Keith Martin
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Two Alfas in the Shop, Four in the Garage – SCM Fleet Update
Fall is here. It’s time to start shuffling the SCM cars around, putting the convertibles away for the winter and making sure the coupes and sedans are ready to go. Here’s a quick look at the status of the cars in the SCM fleet: The 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider Veloce (pictured above) went to Bill Gillham’s for…
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If I Were King of a Concours
One of the magnificent spectacles in the collector car world occurs as the morning mists lift off a concours field. Dozens of rare and important machines that trace the history of the automobile are revealed. From diminutive Hupmobile roadsters to imposing Cadillac phaetons, our love affair with cars is on display. But like all aspects…
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Hitting Its Stride – The 2015 Pacific Northwest Concours
There’s something magical that happens when a performance comes together. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a brilliant performance of the first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth, a breath-taking rendition of Puccini’s “Un bel di, vedremo” from “Madame Butterfly” or an explosive presentation of “Rocka My Soul” from Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations.” With an automotive event, the magic…
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Horses and Horsepower — the 2nd Annual Chantilly Concours
Jousting. That was a first for me. I’ve seen many things at car events, but never armed knights charging toward one another horseback. Losing a joust might entail being dumped from your horse, summersaulting mid-air and landing hard on the ground. Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille co-founder Patrick Peter has now found a way to…
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A Supercar for the Ages
During the 900 miles I drove a McLaren 650S Spider, my heart only stopped twice. Once was at a gas station at Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde near the Oregon coast. When you come to a halt in the McLaren, it takes the transmission a couple of seconds to realize you really are stopped,…
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Just the Amazon and Me
Last Saturday I did something I haven’t done in quite a while — I took a little road trip by myself. It’s been a typically hectic few months. I’ve attended car events in Italy, Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington, but I haven’t had any “alone time” with my cars. The 1967 Volvo 122S “Amazon” continues…
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A Weekend With The Gunnison Car Club
Once a year The Gunnison Car Club, under the able direction of Mike Callihan, takes over downtown Gunnison, Colorado, filling the streets with street rods, muscle cars, sports cars and pickups. This year the club selected me to receive The Lee Iacocca Award. Gunnison is 224 miles from the Denver International Airport — and 1,138 miles from…
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Quick Takes from the Monterey Week
Driving up Highway 101 from Monterey to the San Francisco airport, it was clear that the ball was over. Instead of Monterey Car Week’s sea of candy-colored Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, a swarm of Kias, Toyotas and Chevrolets peppered the landscape. An occasional modern Fiat 500 served as the token exotic. This was my 28th…
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Concours at St. John’s Continues to Impress
Last year, I made my first visit to the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s and was surprised and delighted. Formerly known as the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance and held at Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, Michigan, the concours moved to its new location — the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan — in…
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How Weather Affects Windshield Cracks
A cracked windshield may seem like a minor inconvenience at first, but weather conditions can quickly turn a small chip into a serious problem. Temperature changes, moisture, and even direct sunlight all play a role in how cracks behave—and can significantly impact the safety and longevity of your windshield. Understanding how weather affects windshield cracks…