2008 NCDBS.org Special Event

Tallac Gatsby Lake Tahoe 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.

The Great Gatsby Festival at the Tallac Historical Site in South Lake Tahoe is a weekend event covering two full days of festivities. This is an interactive gathering of the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters, where every member participates in period costume during the entire duration of the event. This years event began August 9, however those travelling to the Tallac Historical Site were well on their way by Friday, August 8. The gathering of the NCDBS participants was well met by attendees from Petaluma, Mountain View, Sonora, Bishop, Alamo and the Los Angeles area. A 1918 Touring car, a 1927 Roadster were joined by three DB trucks this year (1923 and a 1925 Screen sides and an 1932 F series pickup truck). On Friday morning the attendees were loading up their beloved Dodge Brothers vehicles onto trailers and last minute checklists were performed. Since this destination was an average of 4 to 6 hours away from home, everything from clothes (both modern and period) to safety of trailers were taken into account. With regards to safety, we were travelling from an elevation of about 200 feet above sea level and going up and over 7,300 feet mountain passes to reach the South Lake Tahoe destination. In addition, every participant brought periphenalia for the static display during the duration of the Festival. Arrivals ranged from about noon until dusk dependent upon the length of travel required. Once at the Tallac Historic Site, the DB's were off-loaded and parked in a secure lot used by the Forest Service. From that point, the trailers were parked and disconnected for the duration of the Gatsby Festival. The actual Festival began on Saturday morning and concluded with the High Tea served at Valhalla lbeginning at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. During the tea the attendees were entertained by the Preservation II Super Senior Barber Shop Quartet who are Champions of the Far West District. The Great Gatsby Festival at the Tallac Historic Site was topped off with a 19th century early decades fashion show provided by Deborah Rush and her Fashions of Yesteryear. Following the conclusion of the Fashion Show the NCDBS group headed back to their cars and began packing everything away until the next Gatsby affair. Cars were loaded onto trailers and farewells were made for those departing for home. As the sun began to set, we all reflected upon another successful participation at this event. The entire staff of docents and other participants were dressed in period costume and provided a most satisifying atmosphere for the entire festival.

Comment

This female Black Bear was a visitor to the accomodations where a number of NCDBS members were staying. This bear wandered through the motel down a path between the rooms and the swimming pools where half a dozen toddlers were wading and getting wet with their parents. Leah Gong had her door open and saw what she thought was a dog scamper by. She got up and went to the screen door to get a better look and realized that it was a cub bear. At that instance the second cub scampered by - just three feet from where she was standing. Leah was about to open the screen door but caught movement in her peripheral vision when the mother bear ambled by and looked directly at the screen door and into the room where Leah was standing. The mother bear gave Leah a look and then continued to the end of the complex after her cubs on its way to the tamper proof garbage dumpster. It didn't take long for this intelligent animal to defeat the tamper proof mechanism and was rewarded with a dumpster full of food. The cubs were about 50 to 75 pounds each. The Mother bear was about 3 feet at her shoulders on all fours and maybe 5 feet long.

This is a digital image of the area where the Great Gatsby Festival at Tallac was held. As you can see, the water is clear, there are many pleasure craft out on the water and you can see the east shore in the background.

This panoramic view depicts the lake shore setting where the Great Gatsby Festival is held every year.

This sign shows the details of the Pope Estate at the Tallac Historic Site.

This is a picture of the Pope Estates where the Great Gatsby Festival is held every year. The NCDBS vehicles are parked to the left hand side of this building.

This digipix shows the actual parking area with the NCDBS cars in place - adjacent to the Pope Estate itself.

Just a few yards in front of the NCDBS parking site, a band was playing 1920's ragtime music.

While the band was playing, these deco-clad swim-suit ladies strolled by and spent some time next to the 1923 Screenside of Donn Marinovich and Sherrin Grout.

Group picture of the attendees to the 2008 Great Gatsby Festival at the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe - before period era costuming. Bottom row left to right: Ray Kwappenberg, Leah Gong, Linda Kwappenberg, Vickie Staddlehofer, Sherrin Grout. Top Row left to right: Gene Stadelhofer, Donn Marinovich, Lynne Gong and Roger Gong. Amil and Sharon Gehrke were absent from this photograph.

