Published: November 27, 2006 05:28 pm            

Monster truck fans have a monster wedding

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Throbbing throttles, pumping pistons and traction action ground to a halt as a longtime lover of monster trucks married her sweetheart in a dirt arena, amid rowdy spectators and crushed cars.

Ashley Barbour — wearing a red dress and a white veil — rode a motorcycle into the ceremony Saturday at Monster Jam in the Kern County Fairgrounds.

Barbour, 24, and husband Michael Box, 31, had the honor of saying “I do” in front of the monster of all trucks, Grave Digger, as winners of Meathead’s Monster Truck Marriage, a contest sponsored by Bakersfield radio station KRAB-FM.

The ceremony was officiated by Jarad “Meathead” Mann, an on-air personality and ordained minister, who wore a pink minister’s frock.

“Before today, (Barbour and Box) were two highways going in the same direction. Tonight they will be merged as one,” Mann told the crowd of family, friends, monster truck enthusiasts.

“I feel like this is going to be the great extravaganza of my life,” said Barbour, who entered the contest without telling her boyfriend. “I’m so excited and overwhelmed and I feel like my dreams have come true.”

        

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