From Seattle to Monterey

Hi Everyone!

When I went to the factory, I did a realtime update of the trip and it was a lot of fun both writing and posting pics along the way. This time I'm heading to Monterey for the weekend's car events. I'm driving down in the Phantom rather than the LP640, in part because the weather was expected to be horrible along the way and it was so far. I'm shipping the LP640 down for the Lamborghini event at the Fairmont in OC in September anyway.

 

"JLoo" decided to tag along with me and flew up from Orange County to help with the drive south. It was kind of a last minute trip, however I think we will get into a lot of events and I'll get pictures up as soon as I can. If there is anything you all want to see in particular (I know, the plethora of requests for photos of show-ho's) but anything else, let me know.

 

I left my house yesterday afternoon around 3 and picked up Joy at the airport before heading south. I forgot to pick up some Gray Poupon to throw at the next asshole who makes the request. We're now in Eugene, Oregon at the Valley River Inn. They are having a tax assessor's and collector's convention here. I can't think of a bigger group of bottom feeders to surround myself with for the night. We got the last room in the place and we pull up in a Rolls. I'll bet those convention meetings were a lot of fun. I couldn't imagine that group having much fun- EVER!!! The place was completely silent when we pulled into the hotel around 10. I don't think those guys party much. I'm guessing they are one bitter bunch. I'll bet if I went in the restaurant this morning, they are all in fist fights over splitting the bills or arguing because someone got a bigger piece of fruit.

 

Okay- for those of you who are interested, the Lambo and the Rolls are the complete opposite of each other. The RR requires a passenger to keep you from slipping into a coma. It is cool though because I've got it wired with a MyFi card so we can be online in realtime in most places. Interesting observation: The LP640 and the RR get two completely different reactions. In the LP640 the attention goes to the car. In the Rolls it goes to the driver and passenger. If people are taking pictures of the LP when I'm getting out, even after I'm out they still take pictures of the car. In the Rolls, they are still taking pictures of me. It's rather silly.

 

Pics to follow!

 

Hi Everyone!

When I went to the factory, I did a realtime update of the trip and it was a lot of fun both writing and posting pics along the way. This time I'm heading to Monterey for the weekend's car events. I'm driving down in the Phantom rather than the LP640, in part because the weather was expected to be horrible along the way and it was so far. I'm shipping the LP640 down for the Lamborghini event at the Fairmont in OC in September anyway.

 

"JLoo" decided to tag along with me and flew up from Orange County to help with the drive south. It was kind of a last minute trip, however I think we will get into a lot of events and I'll get pictures up as soon as I can. If there is anything you all want to see in particular (I know, the plethora of requests for photos of show-ho's) but anything else, let me know.

 

I left my house yesterday afternoon around 3 and picked up Joy at the airport before heading south. I forgot to pick up some Gray Poupon to throw at the next asshole who makes the request. We're now in Eugene, Oregon at the Valley River Inn. They are having a tax assessor's and collector's convention here. I can't think of a bigger group of bottom feeders to surround myself with for the night. We got the last room in the place and we pull up in a Rolls. I'll bet those convention meetings were a lot of fun. I couldn't imagine that group having much fun- EVER!!! The place was completely silent when we pulled into the hotel around 10. I don't think those guys party much. I'm guessing they are one bitter bunch. I'll bet if I went in the restaurant this morning, they are all in fist fights over splitting the bills or arguing because someone got a bigger piece of fruit.

 

Okay- for those of you who are interested, the Lambo and the Rolls are the complete opposite of each other. The RR requires a passenger to keep you from slipping into a coma. It is cool though because I've got it wired with a MyFi card so we can be online in realtime in most places. Interesting observation: The LP640 and the RR get two completely different reactions. In the LP640 the attention goes to the car. In the Rolls it goes to the driver and passenger. If people are taking pictures of the LP when I'm getting out, even after I'm out they still take pictures of the car. In the Rolls, they are still taking pictures of me. It's rather silly.

 

Pics to follow!

 

Nice to see the cliche holds true about Rolls vs. exotics....hahahaha!

 

BTW, Eugene, OR is a very bohemian, hippie part of America. Interesting place to hold that convention...

 

Tommy, I know they are in TOTALLY different leagues, but how's the difference between your Lexus and the Roller?

A tax assessor's convention? Now, those guys are rock stars. I'm just glad JLoo didn't go into the hotel bar, as I'm sure EVERY guy in there would have tried to pick up on her by telling her stories of how they did a little magic and recalc'd someone's property value, thus making their TPI reports balance out for the month.

 

I love the MyFi card, at 8pm last night I've got Tommy and JLoo on the cell phone, and watching the road go by on a video conference call from Tommy's laptop in the Rolls.

 

I can tell you from experience, the Rolls is just awesome, but the back seat of the Lexus is actually better. The seats are far more comfortable (they recline and have a footrest) and if I was on a roadtrip, having the built-in cooler in the back would be awesome. However, the Rolls has the "F**k You" button on the doors, which is cooler than crap :-)

 

Tommy, we want a pic of the Rolly at a roadside burger stand!

 

 

Tommy, I know they are in TOTALLY different leagues, but how's the difference between your Lexus and the Roller?

