The joke going around the Bordentown (N.J.) Truck Show May 17-19 went this way: What's the fastest way to end a drought? Hold a truck show at Bordentown Petro.

Photo by Bette S. Garber." />

Although heavy downpours laid waste to hours of polishing work on a striking lineup of 45 trucks, sun and blue skies finally appeared over this northern New Jersey truckstop's fourth annual beauty contest on the last day, just in time for the awards ceremony.
This was a Truck-Lite Trophy event held in association with the National Association of Show Trucks (NAST).
"Rainbow," a vintage 1974 W900A Kenworth owned and operated by Sam Watson and rebuilt with the help of son Eddy Watson, captured Best of Best honors and earned the Weston, WV., trucker a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. "I haven't ridden a bike in 20 years," Watson beamed. A half hour later he was tooling all over the show grounds showing off his new bike.
Bill Sandvik's 1996 white and purple Peterbilt 379 "Kaotic," driven and restored by Chuck Prigge, garnered the Best of Show Bobtail slot. "The Last Ride," a muraled combination 2000 maroon Freightliner Classic and 2000 Manoc van owned and operated by Jody and Laurie Laroue, took Best of Show Combo honors. Prizes for the two Best of Shows were sets of steer tires.
Pennsylvania trucker Mark Geib took home the second Harley. His ticket was drawn from a sack of participants' tickets. "I'm speechless," he sputtered. He, too, climbed aboard his two-wheeled prize and took it for a spin.
Northeastern participants dominated with strong representation from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Sharing sponsorship were RoadPro (DAS Distributors, Bridgestone/Firestone, DAT Services, KSG, Michelin North America, Mizco, Wilson Electronics, RoadsStar Magazine, and Consolidated Service Distributors.
Class winners:
Best Display: lst: Chris Pliaconis
Interior Cab Only – 1st: Dan Thompson, 2nd: Michael O'Rourke, 3rd: (tie) Sam Watson and John O'Rourke Jr.
Interior OEM – 1st: Chuck Prigge, 2nd: Dennis Sykes, 3rd: Dennis Bergholz
Combo Paint Graphics – 1st: Mark Geib, 2nd: Kevin Bradford
Combo Paint Mural – 1st: Jody/Laurie Laroue, 2nd: W. L. Putnam, 3rd: Mark Geib
Bobtail Paint Mural – 1st (tie): Don Martin and Marcel St. Germain, 2nd: Dennis Bergholz
Bobtail Paint Graphics – 1st: Sam Watson, 2nd: Chuck Prigge, 3rd: John O'Rourke Sr.
Bobtal Custom Paint – 1st: Richard Acosta, 2nd: Dan Thompson
Combo Lights S.A.E. – 1st: Jody Laroue, 2nd: Kevin Bradford
Combo Lights Plus – 1st: David Gold
Bobtail Lights S.A.E. – 1st: Marcel St. Germain, 2nd: Chuck Prigge, 3rd: Michael O'Rourke
Bobtail Lights Plus – 1st: Sam Watson, 2nd: (tie) John O'Rourke, Sr. and Dennis Bergholz
Engine – 1st: Sam Watson, 2nd: Chuck Prigge, 3rd: Rick Rollman
Antique Non-Working Combo – 1st: Ronnie Reed
78 to 88 Combo – 1st: W.L. Putnam
89 to 94 Combo – 1st: 1st: Kevin Bradford, 2nd Steve Linnekin, 3rd: Salvatore Castiglion
95 to 99 Combo – 1st: Mark Geib
2000 and Newer Combo – 1st: 1st: David Gold, 2nd: Mike Doucett
Combo Company Truck – 1st: Scott Waite
Pickup – 1st: Rick Carnegelia
Antique Non-Working Bobtail – 1st: John Zimmerman
77-Plus Working Antique Bobtail – 1st: Sam Watson, 2nd: Clyde Stevenson, 3rd: Clyde Stevenson
78 to 88 Bobtail – 1st: Ronnie Reed. 2nd: Thomas Puryea
89 to 94 Bobtail – 1st: John O'Rourke Jr., 2nd: Jim Helmer
95 to 99 Bobtail – 1st: Dan Thompson, 2nd John O'Rourke Sr., 3rd: Dennis Bergholz
2000 Plus Bobtail – 1st: Marcel St. Germain, 2nd: Joseph Okey, 3rd: Richard Acosta
New Truck Bobtail – 1st: Rick Rollman, 2nd: Dennis Sykes, 3rd: Steven Hufschmidt
Company Truck Bobtail – 1st: Bill Sandvik, 2nd: Robert O'Brien
Specialized – 1st: Thomas SantaBarbara, 2nd: Michael O'Rourke
Professional Show Truck Bobtail – 1st: Chuck Prigge
Professional Show Truck Combo – 1st: Chris Pliaconis