The Petaluma Promenade was a smashing success. The event was hosted by the dynamic duo of Amil Gehrke and George Stum. You may recognize them by the cars that they drive as shown below.

There were a few new faces and a few old faces which we have not seen for a few years joining us. Charlene Hunter (the NorCal DBS group hasn't seen her at a function in 3 years) drove her 1926 Desoto, Al Brohard joined us from Alameda (without his 1924 Screenside) but drove Arnie Gehrke's 1925 Touring car and Bob and Roxie Carrere in ther 1925 Touring car were back in the fold. The meet was hosted by George and Donna Stum along with Amil and Sharon Gehrke. They did a wonderful job! Especially commendable was the dinner which was BBQ Tri-Tip, boneless chicken breast, Road Kill beans prepared by Donn Marinovich and Jim Kirk, green and fruit salads and ice cream sundaes, drinks, nacho's and whatever else to tickle your fancy. The event was held at Jeanne and Tom Nelsons "garage". An acre of manicured lawn is where we could park our beloved Dodge Brothers cars. There were numerous antique Fords to view, including a Bonneville Salt Flats speed record vehicle owned by Tom Nelson. The setting was great and so was the dinner with the cameraderie we have become accustomed to with the NorCal DBS group.

The group was also joined with Ken Sobel (with riding companion Wayne) who once again regaled us with his prodigious magic and hypnosis acumen and his beautiful 1934 sedan, Jim and Francine Reed drove Amil Gehrke's 1927 Touring car, Donn Marinovich (and riding shotgun was Jim Kirk) in a 1962 Dodge Power Wagon, Buzz Horn in a 1917 Roadster, Tom and Elaine Gong with their 1919 4-door sedan, Henry and wife Joyce - driving the Gehrke's 1928 Victory Six, Tom and Sharon Barham in their 1926 sedan, Travis and fiancee Julia, Jennifer Barham, Herman and Barbara Boone in their 1933 Baby Blue sedan and of course our Hosts. George and Donna Stum rode in their 1927 Fast Four sedan while Amil and Sharon Gehrke rode in the award winning 1927 Roadster. Day one was a ride around the environs of Petaluma winding up at the Penngrove Steam Up Museum. There we saw the 4360 radial engine that once went into the Spruce Goose airplane. It was successfully fired up to the enjoyment of all in attendance. The DB cars were parked prominently on the grounds of the Museum and admired by all of the patrons of the Museum.

After wandering throughout the buildings and taking in the collection of memorbilia we headed for the back roads of "upper Petaluma" and finally stopped at the Vallejo Adobe Mansion. The group toured through the museum to see how 66,000 acres of range land and farms was managed. An interesting site that should be seen once in one's life.

After the museum, we headed back to the Meet Headquarters to rest prior to dinner. And again, it was a terrific dinner and everyone enjoyed themselves. On Day 2, we ventured out over the Marin foothills (many steep inclines and declines) and we were all using all of the three gears available to the old Dodge Brothers cars, just to make some of the grades and to slow down on some of the long, winding down slopes. We finally reached Point Reyes Station, where the Earthquake Center was toured at Olema, prior to having lunch in Point Reyes itself. After lunch we headed back over the hills and back to Petaluma and Meet Headquarters to load up and say our good-byes to our wonderful Hosts and another successful Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters group Meet!