Each September, the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon puts on the “Red Duetto Tour.” Hosted by Fred and Lisa McNabb, the entry requirements are simple: You must be driving a 1966-69 “longtail” Alfa spider, and it has to be red. Before I bought my red Duetto, I recall asking Fred if […]
Keith Martin
Keith’s Blog: Walking through Automotive History
I spent Saturday sauntering around the 43rd Annual All British Field Meet at Portland International Raceway. More than 800 British cars were on display. My ride out represented a mix of old and new. SCMer Dave Stewart picked me up in his lovely dark blue MGA Twin Cam, but he […]
Keith’s Blog: Should You Sell Your Kid’s Car?
Last week I sold our 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce. I told my son Bradley, and he said, “Dad, you sold MY car.” It’s been a tough year for his budding collection. Earlier, we sold the eponymous Bradley GT. He didn’t mind that because, as he said on a […]
Keith’s Blog: Why I’m Selling the Sprint
“I know Keith’s 1958 Sprint Veloce in and out, I have spent a lot of time sorting it out and a few memorable moments driving it on my test loop. I think it’s the Crown of Keith’s Alfa collection. When he asked me which Alfa he should sell, I never […]
Keith’s Blog: The SCM 1958 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce “Confortevole” is about to hit Bring A Trailer!
Watch your inbox. The SCM 1958 Sprint Veloce “Confortevole” will be on Bring A Trailer this week. As soon as the auction goes lives, we’ll send you an email. It seems that the entire BAT team was in Monterey last week, “watching the market unfold before their eyes.” I can’t […]
Keith’s Blog: The SCM 1958 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce “Confortevole” is on Bring A Trailer!
The SCM 1958 Sprint Veloce “Confortevole” is now on BAT! This is a numbers-matching, tour-ready 1958 Alfa 750 Series Sprint Veloce “Confortevole.” It is one of 150 made. Watch Bring A Trailer and the Avant Garde Collection. It took me 15 years to find this car and another five years […]
Keith’s Blog: A Cat Peed in My Sleeping Bag – More Tales of Rubber Chicken Racing
It was the fall of 1969. After spending a year after high school working part-time as a mechanic with Rubber Chicken Racing, I headed to Portland, OR, from San Francisco to attend Reed College. During my first couple of weeks at Reed, there were SCCA regional races at Portland International […]
Keith’s Blog: More Thoughts on the SCM 1000 — From a First Timer
I’ve been driving sports cars and going on road trips since 1966. I sometimes forget what it’s like for someone to go on a road trip in an old car. It’s sensory overload in so many ways. In an old car, you are not passing through the landscape, you’re part […]
Keith’s Blog: The Second SCM 1000 is History!
One thousand miles and two thousand great conversations. The second annual SCM 1000 is now a part of the magazine’s history. Last week, 82 enthusiasts in 42 cars drove 1,000 miles in four days. They explored nooks and crannies of Oregon that are well off the beaten path. However, as […]
Keith’s Blog: The SCM 1000 is Underway!
The SCM 1000 kicked off on Sunday after with a Cars in the Park Event at the Portland Art Museum. Tour participants showed off their cars to Portland’s many vintage car enthusiasts. Portlanders are used to SCM parking flights of amazing cars outside of the Portland Art Museum. We […]