8/15/08 - Monterey 2008: Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival - auto.cooone.com

[G-Jet]

http://auto.cooone.com/monterey-2008-gordon-mccalls-motorworks-revival/

Looks like the aptera was in Monterey this past week.

G

For more than a decade, Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival party has kicked off the Pebble Beach weekend in style. The event brings together the who’s who of the automotive world, and guests are wined and dined alongside some of the world’s most impressive machinery. The display of automobiles was particularly exceptional this year with an incredible collection of supercars and priceless classic. Jim Glickenhaus was kind enough to bring out his one-off Pininfarina P4/5 that was displayed alongside a Ferrari Formula 1 car, and we were treated to a pair of Bugatti Veyrons as well as two Koenigsegg CCXs, not to mention a 1-of-20 Lamborghini Reventon. We were also able to make an interesting comparison of the brand new Corvette ZR1 and a Pratt and Miller C6RS that sat back to back. We made sure to take plenty of photographs.

[Matthijs]

Thats a great shot! With the second seat added. Those seats give (imho) the Aptera a much more sporty look! DirectLinkToPicture (http://auto.cooone.com/wp-content/gallery/2008-gordon-mccalls-motorworks-revival/motorworksrevival08_-18.jpg)

[G-Jet]

Yes, the seats look really cool IMO. I am surprised to see the aptera at such an event.

G

[Matthijs]

Yes, the seats look really cool IMO. I am surprised to see the aptera at such an event.

G

Yeah me too, not really a crowd thats thinking about efficient transportation. More about their second or third high end sports/luxury car.

[G-Jet]

maybe you should move this to the discussion thread?

G

[Matt]

I would get used to that and think it is a good thing. Auto enthusiasts tend to be early adopters and are attracted to superior design and technology. If only it would attract supersize SUV owners.

Actually, If I were a betting man I would bet that more than half of the current reservations are folks with a sports or luxury car, the other half already drive a prius or motorcycle. (probably nearly zero with a hummer or suburban) In Northern California I see a lot of garages with a sports car in the garage and a Prius out front.

Oh, I also like the new seats look like a better design! Thanks for posting the picture.

Matt

[Matthijs]

maybe you should move this to the discussion thread?

G

Well I think some discussion about the news is a good thing. The news topics are not locked for that reason. :)

[Carbon Saver II]

I had a chance to go to Gordon's party and missed it. Had I known the Aptera was there, I would have made sure I got there.... Really bummed.... Only learned of it today from a interesting new aircraft company after I mentioned Aptera. Trying to spread the word about the Aptera difference.....

As to other cars, BFC, aka, Blue Fake Cobra with running gear from a 1991 Mustang 5.0 - personnally built in 1994, 1993 open track prepared Mustang 5.0 Coupe - current daily driver, Prius is my wife's car and weekend driver - 28,000 miles in first year. Not the Ferrari type, actually work two jobs, but like transportation. The Aptera will save the gas needed for a few weekend open track fun days a year.

Later, Dennis

[G-Jet]

Carbon,

That would be the ikon airplane, which was in some of the photos from the event.

G

[Carbon Saver II]

ICON, I think. And yes those pictures are the item that was on display in the vendor area by turn 4 at Laguna Seca during the Historics.

Later, Dennis

[aptera1213]

it there something wrong with me that every time i see a new picture of the aptera with people around it...well that i basically think first, "dammit, why aren't any of them measuring the wheel to wheel dimensions!"


but that is a nice photo

[speednut]

Boy, they sure were pushing that ICON plane this weekend apparently. Lot of space devoted to it in the Laguna Seca infield.

Wish I had know to check out the Aptera too! If I do ever spot one, I'll make sure to get the width measurement. Was too busy shooting the Historics though... petrol burner lovers enjoy my flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/speednutdave) The same F1 Ferrari from the news article images is shown properly at speed in my photo collection. :)

[G-Jet]

Great photos Dave. Yes, ICON it is. Sweet little thing.

G

[Matthijs]

I found another shot of the Aptera on the same event.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3660/apteramjchj4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apkphotography/2762379687/)
Link (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apkphotography/2762379687/)

[Carbon Saver II]

Is it just me or does the front track seem narrower in this picture? Perhaps they responded to feedback?

Later, Dennis

[Matthijs]

Well I think it's just the angle from where the picture was taken. This must be the same MK-1 but with new seats. I really hope they make it narrower.

[Matt]

Why narrower? Lane splitting like a motorcycle? Motorcycle parking? I'm all for whatever makes it handle better!

