2008 Spring Tour NCDBS Event

4th July

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.

In the early morning of July the 4th, a number of NCDBS members arose at about 4:00 a.m. and started their journey from their homes to Alamo. We were all heading to Gene and Vickie Stadelhofers place to meet at 7:00 a.m. so that we could get down to the parade route on time. A number of members trailered their vehicles, while others who live within a reasonable distance, simply drove their DB's to the meeting site. The NCDBS members came from Mountain View, Farmngton and Petaluma to name a few of the outlying areas of initiation. The Gong Clan (Tom, Elaine, Roger, Lynne, Leah and friend Steve Keiser) was the first to arrive from Richmond, with a 1925 Screenside on trailer and a 1935 DB coupe driven in. Next to arrive was Amil Gehrke trailering his 1927 Roadster. Ray Jacobson was soon on scene driving in his 1920 Touring car. Soon, Herman and Barbara Boone arrived in their 1933 4-door sedan. Bob and Timber Vincent drove in their 1936 pickup. Tom and Sharon Barham drove their 1926 Sedan from Pleasant Hill. They were followed by Travis Barham with passengers Julia Fischer and Jennifer Barham in a 1924 Touring car. We were all greeted by Gene and Vickie Stadelhofer with their 1918 Touring car on the driveway. Coffee and doughnuts were available for those who wanted to carb up prior to the parade. Once everyone had gulped down a doughnut and had a cup of coffee, Tom Barham held a drivers meeting. Tom emphasized that we were right on time and that due to the early start we needed to load up and head on down to the staging area. We did have one announcement by Travis Barham, who announced that he and Julia Fischer were now officially engaged. What a delightful way to start a 4th of July celebration. Soon we were on our way down to the staging area of the local high school led by Gene and Vickie in their 1918 Touring car. For the 2008 parade, we were entrant number 148 - the middle of the pack for entries. Once arriving at the staging area we lined up the cars and began to decorate. A multitude of flags, stars and festooning bunting was placed on the cars. It was a wonderful site to behold. In the middle of the decorating, Lou McMillan drove his 1937 Chevy panel into the action and we were ready to go. By chance, the weather cooperated for once and it was fairly mild in Danville. It was not the usual 105 F as on previous years. Today was an estimated balmy 85 - 88 F. A great relief to all and to the cars. We did have a couple of incidents during the parade. Tom and Sharon Barham's car over heated for some unknown reason so they simply pulled into a parking slot and locked the car and walked up to hitch a ride with the rest of the group on the parade route. It was found that the fan belt on this 1926 sedan had stretched beyond use and although everything was spinning away, the water was not being circulated throughout the car. It was drive home to Pleasant Hill where a new fan belt was put on. Roger and Lynne Gong's 1925 Screenside was not getting enough gas. They were pushed off to the side by some bystanders and finally Roger found the problem. By adjusting the flow of gasoline into the carburetor, the car was no longer stalling out under load. The Screenside got back to the Stadelhofers under its own power just in time for the BBQ. Overall, this was an excellent parade and the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters group acquitted itself quite well! We had an excellent time with the weather cooperating for once. Digipix are coming soon - geez, 10 cars - not bad for the second largest attended parade in California(number one is the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena). You'll find the digipix below. We are sorry that we do not have the digipix's for the Vincents 1936 pickup truck or Lou McMillan's 1937 Chevrolet panel at this time.

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This highly modified (era appropriate Roof Head with 16 valves) 1927 DB Roadster was driven by Amil Gehrke of Petaluma.

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Ray Jacobson was the operator of this fine looking 1920 Touring car. It went through the parade without a hitch!

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Tom and Sharon Barham drove this reliable 1926 4-door sedan down the main street of Danville, California during the 4th of July parade.

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Roger Gong with wife Lynne and daughter Leah along with Leah's friend Steve Keiser rode in this fine representation of a 1925 Screenside Commercial Car.

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Herman and Barbara Boone drove Barbara's favorite DB - a 1933 4-door sedan in this years 4th of July parade.

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As usual, Gene and Vickie Stadelhofer led off the contingent of Dodge Brothers for the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters Group in their fine 1918 Touring Car.

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Dr. Thomas Gong and wife Elaine regaled all with this fine 1935 DB Coupe. It ran cool and was driven the 40 miles to the parade route from Richmond, California.

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