RollsRoyceAnnualMeeting

This year Chicago had the honor to host the Rolls-Royce Owner's Club (RROC) Annual Meeting in Oakbrook, Illinois. This is quite an honor for us here in the Chicagoland area. The tradition of the RROC it to select the finest areas across the country to host its annual meetings.

The Rolls-Royce Owners Club is made up of Regions according to clusters of owners. In my case I belong to the Lake Michigan Region which include; Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The regions are listed on the RROC Website http://www.rroc.org/

What makes the Annual Meeting so special is that you have the opportunity to see beautiful Rolls-Royces and Bentleys from all over the country. Most of these fine vehicles are driven. Some come from as far as California and New York. A few of the very special vehicles are "flat bedded" to the site. These vehicles are classified as "show cars" and have to be in mint condition. Every nook and cranny of these beauties is scrutinized from top to bottom.

All of these cars are on display for the week at the Oakbrook Polo Club. While the cars are on display guests and members walk around and admire these beauties.

The week is filled with events for members to do while they are here in Chicago. The registration and events headquarters was at the Marriott Resort in Oakbrook. From here you set your schedule for the events that you wanted to do. Of course most of the people are from out of town so they signed up for the Frank Lloyd Wright tours in Oak Park, the architectural tours in Chicago, and the various excursions to the major museums in Chicago.

There was one very special event. This was a day excursion to Barrington Hills, Illinois to visit the home of Jasper Sanfilipo. This is no ordinary home. It is a vast estate with a hugh 44,00 sq. ft. mansion right in the center. In this vast complex is nothing short of a theatre, vast guestrooms, chambers, music rooms and much more.

The music room is one entire wing of the house and at one end of it is a stage with a grand theater organ in the center. There was even a birdcage elevator to take you up to the balcony. The room is four stories tall and you can go behind the curtain to all the levels and observe the pipes and other instruments that provide for the grand sound that you hear coming from the organ.

After the tour of the mansion you then take a shuttle bus to yet another vast structure on the grounds. It is so vast that in it are Rail Road Trains and Electrical Plant generators! As you walk into the grand entry there stands to your right a 45 ft. Victorian clock tower. The room is set with tables all to the front of you. All around you are a series of music machines with figures in front that move and play along with the music. All of the instruments are from Europe and many are over 100 years old. Every one of them is in full operation and perfectly resorted, not a scratch anywhere.

The highlight of the evening was after dinner, which was lavishly served to us in the center area near the clock tower. At the back of the room was a large faced structure. At the top of the façade was the name Eden Palaise. It was beautifully carved and decorated. Paintings and figurines were everywhere to be seen. When you approached the center of it there were doors that opened and let you through. On the other side was a full scale carousel replete with horses, coaches, and assorted figures! It looked as though it was brand new. Mr. Sanfilipo had found it and brought it back to Barrington Hills, and had it fully restored. All of us were asked to get on, as Mr. Sanfilipo turned on the carousel and we road around. It was the grand finale of the evening. Afterwards we gently alighted and headed back to your coach line busses and headed back to the hotel. A truly wonderful day.

Saturday, July 22nd was the Grand Concourse where all of the Rolls-Royces and Bentleys were judged. The cars were ranked according to type, model, and year. The First Place winners were given there awards and sent to the finals that took place after the Black Tie dinner that evening.

At 6:00 PM the Black Tie reception commenced at the hotel and everyone looked their best. At 7:00 PM the Ballroom doors opened and we sat at our table for dinner. The dinner was excellent and the atmosphere was festive. Everyone was talking Rolls-Royce! After dinner the awards were give out. Then after the awards all the first place winners were asked to exit and line up their cars outside at the portico of the hotel. All of us adjourned the meal and followed.

At the portico the first place winners were driven up one by one as they stopped and were handed their award. Finally, at the end came the Best Of Show. With great fanfare everyone applauded as the trophy was awarded. An end to a wonderful week for the Rolls-Royce Owner's Club.