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Herman Grosshans, of Herald, admires a 1936 Studebaker, one of the many antique automobiles on display during the Old-Car Festival at McFarland Ranch in Galt on Sunday. (Mitchell W. Podraza/News-Sentinel)
Timeless machines
Galt's Old-Car Festival is largest in 19-year history
Don Marinovich and his wife, Sharon Grout, did more than show off their 1923 Dodge Brothers Screenside truck at Galt's Old-Car Festival on Sunday.
Most of the 78 vehicles entered in the car show merely had a sign stating the year, make and model of the car along with who owned it.
But Marinovich and Grout, who live in Columbia, took it a step further and created a period piece. Near the truck, they placed a table cloth on a card table along with dishes, cups and silverware. They also displayed an old phonograph that plays only 78 rpm records.
"Kids are excited because they have never seen a record player," Grout said.
The phonograph, believed to have been built in the 1920s, isn't powered by electricity, she said. You have to hand-crank it to get it to play a record. And you have to replace the needle every time a record is played, Grout said.
The truck the couple displayed at the Old-Car Festival has remained in the family for many years.
"My dad learned to drive this (1923) truck," Grout said.
Her father, who lived in Coloma at the time, used the truck to pull rock out of the American River Canyon. Later, he used it at a pear orchard in the Placerville area.
Children also learned that shops in the first half of the 20th century made home-deliveries, Grout said.
The Dodge Brothers Screenside was one of 78 vehicles on dispaly under the trees at McFarland Living History Ranch, just west of Galt. Festival organizers said it was possibly the most successful event in its 19-year history.
"People are coming non-stop," said Jeff Jennings, a former Galt Elementary School superintendent who was volunteering for the Galt Area Historical Society at the Old-Car Festival. "We'll have to figure out what we're doing right this year."
The festival, focusing on cars built no later than World War II, drew a record 78 entries, said Genie Olson, a long-time historical society member.
Kayla Holtz, of Galt, dresses in period costume as part of her Galt High drama class' participation during Sunday's Old-Car Festival. (Mitchell W. Podraza/News-Sentinel)
"We ran out of tickets; we ran out of food," Olson said.
Cars ranged from a 1905 Reo Model A touring vehicle to a 1942 Packard Model 110 Convertible.
Clements resident Ed Steffani enjoyed the festival because he owned several models — all 1930s and '40s models — that were on display during his younger days.
"I had 37 different cars during my high school and college years," Steffani said. "I had a '41 Packard — great car."
Steffani had a big grin on his face as he walked from car to car on the McFarland Ranch lawn.
"I never had more than half-a-dozen at one time," Steffani recalled. "I drove my poor mother crazy. I'd buy them for $100, fix them up and trade."
Then he muttered, "If I'd just kept half of those, I'd be a multi-millionaire by now."
Local residents entering their cars on Sunday included Jake and Judy Jacobson, Jim and Carole Snow, Charles Williams, Mike and Laura Akahori, Jane and Norm Taunton and Ethel Myers, all from Galt; Tom Dixon, Elmer and
11-year-olds Blair Burleson, left, and Kassie Crawford admire one of the many pristine examples of automotive history on display at McFarland Ranch in Galt on Sunday. (Mitchell W. Podraza/News-Sentinel)
Lorraine Goehring, and Valeri Schoemaker of Lodi; Dan Mills, David Woldstad and Curt Metcalf of Acampo; Donald Bell of Herald; and Geri King, Pete Petersen and Noel and Patti Stetson from Lockeford.
In addition to gawking at old cars, festival visitors were able to purchase merchandise at the small "peddlers' fair," buy sandwiches and have their pictures taken in period costume and pose on a carriage. Photos were available in color, black and white, or in sepia tone.
Visitors enjoyed lunch under the trees just outside the historic John McFarland house, which is being restored to its original condition. McFarland came to the area in 1853 and purchased 3,500 acres in Galt. The house was built in 1878, and he also had a tank house, carriage house, blacksmith shop, barn, corrals, chicken coop and three sheds near the house.
McFarland also named the town of Galt after a city by the same name in eastern Canada. He built Galt's first store, the old Odd Fellows building at Fourth and B streets.
The historical society is converting the property on Orr Road, about halfway between Galt and Thornton, into a living history ranch.
Proceeds from the festival will go to the Rae House Museum, which is Galt's local museum.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
Old-Car Show winners
Best of Show (vote of car owners): Kevin and Sharie Wise of Elk Grove, 1929 Studebaker GE Dictator Cabriolet.People's choice (vote by car show visitors): Lee and Sue Hill of Orangevale, 1939 Packard Model 1708 V-12 Touring Sedan.
Horseless carriage through 1918: Jake and Judy Jacobson of Galt, 1912 Oakland Model 30 Roadster.
1919-26: Phil Gardner of Yuba City, 1922 Detroit Electric Model 90 Coupe.
1927-30: Loren Ardrey of Sacramento, 1930 Whippet 98A two-door.
1931-34: Tom Lund of Yuba City, 1932 Plymouth Model PB Roadster.
1935-38: David Felderstein of Sacramento, 1936 Chrysler Airflow, eight-cylinder Coupe.
1939-42: Jon Fuiks of Sacramento, 1942 Packard Model 110 Convertible.
Classics: John Fossette of Sacramento, 1927 Stutz, Model AA S-15 Touring Brougham.
Commercial vehicles: Jane and Norm Taunton of Galt, 1925 Mack Chain-Drive AC Bulldog.
Source: Galt Area Historical Society.
First published: Monday, September 25, 2006
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