I was hoping for the optional subframe with the Tesla's bigger electric motor and wider fat sticky tires........there I go again as my Green instinct turns brown....maybe if I buy a LifePod with the solar panels to charge it....then racing it would be okay ;-)

Actually I'm more worried about length and the tail in the back. I can just see some idiot in a monster SUV tapping it and taking out the whole light panel.

[Matthijs]

Why narrower? Lane splitting like a motorcycle? Motorcycle parking? I'm all for whatever makes it handle better!

I was hoping for the optional subframe with the Tesla's bigger electric motor and wider fat sticky tires........there I go again as my Green instinct turns brown....maybe if I buy a LifePod with the solar panels to charge it....then racing it would be okay ;-)

Actually I'm more worried about length and the tail in the back. I can just see some idiot in a monster SUV tapping it and taking out the whole light panel.
Well it's just because in Holland (and maybe Europe) cars wider than 6.56" (2m) will not be allowed on the road. So thats why I am hoping for a narrower front track. And I would go with narrower front tires as well, something like 135/70/15 with an offset to match the original specs when it comes to width. :)

[A2008]

What's with the red lights or reflectors on the front of the wheel pants? I thought red lights on front is reserved for emergency vechiles only.

[APTERA 2356]

Those are yellow LED running lights/turn signals

[A2008]

Maybe its my monitor, but the lower 1/3 of the lights look red. I agree, the top 2/3 look like amber running lights/turn signals.

[Apt3448]

Don't know what image you are looking at. At the Aptera website there are several good images. The top section, both front and rear, are LED lights, the bottom sections appear to be reflective strips, amber, and presumably serve to alert others to the existence of the your usual outrigger wheels, even when your lights are of.

[gg222]

Looks red to me too.

http://auto.cooone.com/wp-content/gallery/2008-gordon-mccalls-motorworks-revival/motorworksrevival08_-18.jpg

[Apt3448]

I think it is just the lighting. This is the same car, I think, in full sunlight. Looks more like a dark orange. Again: top section is LED lights, lower section is reflective material.
http://solartaxi.blueblog.ch/files/images/2008/7/mob912_1217398140.jpg

[Carbon Saver II]

For grins... What is the fighter jet behind the Aptera in the Gordon picture?

She flew in Wednesday late morning, and was off again on Thursday. One of my offices is above the terminal looking across the runway to the ocean. Two Blue Angels did a fly-by this week. They pop-in for inspections ahead of the Salinas Air Show, I guess....

Later, Dennis

[Eyelawdoc]

For grins... What is the fighter jet behind the Aptera in the Gordon picture?

She flew in Wednesday late morning, and was off again on Thursday. One of my offices is above the terminal looking across the runway to the ocean. Two Blue Angels did a fly-by this week. They pop-in for inspections ahead of the Salinas Air Show, I guess....

Later, Dennis

It's a Navy F-18 Hornet.

[Carbon Saver II]

That was my guess, but did not want to insert foot in mouth if I guessed wrong....

The current fighters just make you happy you're an American, and can't imagine the hurt of being under a fire by what we can bring in from the sky. :scared0011:

[KarenRei]

The current fighters just make you happy you're an American, and can't imagine the hurt of being under a fire by what we can bring in from the sky

Personally, I don't see why any machine designed for bringing death should make you happy. Seems like a kind of morbid happiness, like smiling about the amperage of an electric chair or the lethality of a vial of anthrax.

[wolfdoggy]

I agree with you 100% Karen! After having fought in the Viet Nam, which was more than an "ocupation", there is nothing to be proud off when you slaughter people. If wars were more face to face there might be less of them.

JMO

[Carbon Saver II]

Ouch, sorry for the upset.

[G-Jet]

Actually, it is a F/A - 18. The F is for Fighter the A is for Attack.

G

[n_dawg]

It's rare to see the Aptera Typ-1 juxtaposed with a vehicle that's more aerodynamic.

[curbowman]

Not that fast, dude... The F/A-18 is more aerodynamic ONLY when flying 'clean' -that means, when it's not carrying bombs, tanks, nav pods, or missiles. On the other hand, the F-22 hides everything inside, and its antennas are flush with the body, so it could be more slippery.

What about an afterburner-equipped Aptera?

[chasmccl]

Also note that an F-18 has about 100,000 horsepower and gets about the same mileage as an M1A1 tank. As far as aerodynamics, I'd bet the Aptera is more aerodynamic than the Super Hornet. :sick0020:

[KarenRei]

One thing to consider when comparing aircraft aerodynamics to car aerodynamics is that cars have to deal with ground turbulence. The drag coeffs and drag areas for aircraft are generally given for free-flight conditions.

[curbowman]

By the way, Aptera = fly without wings.

[gg222]

Aptera = Wingless (nothing about flying) or insects without wings

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Aptera