Keith Martin

I’ve had a lot of hair-brained ideas over the years, but none as ridiculous as opening my own restoration shop. It was the late 1980s, and I was selling 20 to 30 cars a month to overseas clients. One of my chief competitors was Mark Hyman. We had both figured out how to get six…

The Rodeo Drive Concours D’Elegance in tony Beverly Hills has been a Father’s Day fixture. To paraphrase Jay Leno, “mere millionaires can mingle with billionaires” during this car show. You know the drill. Prep your car and have it there by 7 am. Get out your folding chairs and prepare to bake in the sun…

It’s been two years since I have been on a tour. I first had some medical challenges, which were followed directly by the pandemic. Effectively car events have been off-limits for me for a long time. But as we gradually emerge from our health crisis, a thoughtful return to normal is at hand. SCM Tour…

Are you ready for an adventure? A tour with no route book, no pre-determined places to eat and where you make your own reservations? Where anything that moves under its own power is welcome? If so, considering joining us in our annual pilgrimage from the Pacific Northwest to Monterey. Here’s the planning brief: We head…

We are just a couple of weeks away from the 2021 SCM 1000 Classic. We’ve been sold out for some time; our self-imposed limit is 45 cars. Featured this year are the cars of England, although any pre-1975 sports car is invited to apply. Our first tour featured Alfa Romeo, our second, the cars of…

We’ve been kicking around some thoughts about sports cars tours. I wanted to share them with you and get your reactions. I believe the future of tours will revolve around events that involve driving, immersion in the geography and culture of the areas you are in, and nightly “Conversations with Collectors” with like-minded enthusiasts. For…

A friend is driving his 1958 MGA on the upcoming SCM 1000. The route will take us over Mt. Hood, to Crater Lake and to other scenic destinations with plenty of elevation changes. “The brake drums and shoes on my car are tiny. I think I better upgrade to front discs.” “Why bother,” was my…

As we emerge from the pandemic, weekend morning car gatherings are beginning to be held again. While I believe that these gatherings represent an important part of our hobby, they are not without their issues. I have addressed this in part before, however here I will go into more detail. There are often long lines…