Like a rumble of King Kongs, some of show trucking’s biggest gorillas stomped into the Bordentown (N.J.) Petro’s third annual truck show May 18-20 to compete for cash, glory and a pair of Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Multi-award winners like "Almost Paradise," "March Madness," "Bourbon Street," "Big Willie," "Serious Attitude" and "Rainbow" stood stack to stack with competitors from up and down the East Coast and as far away as North Dakota and Nevada -- a total of 32 trucks.
Chow of choice for the event was a gigantic hot dog called "Dogzilla," a foot-long, half-pound, Chicago-style dog so popular it sold out halfway through the show.
Marv and Barb Knight’s 77 Express flagship "Almost Paradise," a 1999 Kenworth W900L and 1996 Utility Reefer, aced Best of Show Combo (tractor-trailer) for the second year in a row, earning the Sand Lake, Mich., couple a new white Harley Sportster. Last year they won the title and a black bike.
Canadian Mike Duffy’s 1989 dark purple International Eagle 9300 day cab, "Big Bear," newly flamed in pale violet, swept all its classes to take the Best of Show Bobtail prize, a black Harley Sportster.
The truck’s drivers, Tammy and Tommy Little, accepted the white motorcycle for the Knights. Said a teary-eyed Tammy, "Our award is driving the truck."
"Those two polish on the truck every spare second. It would not look like this without their efforts," said Marv.
The colorful 1999 W900L Kenworth and 1996 48-foot Utility reefer trailer is muraled front to back with tropical island images and turns California from Michigan weekly.
An equally delighted Duffy, from Belle River, Ontario, claimed the black Sportster. He is giving the two-wheeler to his wife Liz. Until she gets her license, "We’ll put it on a pedestal and use it as a trophy," he joked.
Every surface of “Big Bear” is painted or clad in shine, then pin-striped. The cab floor is flamed purple plexiglas and glows at night from purple neons below. In all, the day cab wears over 400 lights. In future shows the truck will compete in the Professional Show Truck class.
Bordentown co-owner Fred Kirschner personally selected two winners for his "Birthday Trophy." Brian Parker Jr., the child whom Kirschner felt best epitomized trucking’s spirit, won four tickets to a Phillies baseball game of his choice. His dad Brian is a Boothwyn, Pa., owner-operator.
Kirschner singled out Ron Baird, driving Hoffman Transportation’s "March Madness," for the main birthday honor. Baird received two steer tires from Michelin, one of the show's sponsors. (Other sponsors included DAT, RoadPro, Smart Stop and Bridgestone-Firestone.)
Show judges included Bordentown’s chief of police, mayor, and superintendent of schools. Their involvement underscored the high level of community support this truckstop has worked hard to develop.
"These trucks are beautiful. Judging them is tough," said Mayor Bill Nine while admiring the painted detailing on Duffy’s bobtail. "This truckstop is a big part of our town. They do a lot for our community and our schools," he added.
Class winners in the third annual Bordentown truck beauty show were:

Combo 95 or Newer

• 1st: 77 Express, Tom & Tammy Little, 1999 KW W900L / 1996 Utility Reefer

• 2nd:Kermit Gribble, 1997 Peterbilt 379 / 1996 Reitnour Covered Wagon

• 3rd: Joe Switzenberg, 1998 Peterbilt 379 / 2001 Great Dane

Combo 86 to 94

• 1st: Steve & Marge Linnekins, 1994 Freightliner FLD / 1994 Dorsey Drop frame

Combo 77 to 85

• 1st: W.L. Putnam, 1980 Kenworth W900 / 1980 Dorsey Van

Bobtail 95 or Newer

• 1st: Bryan Swartz, 1999 Peterbilt 379

• 2nd: John O’Rourke, 1998 International Eagle

• 3rd: Brian Parker, 2001 Freightliner Classic XL

Bobtail 86 to 94:

• 1st: Thomas Smith, 1990 Peterbilt 379

• 2nd: John O’Rourke Jr., 1990 Pete 379

• 3rd: Ronald Reed, 1986 Peterbilt

Bobtail 77 to 85

• 1st: David Murphy, 1984 Pete 359

• 2nd: Nicholas Saranzak, 1978 Kenworth W900

Bobtail 76 or Older

• 1st: Sam Watson, 1974 Kenworth W900A

Company Truck Combo

• 1st: Ron Baird, Hoffman Transportation, 2000 Pete 379 / Heil Bulk Tanker

• 2nd: Harbor House Seafood, Dennis & Kelly Bergholz, 2001 Freightliner / 2000 Wabash Reefer

Company Truck Bobtail

• 1st: Mike Duffy, Mike Duffy Trucking, 1989 International Eagle 9300

• 2nd: Tony Boston, Trapp Enterprises, 2001 Pete 379

Specialized

• 1st: Jeff Boyd, 1995 Pete 379 Tri-Axle Dump Truck

First Show

• 1st: Accurate Auto Transport, Steve and Tammy Sanchez, 2001 Kenworth W900 / 2000 Kentucky enclosed car carrier

• 2nd: Richard Todd, 1993 Pete 379 / 1998 Utility Reefer

• 3rd: Bernard Bowen, 2001 Pete 379

Antique Non-Working

• 1st: Ronald Reed, 1970 Diamond Reo

OEM Sleeper

• 1st: Ron Baird, 2000 Peterbilt 379

• 2nd: Kermit Gribble, 1997 Peterbilt 379

• 3rd: Mike Duffy, 1989 International Eagle 9300

Custom Sleeper

• 1st: Thomas Smith, 1990 Peterbilt 379

• 2nd: Bryan Swartz, 1999 Pete 379

• 3rd: Bernard Bowen, 2001 Pete 379

Custom Paint Graphics Combo

• 1st: Accurate Auto, Steve and Tammy Sanchez, 2001 Kenworth W900 / 2000 Kentucky enclosed car carrier

• 2nd: Kermit Gribble, 1997 Peterbilt 379 / 1996 Reitnour

• 3rd: Harbor House, 2000 Freightliner / 2000 Wabash

Custom Paint Graphics Bobtail

• 1st: Mike Duffy, 1989 International Eagle 9300

• 2nd: Thomas Smith, 1990 Peterbilt 379

• 3rd: Sam Watson, 1974 KW W900A

Custom Paint Mural Combo

• 1st: Almost Paradise/77 Express, Tom and Tammy Little, 1999 Kenworth W900L / 1996 Utility Reefer

• 2nd: Steve and Marge Linnekins, 1994 Freightliner / 1994 Dorsey Drop Van

• 3rd: W.L. Putnam, 1980 Kenworth / 1980 Dorsey

Lights Combo

• 1st: 77 Express, Tom and Tammy Little, 1999 Kenworth W900L / 1996 Utility reefer

• 2nd: Ron Baird, 2000 Peterbilt 379/2000 Heil Bulk Tanker

• 3rd: Kermit Gribble, 1997 Peterbilt 379 / 1996 Reitnour

Lights Bobtail

• 1st: Mike Duffy, 1989 International Eagle 9300

• 2nd: Jeff Boyd, 1995 Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump Truck

• 3rd: Thomas Smith, "Big Willy" 1990 Peterbilt 379

Engine

• 1st: Mike Duffy, 1989 International Eagle 9300

• 2nd: Jeff Boyd, 1995 Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump Truck

• 3rd: Tom & Tammy Little, 77 Express/Almost Paradise, 1999 Kenworth W900L / 1996 Utility Reefer.