Keith Martin

The Portland Art Museum has never looked so good. All 16 cars for the Allure of the Automobile have been moved from their transports into the museum, and even the august New York Times took notice.SCM has been very involved with helping the museum meet and exceed its $700,000 fundraising goal, and SCMers have been…

‘Tis the season to be rambling and rumbling, and Team SCM in all its various guises is on the road. Two weekends ago, we joined the Pacific Coast Rover Club for their annual Memorial Day outing in Central Oregon. Just getting there proved more exciting that we thought it would be – Wendie, her 17-year-old…

We continue the rush to get five SCM vehicles ready for two events happening over the next 10 days. The 2006 Lotus Elise and the 2000 Boxster S have to be ready to launch on this Thursday, heading out in the afternoon to meet everyone in Eugene, Oregon. It’s the start of the 1,000-mile Oregon…

While the multi-million dollar auction sales make exciting reading, it’s more prosaic stuff that’s keeping the SCM car teams busy this week. SCM “Legal Files” columnist Draneas took the burgundy MG for a couple of days and came back with this report: It drives pretty good although not as good as the GT. Here is…

We’re looking for a couple of drivers to pilot two of our 1974 MGs from the MGA/B National Convention in Reno, back to Portland. The cars would be available as of Monday night, June 13 or Tuesday morning, June 14. SCM will pay for your gas and publish the story of your trip in our…

Portland car season is heating up, and the pace of car repairs and refurbishments at SCM proves it. SCM staffers Chad Tyson and Tony Piff have been running a non-stop MGB shuttle program, running the three cars between the SCM Garage,  Guy’s Interior Restorations (for new seat cushions, new dash pads), and Harold’s Auto Service…

This is the season. As the weather continues to improve, enthusiasts begin bringing their winter-stored beauties out for tours, rallies, and shows. Wendie and I spent a delightful four days on the California Mille last week, starting in front of the tony Fairmont Hotel. Organizer Martin Swig and sponsor Chopard graciously provided us with a…

It’s been a week of bifurcations: making assignments for the next issues of CM and SCM on one hand, sheparding the three MGs from shop to DMV to garage on the other; preparing for the California Mille (we’ll be on it when you read this, in a 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta spider), and pushing forward…

Sitting in the airport at Palm Springs, waiting for my flight back home to Portland.  Forecast here is a sunny 93 degrees today—I’m afraid to look at the weather report for Rainland. I came down to Palm Springs yesterday, flying in Lear-jet luxury, courtesy of Portland Art Museum supporters Eric and Ronna Hoffman. Sports Car…

Charlotte Autofair, The B Team Update and Alex Goes Off-Road Just back from spending a weekend shooting four more episodes of “What’s My Car Worth” at the Charlotte Autofair in North Carolina. I was joined by dealers Peter Klute and Mark Hyman, and Auctions America CEO Donnie Gould. The three circled the swap meet looking…