rolls-royce owners’ club • texas region newsletter ...bring your bentley and/or rolls-royce and...

Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club • Texas Region Newsletter • Summer 2018

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Summer 2018 • The Lone Star Lady 3

Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club – Texas Region2018 Officers & Directors

Chair: Phillip ReeseP.O. Box 1705 • Austin, TX 78767-1705512-291-1428 • e-mail: [email protected]

Secretary: Bill Rasco104 Ivy Lane • San Antonio, TX 778209210-828-6188 • e-mail: [email protected]

Treasurer: Ken Harris467 Scenic Valley Rd. • Kerrville, TX 78028830-896-9861 • e-mail: [email protected]

Activities Chairman: Shawn Behrens200 Sagecrest Dr • Hollywood Park, TX 78232210-884-4371 • e-mail: [email protected]

Membership: Sneed Adams22906 Silent Spring Creek Ct. • Katy, TX 77450281-787-3160 • e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Judge: Robert Ober22920 Mangrove Drive • San Antonio, TX 78260210-859-8723• e-mail: [email protected]

Technical Chairman: Dale Clark23855 Northcrest Trail • New Caney 77357281-689-5964 • e-mail: [email protected]

Directors:Exp. 12/31/18: Al Briseno10205 Oasis Drive Suite 320 • San Antonio, TX 78216210-340-6835 • e-mail: [email protected]

Exp. 12/31/19: Cathie Mouton1860 I-10 South • Beaumont, TX 77707409-866-9339 • e-mail: [email protected]

Exp. 12/31/17: David Krazer11273 Beeville Dr. • Frisco, TX 75035469-247-6990 • e-mail: [email protected]

Editor: Steve Krazer 3026 Ricsan Road • Abilene 79605 • 325-677-7755Fax: 325-670-0566 • e-mail: [email protected]

The Lone Star Lady is published quarterly by the Texas Region of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club. The Texas Region is under the control of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club.

Deadlines for Articles & Ads: • Winter Issue: January 15 • Spring (Directory) Issue: April 15 • Summer Issue: July 15 • Fall Issue: September 15Articles and photographs can be sent via e-mail to: [email protected]

Advertising Rates: B&W advertising space is priced at $200 per page and smaller size ads are priced proportionally, e.g. 1/4 page is priced at $50.00 per edition.

The Lone Star Lady endeavors to publish accurate information. The region, its editors and officers assume no responsibility in the event of loss or damage arising from any information contained therein. Statements attributed to indi-viduals do not reflect the official policy and position of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club or the Texas Region.

Please direct any address changes to: RROC National: 191 Hempt Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 • 800-TRY-RROC

Happy 50th Anniversary

Texas Region RROC!

Summer in Texas. HOT! And the heat stays with us for a

number of months.

Summer vacations, hopefully to somewhere cooler, such as where the National RROC Meet is being hosted in August, in the beautiful, cool mornings and warm afternoons Squaw Valley CA/Lake Tahoe NV, would be ideal. There is still time to register and join us. The hosts have planned wonderful, interesting events for us, including access to several private car collections that are not open to the public.

I am attending the National RROC Event. We will be driving to and from Texas instead of flying. Our Bentleys and Rolls-Royces are wonderful long distance cruisers. Always make sure that you have your car serviced and checked before getting on the road, especially for longer distances where service may not be as easy to find. Tip: Bring your National RROC Directory with you on the trip. The directory has a wealth of contact information including experts willing to help with many specific models of Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. And, the experts may know someone who can help you whereever you may be.

Summer, as we know for us in Texas, lasts for months. September is right

around the corner. No, it will not be any cooler weather-wise. This September, as it has been for the last 27 years, the

Texas All British Car Days weekend will take place in Round Rock, just north of Austin, from Sept. 28 to 30. It is a fun, low key event with a Saturday morning drive to a Winery with lunch, afternoon Road Rallye ending at dinner. Sunday morning

is the participants choice All British Car Show. We usually have 150 British cars from Bentleys and Rolls-Royces to MGs, Triumphs, Aston-Martins, Morgans, Jaguars, etc. Please join me. I help host this event.

