There was a time in the late ‘80s when I was gainfully unemployed.
I had left my job as Sales Manager at Ron Tonkin Grand Turismo and decided to make my living buying, fixing up and selling Alfa Romeos. At that time there was no shortage of non-running but not-yet-decrepit Alfas from the ‘70s lurking in garages and fields around the Pacific Northwest.
My specialty was to run ads in the “Nickel Ads” saying something like, “Are you tired of Read More
Over 100 classic cars were on display at the Cobble Beach Golf Link Resort on September 14 and 15 for the 7th Annual Cobble Beach Concours Weekend. Top honors of the event went to Robert S. Jepson, Jr’s 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet.
The car was originally built for Max Gumpel — a Swedish Olympian swimmer who won medals for his country in the 1912 and 1920 Olympics. The Norrmalm body, built in Stockholm, featured a siren, a unique mascot Read More
Next year’s SCM 1000 is beginning to shape up. Plans include visiting Mt. St. Helens as well as the stunning Oregon Coast — areas we haven’t explored in the previous two tours.
The dates are July 12-16, 2020. Once again, the tour will begin with participants’ cars on display in front of the Portland Art Museum in downtown Portland, just one block from the host Heathman Hotel.
One of the unique features of the SCM 1000 is its starting from Read More
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 I would be allowed to go on the tour if I bought a Duetto of a different color. “Yes, of course” he replied. “You would be allowed but your Read More
Fred and Sue Leydorf’s 1954 Ferrari 375 MM took Best in Show Foreign at the 2019 Concours of America. They Leydorfs have owned the car since 1969 — it’s one of just six with a low body design, and it’s the only one to feature a leather interior.
Best in Show American went to a 1938 Graham 97 presented by Bill Johnston and Ron Elenbaas. The car is one of two Saoutchik-bodied supercharged Grahams, and was displayed at at Read More
A Vector W8 wins best in class at the Concours of America 2019:
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 was wearing a Tesla jacket. His daily driver is a Tesla Model S.
This was my first time in a convertible sports car in months, and it was good to Read More
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 YouTube video, “This is a terrible, terrible car.”
Not long after that we sold his 1959 Bugeye Sprite. This situation was a little tougher. He was with me when I Read More
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