Blogs
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Guest Blog: 2016 Portland Urban Safari
The idea of the 8th Portland Urban Safari brought to mind the Monty Python sketch, “Climbing the North Face of the Uxbridge Road,” where four intrepid lads claw their way horizontally up a suburban London high street, roped together and driving pitons between sidewalk slabs. But the drive through Portland, Oregon’s unpaved byways always takes…
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EURO Auto Festival
Every gathering of car owners is different. They range from the rarified atmosphere of Pebble Beach, to the chaotic exuberance of Concorso Italiano, to the “run-what-you-brung” of a local Cars and Coffee. I’ve been trying to get to the EURO Auto Festival for a decade. Founder and executive director Paul Ianuario and I have worked together…
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Jim’s Blog: I Want a Model T
Wanting a Model T in this day and age doesn’t really make much sense. But who says car people have to be reasonable? Here’s the thing: I drive a comfortable, connected, safe, brand-new GMC truck every day. It’s perfectly suited to life in the real world — the world full of cell phones, cup holders, and…
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Roadside Repairs to the D90
It’s been awhile since I’ve found myself on the side of the road — and on my back under a disabled classic. When I found out that Timberline Lodge, on Oregon’s Mount Hood, was hosting an annual “Comedy Night” I thought the D90 would be the perfect rig to get me there. My co-host of…
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The Atlanta Concours Scores with Million Dollar Maserati
While 100-mph hurricane winds lashed the eastern seaboard, just 300 miles away 200 classic cars sat serenely on the 18th Fairway of the Chateau Elan Golf Course in Braselton, GA. For the week leading up to the inaugural Atlanta Concours d’Elegance, I anxiously checked the forecast, watching as Hurricane Matthew moved inexorably north and west.…
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Three Cars in the Shop; Five in the Garage
The classic-car touring frenzy of August and September has come to an end. As the temperatures drop, it’s time to assess the condition of the cars in the SCM collection. We’ll perform automotive triage to decide which cars need attention right now — and which can wait their turn. Three of the SCM cars are…
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21st Oregon Festival of Cars
Great car shows don’t happen by accident. The ingredients that go into a successful car event are similar all over the world. You need a good location, great cars and a thoughtful, hard-working team to pull it all together. Bend, Oregon is located 162 miles south and east of Portland, Oregon. With a population of…
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Wallowing in Vintage Cars
I’ve been an Alfa Pig this past week, wallowing in a twin-cam world of twisting roads and five-speed gearboxes. Last Thursday, the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon held their annual Red Duetto Tour. Organized by Fred and Lisa McNabb, participation is limited to long-tail Alfas (1966-69) painted red. If you own a blue Duetto, you’re…
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An Afternoon in Sports Car Paradise
For more than 20 years, enthusiast Ken Ivey and his wife Bernice have hosted an informal gathering of car fanatics at their home in Aurora, Oregon, just south of Portland. Ken, a long-time 289 Cobra owner, recently exchanged his car for a Ferrari 246 GTS — and a completely different driving experience. I sit with…
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Judging Steam Cars and Improbable Coachwork
The French just do things differently. This is my third year as a judge at the Richard Mille Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours d’Elegance, and it is a delight to be back. By now I have my routine. Fly overnight from Portland on Wednesday, and arrive at Charles De Gaulle Airport early on Thursday. Check…