to manage these bookings. More details HERE.  US CENTENARY UPDATE US, March 2009 Enthusiasts have prepared a list of Morgan Centenary events and highlights happening this year in North America. Please send the dates and details of any other events of interest and we shall add them to the list. Click HERE.  MMC TO RAFFLE UNIQUE 4/4 SPORT Malvern, March 2009 The Company has donated a 4/4 Sport to be the  prize for the Children in Need Charity. The hope is to raise £100,000 for the worthy cause which has helped underprivileged children for years. For more information is available from the MMC news release found HERE. CENTENARY CAR INSURANCE FOR  OVERSEAS VISITORS Malvern, UK December, 2008 Philip Dean at morgan@headleyinsurance.com has arranged cover for non EU Morgan owners for a 3 month period next year. The Insurer is National Insurance and Guarantee Corporation. In addition to the registration detail of the country of origin, the chassis number is also required. Mr.Dean will also arrange for breakdown cover for the UK and Europe. The web site is HERE.  LIFECAR: FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY? Malvern, UK March, 2009 In a March press release, the MMC has announced that it will move to a production LifeCar within a time horizon of three years. Mr. Morgan had indicated in October 2008 that this could be done utilizing the Aeromax system, where sufficient deposits would cover the costs of a development. Click Car.

OVERSEAS FOR THE CENTENARY!
psoted to eMog by David Crandal 

Unless shipping precious cars is routine for you, your virgin voyage is fraught with anxiety. At least, mine sure was.

After the whole RORO vs container choice is made [RORO for me], the venture to the docks is a sweat inducing experience, with or without rain [some of us had it but I didn't, thank God!]. One waves goodbye to the little +8 and watch it swallowed up by a gigantic car transporter for the run across the Atlantic.  Days later, after you're home and realize you took no pictures given the drama with the shipper, etc. [another story], you get the pre-inspection report that says my car was "not fitted" with either a spare tire/wheel or radio, both of which were present when last you saw the car.  Call to the shipper does not result in comforting news, "the surveyor says the report is accurate".  This could be more than a little problem!

Cutting to the chase, all's well.  Fellow Mogger, Rob Hill, greeted me at Heathrow Monday, sped us to Southampton where a very congenial and Morgan loving bunch released what they called "the crazy car" ["No mate, you don't need to tell me what slot it's in in the garage, that car reminds me of my childhood cartoon favorite!"].  The fellow who retrieved the only slightly worse-for-the-ocean-trip car said that if he ever bought a sports car, it would be a Morgan.  Lots of other thumbs-up treatment from the lads.  

I couldn't be happier.  Most especially because the supposedly "not fitted" items, were, in fact, intact [see attached proof, Rob's 4/4 with nifty portable boot glimpsed to rear]. Well, it was a surprise that the shipper, a Swedish carrier, only took cash for the extra days storage; good thing I had some pounds on hand since no ATM in sight.  Yes, they made me bolt on my  Massachusetts number plate and it was good that Rob had brought some tools as mine were buried in my hand luggage.  Only the rear one, so maybe I'll slip through some of the ubiquitous average speed tracking cameras.

Four hours later calmly ensconced in Hill's Alive, Rob and Heather's lovely country domicile, with a London Pride to celebrate a successful first step of a nice month of touring from 2 July when wife San joins me.  First to Cornwall, then to who knows where prior to the long Centenary period starting the 24th.  Hope to see many there and perhaps others along the way; let me know if you're receiving.  Cheers, David