It’s a rite of passage that we’ve all experienced. The first time we were behind the wheel of a car, started the engine and actually drove the machine. For most of us, that moment is lost to time and captured only by our memories. However, it today’s world of smart […]
Author: Keith Martin
Raising the SCM Family
I’ve raised a family of three over the past 30 years. They include my daughter, Alexandra, 26, my son Bradley, 10, and Sports Car Market, which is nearly full-grown at 30. Just as I’ve watched Alex and Bradley mature and develop, I’ve seen SCM go from a little black-and-white newsletter […]
Keith’s Blog: Bob Lutz Says Driving a Car is on the Way Out
I’ve known Bob Lutz (“Maximum Bob”) for more than 20 years. I served on his long-range planning committee when he was at General Motors. I’ve also been on several new car launches and several classic car events with him. His motto: “Often wrong, but never in doubt.” That approach is […]
Keith’s Blog: 500 Classics Come to Hilton Head
This was my fourth year at the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance, at Hilton Head, SC. Each year, it continues to develop and grow in size and quality. Hilton Head now resides comfortably in the top tier of vintage car events. It’s more than just a car show. The official name […]
Keith’s Blog: Keith Martin, Car Schlepper
It’s been a busy week at SCM World Headquarters. Oregon is having its annual days of fall sunshine, with temperatures in the mid-70s. The leaves are turning and it’s a perfect time to enjoy sports cars. It’s also great weather to run them back and forth to repair shops. The […]
Keith’s Blog: 22nd Annual European Auto Festival Features VW
Last Saturday I tried to give away a free subscription to SCM, but found no takers. Volkswagen was the featured marque at the 22nd Annual European Auto Festival. A Bradley GT, which is a VW-based kit car, is arguably the most famous (or infamous) car in the SCM Collection. I […]
The Ultimate GTV is a 911
Our old cars haven’t changed in the past 30 years. What has changed is the world around them. In 1988, when we produced the first issue of The Alfa Romeo Market Letter on a mimeograph machine, our 1967 GTV would have been 21 years old. Most GTVs in 1988 were […]
Keith’s Blog: Let Them Sit in Your Car
You’ve probably read the same things I have. “Kids don’t care about cars.” That’s just not true. While young people today have many more options for social interaction than we did when growing up, they still love cars. I recently spent a weekend with a McLaren 750S Spider. I’ll share […]
Keith’s Blog: My Old Cars Are Wearing Me Out
I take pretty good care of my old cars. I keep them in top shape. When something breaks, I try to get it fixed right away. They are stored in a climate-controlled garage at SCM World Headquarters. Despite all this, after an active summer, they all seem to need attention […]
Keith’s Blog: Atlanta Concours
At 6 am, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is already bustling. I’ve just arrived here after an hour drive from Chateau Elan Winery and Resort, where the 2nd Annual Atlanta Concours d’Elegance was held. I’m waiting for a 9:45 a.m. non-stop flight to Portland, and I finally have a chance […]