Cruisin’ down memory lane

<p>It's a weekend for checking out some sweet rides as downtown Petaluma comes alive with the roar of classic cars as the fifth annual Salute to American Graffiti rolls into town May 13-15.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>“We have just a little more than 400 cars registered to participate this year — the most we've had yet,” said Rich Poremba, spokesperson for Cruisin' the Boulevard, the non-profit organization sponsoring the event. “It's is also going to be a lot larger this year since we've expanded the downtown area the event covers.”</p><p>The community-wide celebration pays tribute to George Lucas' film “American Graffiti,” which was filmed in Petaluma in 1972, and to cars, cruisin' and rock 'n' roll music of the '50s and '60s.</p><p>“It's a movie that tells the story about getting out of high school and those last summer days before college,” said Poremba. “That experience during that time period is something that no matter where you lived, you had that memorable experience of cruising the main boulevard of town. The movie is very nostalgic. ‘American Graffiti' has an amazing following. We have someone driving his '55 Chevy all the way here from Pennsylvania to be a part of it. There are people coming in from Canada, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.”</p><p>Produced by Cruisin' The Boulevard, “Salute to American Graffiti” is an all-volunteer event that benefits community projects, schools and other community programs that focus on the arts, history, safety and welfare of Petaluma.</p><p>In the past four years, Cruisin' the Boulevard has reinvested more than $80,000 back in Petaluma by purchasing automated external defibrillators for all Petaluma police cars, City Hall and four Petaluma high schools; an electric gurney for the Petaluma Fire Department; bicycle helmets for children from families with undermet needs, as well as providing grants to Project Graduation, Meals on Wheels, Christmas Cheer and the Henry Travers Memorial Scholarships to graduating high school seniors.</p><p>“With the salute, we wanted to do something that would benefit as many people as possible, as opposed to having a narrow focus,” said Poremba. “That's been our strategy all along. The police department needs a few more AEDs, so that's what we'll be working toward this year.”</p><p>Local residents interested in getting up close and personal with the actors and crew from “American Graffiti” can purchase tickets to the annual Henry Travers Scholarship Dinner fund-raiser being held Thursday, May 13 at Cattlemen's Restaurant. The dinner features special guests Al Nalbandian — who played Moose Lodge member Hank Anderson in the movie — actress Candy Clark and several of the film's original production crew members.</p><p>The dinner begins at 6 p.m., with tickets on sale for $85. Seating is limited. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Henry Travers Memorial Scholarship Fund. Travers was the transportation manager for “American Graffiti.”</p><p>Those eager to get an early start on the weekend fun may want to check out the American Graffiti Cruise-in and Social on Friday, May 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Petaluma Plaza and Plaza North shopping centers. </p><p>Classic vehicles are expected to be at the car show, which is also a fund-raiser for local Cub Scouts. There will be live music and a chance to score “Salute to American Graffiti” trading cards and merchandise. The public is invited to come in '50s clothing and check out the free show. The original monster truck, “Big Foot,” will be on display during Friday and Saturday events.</p><p>The celebration shifts into high gear on Saturday with an all-day, non-alcoholic downtown event from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. featuring more than 400 classic cars and trucks filling up downtown streets, which will be closed to regular traffic.</p><p>There will be a street dance, art displays, auctions, karaoke, appearances by stars from the film and live bands performing all day, including Johnny B and The Speedshifters, The Fondettes, Faith McKenna, The Deadlies and the Blue Note Cats.</p><p>“Hubcap painting is back this year at Haus Fortuna,” added Poremba. “It was such a big and successful thing last year, we brought it back. The hubcaps are going to be on display around town. There will also be some artists painting them at Haus Fortuna.”</p><p>Locals can also tune in to 88.1 FM throughout the day to listen to XERB radio, featuring disk jockeys Howlin' Dan the Wolfman and David Glass.</p><p>There will also be plenty of hot dogs, hamburgers and root beer floats available at the recreated Mel's Diner, which movie-lovers will remember seeing in the movie “American Graffiti.” Mel's will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the parking lot between McNear's Restaurant and the Lan-Mart building.</p><p>The day wraps up with a classic car and truck cruise from 4 to 8 p.m. on Petaluma Boulevard. The best place to watch the cruise will be along Petaluma Boulevard, south of B Street, all the way down to Boulevard Lanes bowling alley.</p><p>For more information and a full schedule of the weekend's events, visit www.americangraffiti.net.</p><p>(Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier. com)</p>