The election of the 2019 Texas Region RROC Board will take place before the Fall Car Clinic. If you have an interest in becoming a board member or director please let me know via email. My email is inside each issue of the Lone Star Lady. We will be voting online, and Sneed Adams, our Membership Chairman, will be sending out the notice. Also, if you have an interest in hosting an event, either local or statewide, please contact me or any local organizer.

Please mark your calendars and plan to bring your Bentley and/or Rolls-Royce and participate in the Fall Car Clinic, Friday, November 2 to Sunday, November 4. I am hosting the Fall Car Clinic in the Austin area. Texas Region Technical Chairman Dale Clark is securing a Bentley/Rolls-Royce Expert who will go over our cars, top to bottom, and let us know what, if anything, we need to have done to our cars to keep them running well and keep us safe and comfortable on the road. As usual, we will have a host hotel, meals together and an Alternate Event for those who are not interested in spending the day under and around cars. Details will follow as soon as possible via email.

As many of you know, we are fortunate to have as a Texas Region member, Peter Shavney, who is a founding member of the national Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club.

Continued on page 4...

4 The Lone Star Lady • Summer 2018

Continued from page 3...

Peter was instrumental in organizing the individuals, of which he is one, who set up the national club in May 1951. Peter is the only surviving national club founder and was the club’s first treasurer. Peter continues to give piano lessons as well as tune pianos and he continues to play with trains, be it full size or model. Peter’s mind is crisp and clear. Peter’s body sometimes gives him trouble, however, nothing too serious. Peter will celebrate his 90th birthday in October. Please join me in wishing Peter a Happy 90th Birthday! Thank you, Peter, for organizing the national Rolls-Royce

Owners’ Club to help each and every one of us who share our passion for Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. You are appreciated!

Before we know it, the heat of the summer will turn to fall and then winter. Now is the time to decide if you would like to host a Holiday Party for your area of Texas. Please let one of your local leaders or me know of your interest to host and the date or dates that would work for you to host. It would be great to have the three Holiday Parties (Austin/San Antonio, D/FW, and Houston) on different weekends so that if someone, like me, wanted to attend all three parties, they could.

Thank you for being a member of the Texas Region RROC. Thank you for all you do for the Texas Region. We all know of someone in the Texas Region who goes the “Extra Mile.” A Thank You is a wonderful thing to share.

Please maintain, service, drive and enjoy your Bentley and/or Rolls-Royce. You will smile as you drive your car and your car will thank you.

Take care and enjoy,Phillip Reese, Texas Region RROC Chairman

Coming soon to off-road near you...

The All-New Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Peter Shavney


First, the Conclusion: I don’t know when I have had a better time in recent memory.

Second, the Reason:It all started in 2013 when I found out that the next national meeting of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club (hereafter called RROC) was going to be in San Antonio which is fairly close to where I live. This would give me a good reason to take my Bentley CGTC on a road trip and see some beautiful automobiles. However, I had concerns and I decided first to go to a seminar which was hosted by the Texas Region and was held in Austin this past weekend. I felt it would give me a sense of what to expect of the RROC in general and the national event in particular. The seminar was a 2 day event where the main objective was to examine the mechanical condition of the automobiles submitted by the attendees.

Third, the Concerns:1. How welcome would a Bentley owner feel?After all, it is called the Rolls-Royce Owners Club. The bottom line is that Bentley owners are very welcome. In fact, the majority of the automobiles were Bentleys (by a slight amount - of the 19 automobiles, 10 were Bentleys). Many attendees owned a mixture of Rolls and Bentleys.

2. Are the members a bunch of stuffed shirts?Nothing could have been further from the truth. They were young and old, came from towns large and small and from all walks of life. I found myself seeking conversation with new people, instead of hanging around with a select group because of how interesting the attendees were. I imagine the 1% was well represented at the event but no one there was conspicuous about it. You could determine some who qualified by asking a simple question like “How many cars do you own?”. When they said 20 or more you knew, but I doubt you would ever find out unless you asked.

