Keith Martin’s Adventures

I continue pondering the Alfa Romeo 4C as a solution to my inability to drive our Lotus Elise, due to its 6-speed manual transmission. If I trade out of our Elise and into a 4C, two things will happen. First, it will somehow cost me around $15k. I’ve learned than whenever you sell one car…

I was recently at the AROC National Convention in Ogden, UT, where I gave a presentation about the evolution of Sports Car Market. Getting there and back involved a 2,000-mile trip in our 35-year-old 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider S4 automatic. But that’s a story for later. During my presentation, I explained that after my stroke…

We’re on the home stretch of our epic road trip in our 35-year-old Alfa S4 Spider, having just participated in the Alfa Romeo Owners Club national convention in Ogden, Utah. While I was there, I gave a presentation about SCM and the way the world of car collecting has changed in the past 38 years.  The…

When you read this, I’ll be on day two of my 1,500-mile caravan from Portland to the Alfa Romeo National Convention in Ogden, UT. I’ll be driving our 1991 Alfa Romeo S4 Spider. With just 30,000 original miles on it, it’s been a joy over the past six years and 4,000 miles. While it doesn’t…

At 8 a.m. on Monday, September 21, we will be at the Lewis and Clark rest stop just outside of Portland. There, we will join up with a group of Alfas coming from Seattle, lead by SCMer and road trip guru Fred Russell. Ahead of us is an eight-day back roads adventure. We will cover…

Last week we talked about the 25th annual Collector Car and Boat Show in Lake Oswego, OR. There were 200 cars and boats and 5,000 spectators. Best Open Car was awarded to a beautifully presented Beck Spyder. That’s a replica of a Porsche 550. And I’ve heard they drive beautifully. I asked your opinion about…

Last Sunday, the 25th annual Collector Car and Boat Show was held in Lake Oswego, Oregon. That’s a suburb of Portland and about fifteen minutes from my condo. It is organized by the nonprofit Oswego Heritage Council. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Council, whose mission is to preserve and interpret Lake Oswego…

I’ve been going to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for more than 30 years. For a few of those, I was the emcee for part of the morning activities, interviewing owners who had cars entered. I have to confess that watching the livestream on YouTube actually gives me a better perspective on the field. (Not…

There may be many “Guides to Monterey,” but the SCM one is the best. It’s our 21st year of producing it, and in its 106 pages you’ll find event descriptions, hot tips and even recommendations on where to eat. Download it here. Monterey has changed post-pandemic. The past few years have seen a new generation…