Keith Martin

Early Saturday morning in the pouring rain, I was chugging up the Cedar Tree trail in Oregon Tillamook National Forest. I wasn’t wondering why a manual-transmission-equipped late-model Ferrari brings such a premium at auction. I wasn’t figuring out how to source the FISPA fuel regulator I need for my Giulietta Sprint Speciale. Installing studded snow…

It’s horses for courses when it comes to old cars. A modern SUV could travel easily on Interstate highways at 75 mph — and plow through snow and scramble up dirt roads. But where’s the fun in that? Part of what makes old cars so appealing is their lack of competence. They require our skill…

It’s a rite of passage that we’ve all experienced. The first time we were behind the wheel of a car, started the engine and actually drove the machine. For most of us, that moment is lost to time and captured only by our memories. However, it today’s world of smart phones with video cameras, nothing…

I’ve known Bob Lutz (“Maximum Bob”) for more than 20 years. I served on his long-range planning committee when he was at General Motors. I’ve also been on several new car launches and several classic car events with him. His motto: “Often wrong, but never in doubt.” That approach is evident in his article about…

This was my fourth year at the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance, at Hilton Head, SC.  Each year, it continues to develop and grow in size and quality. Hilton Head now resides comfortably in the top tier of vintage car events. It’s more than just a car show. The official name of the weeklong happening is…

It’s been a busy week at SCM World Headquarters. Oregon is having its annual days of fall sunshine, with temperatures in the mid-70s. The leaves are turning and it’s a perfect time to enjoy sports cars. It’s also great weather to run them back and forth to repair shops. The 1967 went to Nasko for…

Last Saturday I tried to give away a free subscription to SCM, but found no takers. Volkswagen was the featured marque at the 22nd Annual European Auto Festival. On the event app’s Vendors page, a group appeared in the listings between parts suppliers and detailers, which reminded me how broad the crowd can be; a…

You’ve probably read the same things I have. “Kids don’t care about cars.” That’s just not true. While young people today have many more options for social interaction than we did when growing up, they still love cars. I recently spent a weekend with a McLaren 750S Spider. I’ll share my thoughts about driving this…