3. How would newer automobiles be received?The reason I was concerned is that the “Modern Car” section of the RROC forum is titled “Modern Cars - Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars built after 1980”. It was hard for me to imagine that a 30 year old car was modern. In any event, I can report that newer cars are well received.

As an example, several individuals thanked me for bringing my Bentley to the event. They seemed to enjoy the ones built after the turn of the century as well as the vintage ones.

4. Would I find examining vintage (by that I mean old) cars interesting?I suspected I would like it, but it turned out that I loved it. It was very interesting to see how far the automobile has come over the years. The cars were hoisted up high enough to see what problems might be lurking there. It was most entertaining to watch an owner’s face when the mechanic would explain things like the brake rods on his car were installed incorrectly. The

skill level of the mechanics was very high and their knowledge of the most intricate problems was amazing. We were able to ask questions about our cars and it was funny how one question led to another. That, by itself, was worth the time and cost.

5. Was the value received worth the time and cost?This was one of the most cost effective events that I have ever attended. The cost of the seminar was $30. This included 2 breakfasts, a lunch, 2 dinners, an examination of your automobile by a skilled mechanic and secure parking which

was manned by an off duty police officer at night. The cost of the Hotel (Homewood Suites) was $115 per night and the rooms were very nice and spacious. You would be hard pressed to find a more likable person than Phillip Reese, who headed up the event. He was tireless in his stewardship and a very high level of organization was the result.

I don’t know for sure if the national event will be as good as Texas Region’s, but it did convince me that it will be worthwhile to give it a try. I suspect that I am not the only one who would enjoy this organization and therefore I recommend that others in the forum consider membership. In addition, the national event could facilitate our getting together as some of us have suggested doing so from time to time.

Note: Tom joined RROC in 2012 and since that time his GTC has won Best in Class, Best of Show and the Royce Memorial Trophy. Its picture was on the front cover of The Flying Lady recently.

The Case for Membership in the Rolls–Royce Owners’ Club

6 The Lone Star Lady • Summer 2018 e Lone Star Lady • Winter 2018

Robert Biddle Bishop Jr. entered this world on July 24, 1938 at West Chester, Pennsylvania as the son of Robert Biddle Bishop Sr. and Charlsie Louise Eddins Bishop. He departed this earth for the streets of glory on June 16, 2018 in Sherman, Texas.

Bob developed a love of trains early on. Bid-dle was a train signal specialist. Young Bob went with dad on some trips and was allowed to ride in the cabs of these glorious steam lo-comotives. His other passion, antique British cars, developed later in life, and led to many great car club trips, the acquaintance of many mechanics (and bankers) and grease under his fingernails. It also provided the opportunity to meet many wonderful folks.

Bob was the consummate educator, and an avid prayer warrior. He invested a great deal of himself in his students at various local colleges. When someone mentioned a need in conversation, he immediately asked for details so he could pray about the situation later. He had a big heart for everyone he met.

Bob married Carol Ann Calvin while a student at the University of Maryland. The birth of David Alan Bishop and achieving a degree in electrical engineering were both notable events. The family moved to New Jersey while Bob worked at Western Electric in NYC and also achieved a masters’ degree in engineering. Then, on

to the Washington DC area where Bob enjoyed many years with the Department of Defense (mostly Navy) as an engineer, Carol

and Bob were blessed with the birth of a beautiful daughter Kathleen Marie.

This marriage ended in divorce. Bob subse-quently married Dorothy Jean Mills, a native Texan. Naturally, after retirement, they moved to Van Alstyne, Texas and have enjoyed the community and the country. Bob earned a second masters’ degree-this time Math and Computers, and taught at local colleges for many years.

Bob is survived by wife Dorothy, daughter Kathleen Bishop Murray and husband Bill, Cousin Ann Bishop Ferreria, sisters-in law Lola Mills, Lillie Dudley and husband Bill, Alice Gore and by Carol Bove, the mother of his children.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his son David Alan Bishop, his brother Charlie, and brother-in-law Norman Gore.

