Architecture and Gardens
Just
Added
Friday, September 19, 2025
If you love the simplicity of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture and the mindfulness and tranquility of Japanese gardens and tea houses then you will love this excursion to Laurent House and the Anderson Japanese Gardens! Spend the day with docent led tours of both Laurent House and a 16th century Suklya-style Guest House built by Japanese Craftsmen in 1985, and the Gardens. Transportation and lunch are included.
The Kenneth and Phyllis Laurent House, located in Rockford, Illinois is one of only 11 semicircular Unsonians in Wright’s extensive portfolio of work and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Illinois Wright Trail. This one owner semicircular Usonian is in pristine condition and complete with original Wright-designed furnishing and lighting. It is truly a rare mid-century find, and this “Little Gem” is considered by Wright to be one of his most important works and best examples of his architecture and interior design.
The Anderson Japanese Gardens is a twelve-acre landscape of streams, waterfalls, winding pathways, and koi-filled ponds and is considered one of North America’s premier Japanese gardens. This docent-led tour focuses on the design and architectural components of both the guest house and the gardens. With the ongoing assistance of renowned Master Craftsman and designer Hoichi Kurisu, the Andersons’ swampy backyard along Rockford’s Spring Creek was transformed into a Japanese-style landscape. From groundbreaking to today, the placement of every rock, alignment of every tree, and the layout of all paths have been made with careful consideration by Mr. Kurisu.
Those who plan to attend the BBQ at Sport and Specialty will be dropped off at the event before the bus returns to the hotel. A sign-up board will be available at the registration desk to help connect those who arrive by bus with fellow club members for a return trip back to the hotel.
MENU
Fresca Salad
Arugula-Romaine-Panchetta-Tomato
Asiago Cheese-Croutons-Apple Basil Dressing
CUBAN PANINI
Pulled Pork - Pickles - Ham - Mayo Mustard - Pepper jack Cheese&
AVOCADO TURKEY WRAP
Turkey - Avocado - Garlic Aioli - Tomato Cheddar Jack Cheese - Romaine - Cucumber
FRESH FRUIT DISPLAY
Seasonal Fruit
LEMON BARS
Lemon bars topped with blackberry sage sauce.
UNLIMITED SODA + COFFEE + TEA
Organic Coffee - Organic Tea
We hope that you will join the fun for this truly special day!
Casual Buffet Dinner
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Menu
Coming Soon!
Historic Lake Geneva
Lunch Tour
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Lake Geneva History Never Tasted This Good
Join us for a fully narrated 2.5 hour entire lake cruise, complete with
fascinating stories about its Guilded Age estates and landmarks,
including the iconic six-home Wrigley compound.
Enjoy a delicious plated lunch aboard the elegant
Grand Belle of Geneva.
Menu
Fresh Fruit
Braised beef short ribs, garlic mashed, and roasted carrots
Lake Life Roll with Butter
Apple Crumb Pie
Coffee or Tea
Full cash bar
Special Option:Grain Bowl with Grilled Vegetables
(vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free)
Requires 48 hour advance notice.
Wheelchair-accessible main deck with helpful crew assistance.
Gimmick Rally to
Yerkes Observatory
Sponsored by Autosprint,Ltd.
Thursday, September 18, 2025
"The Birthplace of Modern Astrophysics"
This Convention’s Gimmick Rally travels to the
the Yerkes Observatory on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Learn about the history of:
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Astrophysicist and founder George Hale and shady financier Charles Yerkes.
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The Great Refractor Telescope, the largest of its type in 1897.
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Henry Ives Cobb who designed the Romanesque and Beaux Arts building.
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Notable visitors including Michelson, Hubble, Kuiper, Sagan and Einstein.
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The Frederick Olmsted landscaping firm that designed the grounds.
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Ownership by the University of Chicago since 1897 and its near demolition.
The drive takes you into the Kettle Moraine area of
southern Wisconsin. The gimmick questionnaire will
be geared towards astronomy.
Optional lunch will be available at Pier 290 overlooking
Lake Geneva.
Participation is limited to 60 cars and 100 guests.
We think you’ll find this Gimmick Rally “Out of This World”.
Concorso d'Eleganza
and
Show and Shine
Saturday, September 20, 2025
The 2025 AROC National Convention Concorso
has something for every Alfisti.
All are encouraged to participate.
The Concorso d'Eleganza is a display of
beautifully preserved/restored Alfa Romeos
of model years 2000 and older. The cars are
judged on their condition and originality to be awarded
a Certificato d'Oro.
Enter your car in the casual Show and Shine, for a
chance to win a Peoples Choice award.
Come by and SHINE with us!
Convention Banquet
David Cooper is an award-winning restorer specializing in pre-war European automobiles. His company, Cooper Technica, Inc., founded in 1989, has workshops in Wisconsin and Lyon, France known for their commitment to authenticity based on meticulous research in history, provenance and context, preservation of original parts, and innovative use of period materials and techniques. Cooper is also an automotive historian and has given presentations worldwide. Since 2021, he is the Associate Editor and contributor to Rare & Unique Vehicles magazine, published quarterly. His recent articles include Historically-Informed Forensic Restoration: Case Study of a 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante‘ and Lightweight Ahead: Alfa Romeo Design Innovations During WWII with co-speaker Michele Casiraghi.
Sponsored by Glenview Luxury Imports
Join us for dinner and a presentation
by co-speakers
David Cooper and Michele Casiraghi.
David Cooper is an award-winning restorer specializingin pre-war European automobiles.
Since 2013, Michele Paolo Casiraghi has been the curatorof the Lopresto Collection, among the most
important classic cars collections in Italy.
MenuOven Roasted Chicken Breast
Roasted Salmon Filet with Dill Butter
Three Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Garlic Aioli.
Bread, Salad, Dessert
Coffee, Tea, Ice Tea
Cash Bar
Since 2013, Michele Casiraghi has been the curator of the Lopresto Collection, among the most important classic cars collections in Italy. He manages all aspects of the collection: including organization and logistic for events and exhibitions, archive management and historical research. He also consults for other collectors, overseeing all steps of the restoration to obtain the best possible result. Born in Milano where he still live today, he graduated in Industrial Chemistry in 2015. Michele is the webmaster of Companion (www.alfacompanion.com), a website dedicated to the Alfa Romeo 6C and 1900 with an online register of all known cars Alfa. He published his first book, Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 e 2500 da corsa in both Italian and English (www.negri.it/prodotto/alfa-romeo-6c-2300-e-2500-da-corsa/) in 2023. It is an overview of all the racing cars built on the Alfa 6C 2300 and 2500 chassis. Also in 2023, he and two friends founded Archivio Targhe (https://archiviotarghe.it/), creating the biggest database of Italian car registration to assist collectors and historians in their research. In addition to all this, he contributes to the magazine Rare & Unique Vehicles, with articles on wartime Alfa Romeos and examples of historical research in classic Italian cars with Archivio Targhe.
