Keith Martin

I was flipping through a boating magazine last year, looking for new ways to squander my wealth. I came across a small article noting that the only functioning PT boat in the world was based in Portland, and that its supporters were offering rides on the boat in exchange for a modest donation. I did…

Sometimes You Just Need a Break From Sports Cars I arrived back in Portland from a quick two days in Maranello on Sunday, October 6. The next morning at 6 a.m., I was throwing recovery gear into the back of our trusty RHD 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi. Snatch blocks, recovery strap, winch extender, tree…

Just a week ago we were rolling along on the Colorado Grand, surrounded by millions of dollars of exquisite machinery. The past weekend was a little different. Roger Dilts, the president of the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon, hosted the annual “President’s Tour,” a half-day event that sends those who love to drive down scenic…

I’m just back from four days and 1,000 miles of spectacular vintage motoring. The next issue of SCM will feature my full story on the Colorado Grand — along with Colin Comer’s thoughts on driving Chuck Wegner’s 250 GT TdF (a car he once owned) — but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite images…

We’re beginning the Colorado Grand today, a four-day, 1000-mile romp through some of the most breathtaking mountains and plains in the U.S. This will be my fifth time on the Grand, and I’m looking forward to it as an escape from the ordinary, and a chance to see old friends. What better way to get…

I’m in one of the conference rooms at LeMay — America’s Car Museum, waiting for a meeting of the marketing committee of the Board of Trustees, of which I am a member. I’ve been involved with the museum in a variety of ways since its first public meetings over a decade ago. It has been…

The Monday after Monterey Classic Car Week feels like a ceasefire. During the previous five days, over $300m cars had been hammered sold – and those are only the public transactions. (We’ll have complete coverage in the next issue of Sports Car Market.) But on Monday, all was quiet. Our favorite breakfast place in Carmel,…

The Monday after Classic Car Week in Monterey is strangely quiet. No herds of Lamborghini  Aventadors pushing their way through traffic. All the real Cobras are gone; you know if you see one today it’s a Tupperware special. I’m staying on through Thursday, to participate in the BMW CCA annual convention, Oktoberfest. Wendie drove our…

It was over a year ago that we persuaded SCMer Ned Scudder to part with his beloved Turkis-colored 1972 2002 tii. And on Wednesday, Wendie is planning to drive it from Portland to Monterey. But the path from acquisition to “in service” hasn’t been easy or short. The car was fundamentally sound, with a fresh…

In all the years I’ve had Alfas, I’ve never driven one to a National Convention held anywhere other than Portland. When it was announced that this years’ convention would be in Santa Rosa, CA  (55 miles north of San Francisco), I thought about going. When I was asked to be the emcee of the Concorso…