American Graffiti in Petaluma...again

Picture this: It’s freaking 4:30 Thursday morning in downtown Petaluma.

A camera crew waddles around in the vacant lot next to The Mystic Theater. Several dozen people have paid $100 a pop to sit in VIP bleachers and watch a re-enactment of the cop-car destruction scene in “American Graffiti.”

Why 4:30 a.m.? Because that’s when fledgling director George Lucas shot it 35 years ago. Go figure.

The director yells, “Headlights on….cameras rolling….and action!”

The stunt cop guns it. The vintage car shoots out of the parking lot.

And nothing happens. It’s a dud.

Cue the deep crowd groan.

Waiting in the wings, two-time Academy award-winner and “American Graffiti” visual consultant Haskell Wexler looks on the bright side: “I think it’s good for the story. That’s what happens when you make movies.”

Not to worry. When take two rolls finally around (after P-town cops escort a wandering drunk guy off the set), the axle rips off the back end of the car to sweet applause.

It’s a wrap.

The 35th anniversary tribute to American Graffiti runs through the weekend, including a kickoff dinner with some of the cast tonight and a cruise on Saturday. To check out all the events, go to www.americangraffiti.net.