One year ago, my 12-year-old son Bradley and I were getting ready for a Caribbean cruise.
We didn’t think twice about the flights from Portland, OR, to Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, FL. The lines at check-in didn’t faze us, nor did the wait to get through security.
While short, the cruise on the Royal Caribbean “Ovation of the Seas” was a welcome respite from the darkness of winter.
Bradley likes “free-ranging” on a cruise ship, taking advantage of rock climbing, surfing classes and other opportunities. A quick run to the midnight chocolate buffet is a requisite.
Little did we know this would be our last cruise for the foreseeable future.
The Scottsdale auctions came and went. Everything seemed normal and predictable. Until March, when everything came to a halt.
And then there were none
The past nine months have seen the biggest change in daily life that I have ever experienced. In the car world, nearly every event has been canceled or postponed.
There was no Monterey Car Week this year, so for the first time in 33 years, no SCM in Monterey.
Like all of us, SCM had to pivot and adapt to this new reality. The car community continues to be vibrant and active, and SCM continues to be its voice.
As there were fewer auctions to report on, we created a new section, “The Road Forward.” In it we presented perspectives from members of the hobby about how they were weathering the storm and preparing to move ahead.
As the world has changed and evolved in the wake of the pandemic these past nine months, so has SCM.
Changing with the times
With more auction results once again competing for space between the covers, we have folded the features you liked best from “The Road Forward” into our new “back of the book” section.
The industry roundtables with provocative questions will continue. This month we are asking land-based auction companies what they have learned and how they are adapting to presenting online sales. Next month we will ask the same of the new online-only companies that are emerging.
Most popular have been our “Shootout” series, in which marque experts pick best buys from recent decades. There is a wonderful world of fully depreciated modern sports cars out there, and we will help direct you to the best models.
SCM will evolve in other ways as well. To bring you a variety of voices, we are shuffling our lineup of columnists, with different voices presenting their informed opinions each month. This month our English correspondent Paul Hardiman reports on developments in the U.K. that make it possible to legalize continuation cars for street use. If you have been hankering to drive your continuation DB4GT as a daily commuter, he explains how that can come to pass.
Welcome back
Part of SCM’s continued evolution is welcoming back key members from our past. Art Director Kirsten Hegg was first here in 2003. She joins Art Director Dave Tomaro. They make a formidable team to brighten and freshen SCM without losing its traditional appearance.
Jeff Sabatini has returned as Executive Editor, formerly here from 2003 to 2005. I first met Jeff when he was the editor for my weekly column in AutoWeek in 2000. After SCM, Jeff had stints as an Automobiles contributor at The New York Times, car critic at The Wall Street Journal, editor at AOL Autos/Autoblog and features editor at Car and Driver.
SCM contributor Ken Gross commented, “I have known Jeff for many years. He is a consummate professional and it is great to see him back at SCM.”
It’s good to have a car guy at the helm. Jeff and the staff are already concocting ways to bring you even more entertainment and information in the issues ahead.
A shifting issue
Even during the lockdown, I have continued to shuffle my collection. While I am diligently in rehab every day, I am facing the reality that I may not be able to safely operate a clutch again.
One option might be to install a hand-clutch, operated by a button on the shift lever, on my Junior Zagato. If you know of a resource, please contact me at [email protected].
Meanwhile, I am discovering the joys of automatic sports cars — the SCM garage now houses our 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 coupe and our original-paint 1965 Volvo 122S.
Despite the lockdown, Bradley and I have managed two road trips to Montana in our 2004 Mercedes SL55 AMG, covering more than 4,500 miles in comfort and at speed.
One last thing
With this issue, we are announcing the SCM 1000 for 2021 is a go. See details on p. 149 or at www.scm1000.com.
Won’t it be nice to see 45 classic cars on the road this coming July?
We are looking forward to 2021. While the road ahead is not yet clear, it never entirely is. We know there will be a path forward for the collector-car community. SCM will continue to be the hub, sharing ideas and thoughts among us all. Our new normal is arriving, and we are pleased to have you there with us as a part of it. ♦