This 1927 DB Roadster belongs to Amil and Sharon Gehrke of Petaluma. Amil got to the site despite having his tow vehicle over heat during the long arduous climb over the Sierra Nevada mountains to South Lake Tahoe. Amil diagnosed the problem to be the automatic clutch fan in the tow vehicle. He was some 20 miles from Echo Summit, so he simply parked the truck, off-loaded the 1927 roadster. He piled into the roadster with wife Sharon and they drove the last few miles of trecherous winding mountain road in the 1927 roadster and finally met up with Donn Marinovich. After parking the roadster, Amil and Donn went back to fetch the stranded tow vehicle. After some road-sde repairs and hydrating the vehicle Amil was able to get the tow truck over the Pass and into South Shore.

Here you see Amil and Sharon Gehrke of Petaluma standing aside their 1927 roadster.

Amil and Sharon Gehrke taking a short break under the pine trees after spending time interacting with visitors to the NCDBS site at Tallac.

Leah Gong with Amil Gehrke in another view of Amil's 1927 16 overhead valved twin carburetored DB Roadster.

This 1923 Screenside business car has been a fixture at the Great Gatsby Festival at the Tallac Historic Site for a number of years. Owned by Donn Marinovich and Sherrin Grout, this Screenside was outfitted as a truck used to deliver various sundries. Around this Screenside, a campsite is layed out with period replicas of tables, siverware, crystal, cups and saucers and a plethora of other items. The hand cranked victrola is always a point of interest for those partaking of the Festival.

Here we see the proud owners (Donn Marinovich and Sherrin Grout) of that 1923 Screenside business car embarking on the schedule for the day. Yes, each of the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters are dressed in period costume and each interact with visitors during all of the festivities.

This shows the area surrounding the 1923 Screenside display.

Linda and Ray Kwappenberg are shown next to their 1932 pickup truck.

This 1932 Dodge Brothers pickup truck is owned by Linda and Ray Kwappenberg of Bishop, California. You can see the detail put into preparing the truck for this festival. Although it is difficult to see, the pitch fork shown is stuck into a bale of hay (actually alfalfa) and the bed of the truck is full of other farm implements.

Ray and Linda Kwappenberg next to the 1932 DB pickup truck.

Here you see Linda Kwappenberg in full regalia ready to explain the tableau being played out in the bed of the 1932 DB pickup truck.

This is a 1918 DB Touring Car. This car was brought to Tallac from Alamo, California by Gene and Vickie Stadelhofer. Gene plays the "gut bucket" with the Larry Elliot combo. Larry is another staple of the Great Gatsby Festival at Tallac. Larry plays an amplified banjo and plays many of the songs of the 1920's. This year Larry had a clarinetist (Chris) for Saturday. When Gene joins the group the back beat can be heard all through the grounds. In addition, Vickie joins in and plays the rhythmic wash board. Vickie is a school teacher and teaches performing arts at the local high school in Alamo.

Here is photographic evidence that the Stadelhofers do not have tin ears. That is Vickie on the far left, Gene next, Chris and finally Larry Elliot with his banjo.

Another angle of the Stadelhofers playing with the musical combo.

Yes, another photo of the band playing for the crowds. However, please note that Amil Gerhke is playing the washboard for the band.

This 1925 Screenside commercial car belongs to Lynne and Roger Gong. They trailered this car from the Mountain View area - between San Francisco and San Jose, California. This truck was decorated as a Chinese vegetable truck in honor of the 08-08-08 Summer Olympics. Around the truck one could find depictions of Chinese vegetables (actual photographs) and their Cantonese names. A lot of the items are not in season during this part of the year.

Here you see Roger standing next to the 1925 Screenside awaiting a few of the guests who were constantly wandering by asking questions of all of the NCDBS vehicles.

In period era costume are Leah, Lynne and Roger Gong (in knickers this time) standing next to their 1925 Screenside.

A line up of the usual suspects attending the Great Gatsby Festival.

The line up of the usual suspects in front of the Marinovich 1923 Screenside.

