Classic car enthusiasts were treated this week to quite a sight in and around the region this past week as Brookings hosted the 36th Annual International Dodge Brothers Club Meet.
The week-long event saw around 80 attendees from across the United States and Canada, and 27 meticulously restored and maintained, beautiful vintage vehicles. While the car shows are fun as people come to see the cars and learn more about them, members say one of the most fun parts of the gatherings are the drives they take each day to explore new places.
And rainy weather this past Thursday to the north had them altering their route, and coming through Moody County and Flandreau.
“We take the backroads, you see the cattle, the crops, just everything along the way, going across the rivers,” shared Chris Diterlizzi of Ottawa Lake, Michigan. “We just came across the Big Sioux over there, there were a couple of people kayaking and fishing, and the guy was standing up in the front of the boat waving at us as we went by. The fields are huge compared to where we live,” she added.

Ed Weninger, of Brookings, helped organize this year’s event. Weninger only recently restored his grandfather’s 1929 Dodge Brothers vehicle, it had sat outside otherwise for nearly 50 years before he acquired it.
“I wouldn’t have been able to rebuild that car and preserve it if it hadn’t been for this club. They have technical experts in various areas, a board of directors, and it’s an international club, so people come from all over the world,” said Weninger.
“The camaraderie and everyone helping each other” is one of the things he loves most about the group.
“We’ve been to a lot of places (with the club), Charleston, Lake of the Ozarks, we hosted a meet in our home area last year,” said Amy Dlugos, from Prattsburgh, New York.
“Here, the people are so nice and friendly. There’s beautiful scenery. It’s so different from where we are and beautiful in its own way. We’re just enjoying meeting people and seeing the sights. People love to come see the cars and ask questions, and the guys, of course, spend hours talking about nuts and bolts and how to keep them running.”