“I always wanted a Rolls-Royce, because they are supposedly the best cars in the world,” he said. “I bought one years ago, and they are a lot of fun. I have been having them ever since.”
Hanagriff, who was joined by his wife Josie and son Sam Saturday at Avery Island, made his declaration during the Southern Delta Region Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club Showoff, which was hosted on the island over the weekend.
  
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Two plaques built into the car signify its place in history. Hanagriff said the first car produced from the initial 25 went straight to the Queen of England.
“I don’t know if she still has it,” he joked.
Although never used, Hanagriff’s Rolls-Royce came complete with flasks and drinking glasses in the front console. The back console came with a writing pad and day planner.
Saturday’s Showoff included 17 Rolls-Royce and Bentley entries. The automobile event takes place once a year throughout the club’s region, which includes Lou-isiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Western Tennessee.
The three-day event was hosted by club member Tony Simmons, executive vice president of McIl-henny Company and fifth generation McIlhenny family member.
Besides hosting the event, Simmons was also a champion as his 1931 Rolls Royce Springfield was named People’s Choice and Ladies’ Choice.
However, the Best of Show award went to John Sweney and his 1988 Bent-ley Continental.
Simmons’ 1931 Rolls Royce was the oldest car in the competition, narrowly edging out Bill Stroman’s 1936 Bentley M.J. Mulliner Saloon.
Stroman did have one claim to fame — he came from the longest distance to get to this weekend’s event, 750 miles one way from Sterling, Texas.
Like all the cars at the Showoff, Stroman’s red and black Bentley is in pristine condition and features many interesting amenities.
It has working trafficators, which, when operated, protrude from the vehicle’s bodywork to indicate the driver’s in-tention to turn in the direction indicated by the pointing signal.
Trafficators were fazed out of many cars in the 1950s as modern day turn signals came to take their place.
Stroman’s Bentley does have one amenity many of today’s drivers would be familiar with.
“You could get a cigar lighter and an ash tray,” he said while showing off his vehicle Saturday. “You could get extra lights on the front, too. Those are some of the optional equipment (that could come with it).”
Stroman, who has had the car for 20 years, said it has been decades since anybody smoked in it.
Outside of the awards, and there were 15 categories with winners, most of those in attendance this weekend came to the event to enjoy the company of fellow car enthusiasts and to learn more about the brand they each cherish.
“The cars are the things that get you here, but it’s the people that keep you coming back,” Southern Delta Region President Kelly Kyle said.
Kyle, a lawyer from Jackson, Miss., was especially proud to recognize New Orleans’ Glen Lazaro, who was honored during Saturday night’s awards ceremony with a lifetime membership into the national Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club.
Lazaro, a past president, started the Southern Delta Region 30 years ago.
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