Donations may be made to the Ameri-can Heart Association, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 78851, Phoenix, AZ 85062-8851 or to the Building Fund, First Baptist Church, Van Alstyne, PO Box 447, 75495 or to a charity of your choice.

Bob Bishop and the Van Alstyne Car ShowArticle and Photos By Michael Davis

Our longtime member, Bob Bishop, passed away June 16th and he is missed. He was passionate about his community and our club. One of his projects was heading the annual July car show in Van Alstyne, TX, where he lived, benefiting the local library.

At Bob’s memorial service a couple of weeks ago, the director of the library, Judy Kimzie, told the club members that the 2018 show would be held on July 7th and in memory of Bob.

I spoke with Phillip Reese, our Texas Region Chairman, and

told him I would like to be a sponsor of the show in the name of the Texas Region RROC and in memory of Bob Bishop. Phillip agreed.Saturday, July 7th, the weather cooperated and the show started with a free breakfast at the Van Alstyne Community Center. After registration, we drove two blocks to a local park where the show was held. Dan Harrison came from Denton with his 2013 Bentley Mulsane and I drove my 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II. A neighbor of the Bishops brought Bob’s 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II.

There was a good turnout for the show with all types of cars. Dan and I were fortunate to get parked in the shade where we spent the day in relative comfort. All in all a good day to remember Bob Bishop and his contributions to the Texas Region and to the Van Alstyne community and library.

In Memorium – Bob Bishop


Margarita WilsonMargarita J. Scatori Wilson, RN, LCSW, CCDC, MSN, and mother to all, age 89, passed away June 14, 2018, her soul peacefully spirited off to join her people in God’s world and beyond.

A renaissance woman, she performed in community theater, cultivated beautiful gar-dens, read voraciously, enjoyed painting, rescued numerous cats and dogs, loved bird watching, was athletic and active in many sports, held membership in the Texas Rolls- Royce Club, passionate about dancing, a consummate puzzler and games woman, volunteered unceasingly at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension before moving to Nashville, and most importantly, she thrived on Bridge.

At the forefront of Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation, Margarita functioned in various capacities as a licensed social worker, a certified chemical dependency counselor, a certified cognitive therapist, and a Masters level psychiatric nurse. She was honored by the State of Kentucky as a Kentucky Colonel for her work in substance abuse educa-tion and rehabilitation. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing, and volunteered with the Red Cross.

Margarita was a legacy, not only for her immediate family, but for those who knew her. Her husband, Lejeune “Rabbit” Wilson, preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughters, Margye Solomon (Norman), Stephanie Reeves (Bob Hill), Donicé Kaufman Stewart (Kip), and Carolyn Benick Brown (Matthew); her step-daughters, Susan Ruth (Edward), Janet Postlewaite (Frank), and Patricia Duke (Mark); thirteen grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margarita was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and will be missed.

I N M E M O R I U M


This whole thing started when our Mercedes ML430 SUV of 14 years was rear ended and subsequently totaled. We needed something quickly so we purchased a used

Lexus with the thought of maybe getting something else later. So we tried Mercedes, Porsche, Jaguar and other SUVs. Later we did consider the Rolls-Royce Cullinan but it was considerably larger and much more expensive. When the Bentayga W12 was unveiled in Houston, my wife and I attended the event and were delighted with the design. Later we demoed a couple of Bentaygas and were also delighted with the ride. It was expensive but what the hell,”Life is short and so am I” and therefore we ordered a V12 Bentayga.

Around that time the V8 model was announced, but there were few details about it. We did know that other Bentley V8 models were good performers, were less expensive and got 40% better gas mileage which gives the car much better range. As time marched on I kept thinking “Wow, I could have had a V8” and subsequently canceled the W12. The dealer estimated that the difference in price between the W12 and V8 would be about $14,000. However when the V8 price list was released the difference was a whopping $64,100 so we ordered the V8. Wow, I am certainly glad that we are getting a V8 instead. Besides the W12 and V8 models there is a Mulliner model which is $102,700 more expensive than the V8. The base price with delivery for the V8, W12 and Mulliner is $167,725, $231,825 and $270,425 respectively. In the end our Bentayga’s total price, fairly tricked out, was less than the W12 base price by about $20,000.

