Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 40 years, and is the founder and publisher of this magazine. Keith has also written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, has been an emcee for numerous concours, and had his own show, “What’s My Car Worth,” shown on Velocity. He has received many honors, including the Lee Iacocca Award, the Edward Herrmann Award, was inducted into the Concorso Italiano Hall of Fame, and more. He has served on the board of directors of The LeMay Museum and Oregon Ballet Theater, and was formerly the chair of the board of the Meguiar’s Award. Learn more about Keith here.
Here’s a worthy goal for 2025: Get a couple of driving buddies together and make plans to use your cars. I was recently at the holiday dinner for the local Porsche club, Oregon Region PCA (ORPCA), where organizers announced that they had held 55 driving events last year. In 2025, they hope to host 70. The Pacific Northwest has over 2,000 active members, so they have the people and organization necessary to make this happen. The Pacific Coast Rover Club, by contrast, has 300 members split between Portland and Seattle. It’s hard work for us to get to one driving event […]
Here’s a worthy goal for 2025: Get a couple of driving buddies together and make plans to use your cars.
I was recently at the holiday dinner for the local Porsche club, Oregon Region PCA (ORPCA), where organizers announced that they had held 55 driving events last year. In 2025, they hope to host 70. The Pacific Northwest has over 2,000 active members, so they have the people and organization necessary to make this happen.
The Pacific Coast Rover Club, by contrast, has 300 members split between Portland and Seattle. It’s hard work for us to get to one driving event a month.
We can always find reasons not to go on a run. For me it’s a blog or a column to write. For others there are work responsibilities and family obligations.
However, I’m working on a scheme with friend Lou Tauber right now. He has a Land Rover LR4, while I own a Disco II. There are also the SCM 1975 Porsche 911S and Jaguar E-type V12 coupe.
One of the upcoming Porsche events is “all cars welcome.” We are thinking this is a perfect time for me to get some seat time in the LR4 (a new experience for me). When it’s an all-Porsche event, we can take the 911. If we commit a couple of weeks in advance, our chances of actually getting onto the road are much higher.
Especially on PCA’s regular mid-week tours, there is very little traffic and the twisty roads are always interesting. Of course, we always reserve the right to bail if the weather is poor.
So look around at the various car clubs you belong to, and find a buddy in the club who will agree to join you for a one-day run. Go in one car, so you are experiencing something new. I guarantee by the end of the year you’ll have at least have a dozen new car trips to talk about, and your cars will be happier as well.
Rovers ready to rumbleAt Porsche run. There’s gotta be a car buddy in this group waiting to meet you.ORPCA hopes for 70 driving events this year. See you there!
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5 responses to “Keith’s Blog: My One New Year’s Resolution”
David Andersen
Hear, hear, Keith! I, too, want to drive more in 2025. Our local area PCA club does about 3 “fun runs” per year, usually one in the spring, an overnighter in the summer, and one in the fall. They are always well-organized and the routes usually well-chosen. They also run 4 or so DEs plus a club race each year at one of two local area tracks. I’ll manage to participate in one or two of the fun runs and, since I purchased a 1993 911 RSA former race car last year, am looking at getting back on the track and doing a couple of DEs in 2025 (no track events for me since 2019, but used to do a lot of them).
That said, most of my driving “events” are just going out for a two to three hour drive with a few buddies and their cars on a nice Sunday morning, stopping for lunch and a beer at one our usual watering holes on the way home. I find that more enjoyable than organized club fun runs or rallies. To each his own.
Hans Kleinknecht
My Black Lab Elsa is my steadfast driving buddy. She is always up for a drive, never has a reason not to. We did a 100 mile loop in the M3 just yesterday. I’m lucky to have her as most of my friends prefer boring things like golf and other sticky-bally things more for their free time. As said above “to each his own”.
Keith,
Unrelated to this topic, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the February 2025 issue of SCM that I finished today. The coverage of the Sotheby’s Rudi Klein LA “junkyard” collection was truly phenomenal. I honestly believe that SCM is the finest American car magazine published at this point. I have been promoting to all my friends. My other favorite car magazine is the British car magazine, “Classic Cars”. SCM just keeps getting better and better. Keep up the great work, and Happy New Year!
Glenn in Brooklyn, NY.
John Gillespie
Last year, I joined a local car club with the goal of getting out and driving more. So far, it’s been a resounding success. The club organizes well-structured runs on exciting roads. I’ve also met some great people, which is a huge bonus. But the real surprise came when we discovered some hidden gems on our drives. I’ve lived here my entire life, yet I never knew these roads existed! Since my car is a convertible, I usually drive it when the weather permits. When I’m not on a club run, I take my Siberian Husky for rides. She absolutely loves it! To keep her comfortable and safe, I use a large car blanket, a seatbelt tether, and a harness. Honestly, I don’t mind cleaning up the drool and hair afterward.
chuck coli
Keith, being a member of the PCA, ( 88 Carrera Cab & 2004 C4S Cab) Mid Atlantic British Car Club( 60 MGA Twin Cam) FCA ( 69 Daytona ) i am always finding events..if one does not drive their car/cars enough join more clubs, volunteer , make more friends..there is always a few guys that want to drive…Chuck Coli
5 responses to “Keith’s Blog: My One New Year’s Resolution”
Hear, hear, Keith! I, too, want to drive more in 2025. Our local area PCA club does about 3 “fun runs” per year, usually one in the spring, an overnighter in the summer, and one in the fall. They are always well-organized and the routes usually well-chosen. They also run 4 or so DEs plus a club race each year at one of two local area tracks. I’ll manage to participate in one or two of the fun runs and, since I purchased a 1993 911 RSA former race car last year, am looking at getting back on the track and doing a couple of DEs in 2025 (no track events for me since 2019, but used to do a lot of them).
That said, most of my driving “events” are just going out for a two to three hour drive with a few buddies and their cars on a nice Sunday morning, stopping for lunch and a beer at one our usual watering holes on the way home. I find that more enjoyable than organized club fun runs or rallies. To each his own.
My Black Lab Elsa is my steadfast driving buddy. She is always up for a drive, never has a reason not to. We did a 100 mile loop in the M3 just yesterday. I’m lucky to have her as most of my friends prefer boring things like golf and other sticky-bally things more for their free time. As said above “to each his own”.
Keith,
Unrelated to this topic, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the February 2025 issue of SCM that I finished today. The coverage of the Sotheby’s Rudi Klein LA “junkyard” collection was truly phenomenal. I honestly believe that SCM is the finest American car magazine published at this point. I have been promoting to all my friends. My other favorite car magazine is the British car magazine, “Classic Cars”. SCM just keeps getting better and better. Keep up the great work, and Happy New Year!
Glenn in Brooklyn, NY.
Last year, I joined a local car club with the goal of getting out and driving more. So far, it’s been a resounding success. The club organizes well-structured runs on exciting roads. I’ve also met some great people, which is a huge bonus. But the real surprise came when we discovered some hidden gems on our drives. I’ve lived here my entire life, yet I never knew these roads existed! Since my car is a convertible, I usually drive it when the weather permits. When I’m not on a club run, I take my Siberian Husky for rides. She absolutely loves it! To keep her comfortable and safe, I use a large car blanket, a seatbelt tether, and a harness. Honestly, I don’t mind cleaning up the drool and hair afterward.
Keith, being a member of the PCA, ( 88 Carrera Cab & 2004 C4S Cab) Mid Atlantic British Car Club( 60 MGA Twin Cam) FCA ( 69 Daytona ) i am always finding events..if one does not drive their car/cars enough join more clubs, volunteer , make more friends..there is always a few guys that want to drive…Chuck Coli