 

I think ProHydro says most of it. While there is nothing like the Phantom, the Lexus is really impressive for what it is. The Phantom is quiet and smooth and feels like it's above it all. It's the first car I've ever driven that had more in common with a parked rather than a moving car. The Lexus has technology that blows just about everything else away with the exception of a feature here and there. The Phantom is completely different in terms of spatial dimensions and basic ergonomics. You sit up more in the Rolls, you step up into it rather than crouch down and crawl in. It sits above other sedans, etc. On the highway for long trips like this, I prefer the technology in the Lexus. I love radar cruise in the Lexus. Still, there is something about the rolls, be it the fit and finish of the materials, etc., the fact that it's so rare, etc. I get tired of the personal attention and prefer the attention stays with the vehicle as it does with the Lamborghini. While I love driving the LP640, after about two hours, I want a break. As much as I love the sound, I don't want to hear it for five hours straight. The Rolls is silent, almost too silent to the point where people don't hear it coming and step in front of you without thinking.

 

The question comes up here from time to time, which car draws the most women. Hands down, the Rolls. While women turn and look at the Lamborghini because of the noise, they smile a lot more often when they see the Rolls.

 

 

Great write-up on the Rolls. I once stopped in Eugene when I was on road trip on the coast. I kinda liked Oregon actually...never thought I'd say that.

Great write-up on the Rolls. I once stopped in Eugene when I was on road trip on the coast. I kinda liked Oregon actually...never thought I'd say that.

 

Yea, Oregon is a nice state except there isn't one that's more PC. The speed limit in many areas on I5 was 55. Top speed is 65 even in wide open stretches. You're not allowed to pump your own gas. While they don't have a sales tax, they do have high property and an income tax. It's not a state where you'd see a lot of exotics relative to population.

 

Hahaha what weirdo is taking pictures of some guy getting out of a rolls? I met a guy with a drophead once and I was far more interested in the car.

post up pics when you can, I just took a drive from San Fransisco to Seattle yesterday, on the way I met another f360 and an Aston martin. i read your post on my iPhone and was looking out for a rolls, but didn't see you.

 

 

Enjoy the trip

Any updates?

 

The Phantom is a sensational car, I live about 20 miles from the factory in Chichester and get to see a fair few Phantoms and other mules. Simply stunning yet massive car. My friend says it best "when they designed it they did not use millimetres on the plan they used inches."

 

Perfect car to overlook the proletariat.

Hahaha what weirdo is taking pictures of some guy getting out of a rolls? I met a guy with a drophead once and I was far more interested in the car.

 

Seriously, it happens all the time. I never happens when I get out of the LP640.

First- a picture of the ride. Pictures of Lamborghinis are coming. So whoever moved this to "off topic" can move it back.

Just the kind of sign you want to see when you walk into a hotel.

Just the kind of sign you want to see when you walk into a hotel.

 

 

Pic broken.

This photo is kind of interesting because of the changes in technology in a short time. We had the car set up with a hidden MyFi card. We could then get online via WiFi and out via G3. We were able to Skype video conference and do a phone conference call, all at the same time. It was very cool!

looks awesome, how often did you have to stop to fuel up in the rolls??

Mobile command Rolls. You could run a small country from it. In fact you should market it to warlords and dictators.

 

 

Are you coming to the Vegas Labor Day meet?

Im moving this back here, please leave it here for Tommy

Thanks everyone. I got up early this morning to post photos and fill everyone in on the last few days in detail. One of the moderators moved this to "off topic" (I can't figure that one out) and I couldn't find it until I searched several different key words. By the time I did all that, it was time to leave for the next event and I just got back. I'll fix the photo and post a lot more. Also, I'm in a location where all connections are a bit slow so it takes forever to load photos. My apologies.

 

looks awesome, how often did you have to stop to fuel up in the rolls??

 

We were getting 23 MPG in the Rolls on the Freeway. The car gets less than half of that in stop and go. I can go almost 500 miles on a tank of gas on wide open roads. I noticed that when we were in stop and go, it dropped dramatically.

 

Thanks Allan for moving this back!

( Can someone delete the broken photo, and this post? Thanks!

We arrived in Monterey on Thursday morning and heard that the Pebble Beach cars were going to be parked downtown Carmel so we headed there first. The plan was to hit the Lamborghini Club of America dinner after seeing the cars at Carmel.

 

It was nice to see some old friends at the LCA dinner however I felt a bit out of place as this was not the usual crowd I see on Lamborghini drives. Balboni arrived in a Nero Nemesis LP640 coup and that was cool. He's a terrific guy and I do love the color of that car. If I didn't have VI car, that color would be my second choice.

 

Also in attendance that night were management and the controlling family member of the Bertone group to say a few words after Balboni. They explained some of the recent history and that the design house will be 100 years old in 2012. I also got the impression they were lobbying for more work from Lamborghini, but that's just me.

 

After dinner we headed back to our hotel to get as much sleep as possible before the start of the next day. One thing, if you do come to Monterey, don't expect to get much sleep.

Balboni with a friend.

A few of the cars at Carmel on Thursday to give you an idea. The colors, shapes, sizes and years was very impressive. I think what struck me the most was that all these old car companies worked very hard to create their own brand identity by adding features that soon went out of style.

There was a forrest fire just north of Santa Cruz that had winds blowing south dropping ash on all the cars in the event. It made for a rather substantial mess for everyone and kept a cloud hanging over Monterey for much of Thursday and part of Friday.

 

We didn't get much sleep Thursday night because we had to be up early the next day to try and hit two of the three concourse events. There is no way to hit all three and really see everything.