On the way from the Pope Estate to Vahalla (the site of the Tea) we pass the "BOAT" house.

Here we see the machinery used to raise and lower the boats into and out of Lake Tahoe.

This is the Vahalla Estate. To the right is where the tables are set for the Tea and the Fashion show.

Here you see the line up of the fashion models on the veranda of Vahalla.

Members of the NCDBS group at the tea. But for identification purposes, left to right, you will find: Roger Gong. Lynne Gong, Leah Gong, Amil Gehrke, Sharon Gehrke and Gene Stadelhofer and Vickie Stadelhofer.

Another digipix of the NCDBS table at the high tea. From Left to Right: Lynne Gong in the foreground, Amil Gehrke, Sharon Gehrke, Gene Stadelhofer and Vickie Stadelhofer. All of the tables were serenaded by the Preservation II Super Senior Barber Shop Quartet who are Champions of the Far West District.

This is the table which was hosted by Sherrin Grout (in light green) and her sister Janet - center in black - husband Don across from her, plus the remaining relatives of the Grout clan.

This years fashion show was called "Baby It's Cold Outside" and provided by Deborah Rush Fashions of Yesteryear. The theme as can be determined was coats, shawls an other cover ups.

Although not part of the NCDBS group, we had to show this exquisite 1911 Franklin. It was immaculate!

THIS IS THE LAST OF THE INFORMATION FOR THE GREAT GATSBY FESTIVAL AT THE TALLAC HISTORIC SITE AT SOUTH LAKE TAHOE FOR 2008. WE HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU NEXT YEAR AT THIS EVENT. THANKS FOR READING THE WEBSITE.

The Galt "OLD CAR FESTIVAL" was held on Sept. 23, 2007. The NCDBS Group was well represented with 10 cars on the grounds. On hand were Gwen and Larry Cooper, Barbara and Herman Boone, Sherrin and Donn Marinovich, Sharon and Tom Barham, Julia Fischer and Travis Barham, Don and Pat Bell, Dave Wolstad and Roger Gong. There were many inquiries regarding the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters group, due mainly to our Banner which was on prominent display. Three new members joined the NCDBS Group during the few hours of display. They were (1) Jim Von Dohlen of Modesto with a 1915 Touring car (2) Dr. Jack Gilliland of Acamp with a 1926 sedan and (3) Bill Agusto of Stockton with a 1922 Screen side. All expressed interest due to our proximity to their home base locations. There will be additional information on the Galt Old Car Festival posted on the "Meets" section of this WEBSITE when the pictures are downloaded.

TThe dedication of the Dodge Brothers plaque was completed over the Labor Day weekend of 2007. Gerry Egland gave an outstanding and memorable speech during the dedication ceremony. It was a wonderful event and the two-sided plaque provides a brief history of the Hamtramck property where at its peak, employment was between 20 to 30,000 Dodge Brothers employees working at this facility to produce our beloved vehicles. By the way, this was a very big deal for the city of Hamtramck. The mayor, the state historian, a state senator were just a few of the people in attendance. This august group thought that this dedication was long overdue and that they were more than pleased that the Dodge Brothers Club would accomplish such an undertaking. Following the dedication a group of about 12 DB's paraded through the streets of Hamtramck in support of the dedication. Gerry Egland making his presentation at the Hamtramck DB Plaque dedication. You can see the plaque to Gerry's right (or to the left as you look at this picture)". This photograph was taken by Donn Marinovich who also attended the ceremony.

Besides reading this type of breaking news that appears on this WEBSITE, you can receive the latest issue of the NCDBS Newsletter via USPS mail by contacting Tom Barham at (925) 934-7318 and donating a small stipend to the mailing fund. The newsletter will appear on this WEBSITE 45 to 60 days after distribution to allow those who have contributed to the mailing fund, sufficient time to read and enjoy the contents before it gets electronically distributed.

The - next event for the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters group will be our participation in the Sonora Christmas Parade. This event will be held November 23, Friday evening of the Thanksgiving weekend. Please contact Donn Marinovich for further information. Telephone (209) 533-3663 or EMAIL to dcmmld@mlode.com.