Before we ordered the W12 I had configured many Bentaygas on the Bentley website and had become fairly knowledgeable about

I CouldHave Had

a

V8(Bentayga)

by Tom Koger


the many options that are available. For the V8 there are 92 exterior color choices. The interior has 14 main hide color choices and 14 secondary hide color choices. There are 5 color split choices.

This varies the area of the primary hide relative to the secondary hide. That is you can select to have more of the primary hide area which will result in less secondary hide area. In addition there are 9 veneer choices and 19 interior detail choices.

Each model has its own standard features and options of which the V8 has some limitations. The option limitation on the V8 was not a problem for us. There are 82 options for the V8. Important - There is one option called the “Bentley Dynamic Ride” which is standard on the W12 and Mulliner but not on the V8 model. It is described as an active body control suspension system that incorporates electrically controlled active anti-roll bars, powered by a 48 volt electrical system and costs $5,235. So if you demo a W12 then purchase the V8 without this option, you likely will not get the same driving experience.

It would be impractical to list all of our choices but we can review the options called “Specifications” which are the ones that require a fair amount of research:• Front Seat Comfort Specification - Ventilation, Massage, Adjusts cushions and Backrest bolsters, Winged comfort headrests and Electric seat belt height adjustment.• City Specification - Park assist, Pedestrian warning, Top view camera, Traffic sign recognition and City safeguard.• Touring Specification - Adaptive cruise control, Head-up display, Lane assist, Traffic assist and Night vision.• Sunshine Specification - Electrically operated blinds for the rear side windows and double sun visors.

For those of you who know Debbie and me, we selected the same color combination that we have on our Bentley GTC , i.e. Fountain Blue exterior, Linen primary hide, Imperial Blue secondary hide with a color split B and Burl Walnut veneer. And yes, there will be an Apple sticker on the left rear taillight.


by Norman Fleeman

Fonda and I had been looking to purchase a PMC. While sitting at our ranch outside of Datil NM, on a rainy day, we found our Beauty... a 1992 Silver Spur II chassis # NAN-44392. She was built in Crewe England. Her Port of entry was New York. We purchased her over the phone and immediately joined the RROC. We then had her shipped to Simon Curzon for inspection and any minor adjustments she might need.

The Silver Spur II was first introduced at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor show. There were only 1658 built from 1989 to 1993. The Spur is powered by a 6.75 “l40” V8 engine.

Nigel Blackmore, a Pittsburgh Philanthropist, commis-sioned the Silver Spur for the Mellon Estate. We purchased her in 2012... the same year we joined the RROC. After attending our first regional meet in San Antonio, we have been hooked on Rolls-Royces, Bentleys... and with all its wonderful members we have met... the RROC.

Nigel Blackmore informed us about the history of the car. The original owner was Paul Mellon – “Americas most Famous Philanthropist.” Paul was Knighted to the Honorable Order of the British Empire in 1974 and designated “Exemplar of Racing.” Mr. Mellon bequeathed this Silver Spur II to his wife, Rachel Lambert Mellon, who is known as “Bunny Mellon”. “Bunny” was a renowned Horticulturist. She was responsible for the White House Rose Garden.

From Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip to close friends Jackie Kennedy, I.M. Pei and Elizabeth Taylor are only a few of those who visited Oak Springs Farms and Stables. Many cherished memories of Bunny Mellon whose support of local activities are still in the thoughts of those she touched.

At the meet in Seven Springs one of the bellman recognized the car and told us stories of Bunny Mellon. He said she vis-ited the resort many times and told us how wonderful it was to see the car again. Of course, we took him for a ride... he had never ridden in the vehicle. That was a fun experience for all of us. We then checked into the same suite that Bunny always stayed in at Seven Springs. What a real treat that was!

We are now proud owners of a 2000 Bentley Arnage, a 2000 Seraph and a 1985 Corniche. Each car has its own unique style. They are much more than cars... they are pure love and joy.

