NCDBS 2008 Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir Meet www.ncdbs.org

NCDBS Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters is a group of people who love and own vintage Dodge Brothers and Graham Brothers vehicles. Our group is located in Northern California. We promote Dodge Brothers vehicles and Grahman Brothers trucks in our everday life.

A few NCDBS members elected to attend the Gatsby Afternoon at the Dunsmuir House in Oakland, California. This event is sponsored by the Art Deco Society of California. There is a pre-registration for vintage automobile entries at this affair. The date for this one day event will be September 14 - the second Sunday in September. Activities include dancing to the Jazz Rhythms of Don Neely's Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, the Great Gatsby Bathing Beauty Revue, Grand Vintage Motorcar Display, Fashion Parade and Dance Demos. You are encouraged to bring your own picnic as there are no food vendors on the grounds. It is another period costume required event. The Gatsby Afternoon was a grand affair. The Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters group was represented by Donn Marinovich and Sherrin Grout (along with Sherrin's sister Jane with husband Don) and the 1923 Sonora Screenside; Tom and Elaine Gong in the 1935 coupe; Roger and Lynne Gong in the 1935 four-door sedan. We were joined by Knute Klinen and his immaculate 1937 Chrysler roadster and Paul and Phylis from Sonora in their Willys Jeep in Navy gray and a mounted 30 caliber machine gun. The NCDBS arrived about 9:15 and began to set up displays and the cars. Donn and Sherrin (who volunteer for this event) were directing the all of the cars entered where to park. As a quick reminder of the grounds - as you pass the Dunsmuir mansion (under renovation) you come upon the area for the Picnic. In the center right there is an elevated bandstand and in front of it is the large dance floor. Surrounding the band stand and dance floor left, front and right in a horse shoe mode are two rows of tables set for 10 each. From this tableau the field runs somewhat uphill. Between the band stand and the Dunsmuir house, and on the same side of the field as the band stand, the NCDBS group stakes its claim. Between the NCDBS and the band stand, the Lincolns and larger cars are parked. Beyond the band stand can be labeled the Buick area. Outside the Buick area up the hill a bit are where the Fords reside. Coming back to fill the circle on the up side of the field are more Fords, Chryslers, La Salles, etc. reside. Near the entrance of the field is where Ed Archer and his Ford Dryers Icecream truck always is stationed. In between all of the cars circling the field is where numerous picnics are set out. By the time the NCDBS contingent was ready, the beginnings of the picnicker's were beginning to arrive. Several trucks arrived to bring tents of every conceivable description were unloaded and set up. Tables were carried out along with chairs. Then table cloth's and linen came out of neatly packed boxes along with silver settings, china, tea sets and champagne coolers and ice. Most of the tents had an advance group of people to set up the picnic and then their guests arrived at a later time. By 1:00 p.m. the lane into the grounds were becoming packed with pedestrians carrying picnic baskets and food. All were dressed in period appropriate costumes. A shuttle bus was provided by Mr. Toad's Vintage Touring car - a 4 row bus bringing folks up to and into the area. The festivities had begun! Craig Roberts was the 2008 Master of Ceremonies and welcomed people to enjoy themselves. Don Neely's Royal Society Jazz Orchestra began their first set and we were on our way. The NCDBS group were busy interacting with the people coming through to examine the automobiles and we answered a plethora of questions regarding the cars and quoting the lines from the Great Gatsby regarding the only automobile mentioned throughout the book - an "old Dodge". Upon receiving the official Program, we turned to Page 15 and lo and behold, on the bottom left were see ourselves staring back at us. Although an old photo, you can recognize a number of us near Amil Gehrke's 1927 roadster. Finally, the event came to a close and we bid our farewells and were off down the roads after another interesting Gatsby Afternoon at the Dunsmuir Mansion.

The Dunsmuir Mansion is the center-piece of this event. It stands here in the background with a 1920's Ford truck outfitted as a cracker jack and popcorn vendor. You can see the 1919 Ford touring car on the right. This touring car was used as a sight seeing bus and is owned by Ed Archer.

Here is depicted the 1935 Coupe and the 1935 4-door sedan.

Lynne Gong and Donn Marinovich discussing the finer points of the Gatsby Afternoon.

Donn Marinovich's 1923 Screenside playing Gatsby.

This beautiful 1937 Chrysler roadster owned by Knute Klinen of Sonora is shown here in all its splendor Yes, that is Knute on the right hand side.

These young ladies are part of the Deco Belles contingent. The tap-dance and perform dance routine for the audience during the Gatsby Afternoon.

More of the Deco Belles just prior to their dance performance.

As usual, the Deco Belles could not help themselves and just had to partake of the Marinovich/Grout

Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters is a group of vintage auto owners who love their Grahman Brothers trucks and Dodge Brothers cars.…