NorthJersey.com
Hometown hero
Friday, June 24, 2005
By JOHN A. GAVIN
STAFF WRITER
FAIRVIEW
Pedro Montes loves to eat, but the husky truck driver had never been at a table
setting like the one on Thursday.
Seated with 10 other hefty eaters - two of them professionals - and a stack
of fully loaded Quick Chek 6-inch Italian subs, the Fairview resident had to
gorge on as many sandwiches as he could in 10 minutes.
There was no dining etiquette allowed at this feast - no dainty separation of
meat from lettuce or cheese from peppers - just a marathon at the plate.
Montes, 32, held his own, stuffing 32/3 sandwiches within 10 minutes - good
for a third-place finish behind the two pros.
The food-eating contest was a promotion leading up to next month's Quick Chek
N.J. Festival of Ballooning in Readington, which will feature a championship
in the event for the first time.
"The festival is more than a lot of hot air," said Howard Freeman
of West Caldwell, executive producer of the annual event. "We're a family-oriented
festival that celebrates the magic of ballooning. We're one of the largest summertime
festivals in the country. We raise money for non-profit organizations."
What better way to attract curiosity seekers than have 11 adults dressed in
matching T-shirts and caps lined up at an eating table, flanked by a disc jockey
announcing the event and blasting music.
The contest at the Quick Chek strip mall at Broad and Fairview avenues drew
about 50 spectators, not to mention the scores of motorists who slowed down
to take a look.
Mike Sisco, a member of the Association of Independent Competitive Eaters, which
promoted Thursday's event, said the key was involving professional eaters along
with amateurs in qualifying events.
David "Coon Dog" O'Karma of Akron, Ohio, the winner of Thursday's
qualifier, has made a name for himself as a speed eater, gulping down 12 doughnuts
in one minute and grabbing a title for eating hot chicken wings.
On Thursday, O'Karma stuffed down 41⁄2 subs.
A similar event was held this month in Bridgewater. The last speed-eating qualifier
will be held July 7 in Hazlet.
This year's 23rd annual festival, which will draw more than 50,000 spectators
over three days, will feature rides, an air show and concerts by the Doobie
Brothers and Herman's Hermits.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Children's Miracle Network, which helps
sick children.
With Thursday's third-place finish, Montes, the father of three, has a chance
to compete for bragging rights and a $1,000 grand prize.
"I love to eat," said Montes.
The eating championships will be held on July 30 at Solberg Airport in Readington.
DANIELLE
P. RICHARDS / THE RECORD
Professional eater Dave "Coon Dog" O'Karma
working on his fifth Italian sub in a competition
Thursday
in Fairview.