We named the Silver Spur “Bunny” in honor of the original owner Bunny Mellon. So far, Bunny has received 3 National Concours awards. We are planning to show her at the 2018 National Meet in Lake Tahoe.

“There is life in the fast lane, life in the slow lane, and then there’s life in the Rolls-Royce lane. That’s a life all its own, as driving a Rolls–Royce lifts one from the mundane to the more ethereal plains of motordom.” – George Moore, Indystar.com

May I introduce you to... Bunny

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Twice Told TalesOnce upon a time in the Wild West, when the air departs your thing that meets the road....

As you may recall, there was a note in the Lone Star Lady and the Flying Lady about a certain 2006 Bentley CFS’s disastrous encoun-ter with the New Mexico oil patch’s interpretation of a highway masquerading as a moonscape during the Texas Region’s critically acclaimed Wild West Winter Tour.

Just a short technical note as a follow up for Ye Ole Car Nuts. This is all about hitting a pothole the size of the impact crater Hellas Planitia on Mars at sub light speed on a roadway passing through Flanders Fields of Fracking New Mexico.

The owner and pilot of the sub light speed space vehicle BCFS Cy-press with 110,000 light years on the clock finally mustered the cour-age to take the wounded critter to the Mayo Clinic at Smirnisville.

The wheel rim was definitely bent. But repairable and is now returned to its beautiful round self. The alignment took an awful whack. Left front wheel was pointed the wrong way. Little wonder it made the craft wiggle its booty at 110 Parsecs.

Alignment was achieved only after 3 hours of some serious pushing, squeezing and wrenching metal bits.

Her Majesty’s BCFS Cypress is healthy once again and ready for the next Wild Texas Ride. See you on the Tour Trail. All Aboard!

Your Wagon Master....


In the spring of 1906, Charles Stuart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce formed the Rolls-Royce Limited Company on Conduit Street in London. Little did anyone realize just how far that company would grow over the next one hundred years. Today, while the company still exists, there have been massive changes. In the beginning of the twentieth century, Rolls-Royce Ltd. found themselves dealing not only with automobiles, but they eventually became a major player in the aeronautical world.

After Charles Rolls’ death in 1910, F. H. Royce moved the company’s design team to his flat in London due to his own personal health issues. This left the company’s day-to-day operations in the very capable hands of Claude Johnson. Claude would be the managing director of Rolls-Royce Ltd. for more than twenty years. His ability to work with both Rolls and Royce, who had quite opposite personalities, earned him the nick name of “Hyphen.” Claude Johnson was

the hyphen between Rolls and Royce.

By the end of 1907, a Rolls-Royce 40/50 set a world reliability record by traveling over 14,000 miles without an involuntary stop... and only then did it stop because a nut from a fuel line came loose. It took a Rolls-Royce mechanic less than five minutes to tighten the nut, which allowed the car to be driven on. This helped the company set a standard for reliability. The car, which was built by the Barker Body Company, had an alu-minium body with silver trim and was affectionately named the “Silver Ghost.” Chassis number 60551 was specially built un-der the direction of the managing director of Rolls-Royce Ltd., Mr. Claude Johnson. It completed the London to Glasgow run back and forth twenty-seven times. The name “Silver Ghost” would soldier on for about twenty years as a model designation. But there were other public demonstrations of Rolls-Royce’s reliability during the Great War... otherwise known as World War I.

Reliability became a major driving force for people who wanted cars in the early twentieth century. With independent manu-facturers springing up seemingly overnight, reliability of an automobile became a major demand. The car was starting to evolve into a necessary piece of machinery, rather than an aris-tocratic novelty to be parked in stables with the horses. There was a phenomenon called, “Switch On,” starting that became very popular with Rolls-Royces of the day. Simply stated, if the

car had been run and was parked for a few minutes, instead of having to hand crank the car again, which was a very arduous task at best, the owner would simply turn the ignition switch on and the car would be running.

