I’m just back from five days in the Sonoran desert.
My time there was a whirlwind of visiting auctions, receptions, participating in seminars and reconnecting with friends old and new.
This week reinforced my belief that the primary secret sauce of land auctions is the social opportunities they provide. They are a car-collector magnet, bringing people with common interests from all walks of life and from locations around the world.
An online auction offers other advantages, but it can never match the face time a real-time land auction provides.
I was personally energized by the enthusiasm of everyone I met. And even though overall the market was “soft,” nonetheless thousands of cars changed hands for millions of dollars.
The market may go up and down, but the collecting and the people involved with it goes on.
Drew Alcazar of Russo and Steele
Matt Crandall of the Avant-Garde Collection in Portland. Purveyors of choice for the SCM collection.
Gordon McCall of the Motorworks Revival
The Most Excellent SCM Team
Goodies at Gooding
Christine Reed of Timeless Vehicles
With Maestro Osborne
McKeel Hagerty
Robb Sass of Panorama and Deb Stern of Drive Torward a Cure
Peter Kumar, Wayne Carini and Mark Hyman
Shelby Myers of RM/Sothebys
SCM Associate Publisher Erin Olson
Bob Sellers of Reliable Transport
King of the Underdogs SCM Analyst B. Mitchell Carlson
Leake
Muffy Bennett of Leake
SCMer and friend Bruce McCaw
Carolyn Cassini of Fantasy Junction
Gooding
Josephine Alcazar of Russo and Steele
Colin Comer
SCM Insider Seminar
Swag for Insider Seminar Participants
Bruce Trenery teaching me his car-selling secrets
Donnie Gould of RM/ Sothebys
Bonhams
Steve Serio, Carl Bomstead and Donald Osborne at the SCM Insider’s Seminar
Alfa Montreal
Putnam Leasing Star Karen Sundstrom
Keith Martin
Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 40 years. As a writer, publisher, television commentator and enthusiast, he is constantly on the go, meeting collectors and getting involved in their activities throughout the world. He is the founder and publisher of the monthly Sports Car Market, now in its 37th year. Keith has 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.
3 responses to “Keith’s Blog: Scottsdale — It’s the People, Not the Cars”
Muffy Bennett
Keith, a heartfelt thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to drop by Leake’s inaugural Scottsdale auction! We were truly honored you (and key members of your SCM team) came by, and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thomas Taylor
Outstanding. You keep some good and rare company, Keith!
Juan Robbin
Well said Keith! Nice to see the photos of you out and about enjoying your passion as well as the wonderful people at all of the events.
3 responses to “Keith’s Blog: Scottsdale — It’s the People, Not the Cars”
Keith, a heartfelt thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to drop by Leake’s inaugural Scottsdale auction! We were truly honored you (and key members of your SCM team) came by, and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Outstanding. You keep some good and rare company, Keith!
Well said Keith! Nice to see the photos of you out and about enjoying your passion as well as the wonderful people at all of the events.