While safety was important, speed limits sometimes were in the single digit range. Most roads had speed limits under forty-five miles per hour. Automotive braking, then too, was still in its infancy. The Silver Ghost had cable actuated rear brakes and a service brake on the transmission. Steering was also pre-historic. While some cars still used a tiller to steer, Rolls-Royce had a steering wheel. The car’s spark advance and throttle levers were located on the steering wheel. Steering the car was not an easy task. People learned to get the car rolling a little bit, even slowly, to facilitate turning it anywhere.

Reliability was not the only issue for early automobiles. Dura-bility also became a major consideration. Today we have paved streets and large fast-moving highway systems. In the early twentieth century some cities had cobblestone streets in various places. Most roads, especially country roads, were nothing more than well-worn paths in the dirt and rocks. A car had to be strong enough to negotiate these various terrains found around the world. While riding comfort was important, not falling apart was equally important, the Silver Ghost maintained.

One of the most popular Silver Ghosts, registration number AX-201, has logged more than half a million miles. It is is still in service today. The car is more than one hundred years old and is still driven on a regular basis. Today, AX-201 is insured for more than twenty-five million British pounds, or about fifty to sixty million dollars in American money. Not bad for a car that cost less than six thousand dollars in American money back in 1907!

– Marc Branaum

n The most anticipated car of 2018 and, quite possibly, the most anticipated Rolls-Royce of all time.

n Named after the largest diamond ever discovered which now resides in the British Crown Jewels.

n An all-terrain high-bodied car that makes the idea of authentic, luxury off-road travel a reality for the first time. Luxury travel is now Effortless, Everywhere.

n Contemporary and functional design ensures Cullinan gains iconic status in the face of increasingly bland SUV designs.

n The first “three-box” car in the SUV-sector. Cullinan’s rear partition wall creates a distinct environment for passengers, separated from the luggage compartment.

nThe most practical of Rolls-Royces. Cullinan is the most versatile, family oriented, fun-to-drive super-luxury SUV available today.

n The second new Rolls-Royce to sit on the all-new aluminium ‘Architecture of Luxury’, Cullinan is the most technologically advanced, and only purpose-built, luxury SUV in the world.

n Tested to destruction all over the planet, Cullinan is an incredibly capable off-roader that sees the development of the ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ for off-road enjoyment, without sacrificing any Rolls-Royce on-road behaviour.

n Cullinan offers a suite of Bespoke features developed specifically for the many various lifestyles of its owners including the Viewing Suite and the Recreation Module.

n The 6.75 litre twin-turbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine delivers 563bhp/420kW and 850Nm/627lb ft of torque to the all-new all-wheel drive, all-wheel steer system needed to overcome any challenge.

n A century-long pedigree of adventurous quests and campaigns successfully carried out across all terrains thanks to the luxury offered by a stout vehicle that was swift, stealthy and dependable.

“A Rolls in the desert is above rubies” – T.E. Lawrence.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan at a glance...



Dallas-Ft. Worth Area Activities:Dallas Monthly Breakfast– Dallas area breakfast meetings are held the second Saturday at 8:30AM at the ‘Egg and I’ located at 15203 Knoll Trail Dr. in Dallas. This is just north of Arapaho one block east of the Tollway. Knoll Trail is the same road as Monfort south of Arapaho.Ft. Worth Monthly Breakfast – Every 3rd Saturday monthly at 8:30 AM. Le Madeleine in Grapevine, TX. 900 W State Highway 114, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, Grape-vine, TX 76051 Call Shawn McBride (940) 205-8952 Houston Area Activities:Houston Monthly Breakfast– Every 2nd Saturday - 9:00AM Location: Skeeters at 5529 Weslayan, Houston, TX Hill Country Activities:Hill Country Monthly Breakfast– 3rd Saturday of the month, 9:00 a.m., Buttermilk Cafe, 1324 Common St., New Braunfels, TX 830-625-8700 Website: http://www.thebuttermilkcafe.com/

Mark Your Calendar for the

Texas Region Spring Meet

2019Thursday March 21 – Sunday March 24, 2019

at the “Canyon of the Eagles Resort” on Lake Buchanan near Burnet, TX

rolls-royce owners’ club • texas region newsletter ...bring your bentley and/or rolls-royce and...

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