Bouncy castles, a Disney starlet, nachos, calendar girls, and, most important, cars. All are standard features at the World of Wheels car show this weekend at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
The convention, now in its 48th year, brings more than 30,000 car enthusiasts of all ages together under a single roof to see one-of-a-kind cars every year. Hot rods, imports, race cars and antiques cover the convention floor with their hoods propped open for visitors to appreciate.
Most cars are brought in by exhibitors who have invested years of work to remodel them and put them on display.
Jimmy Carden, a Chattanooga resident, stood proudly next to his pride and joy on Saturday, a perfectly polished 1965 Plymouth Barracuda.
“The paint job alone cost me over $10,000,” he said.
He finished restoring the car almost five years ago and now he says he’s inseparable from it.
“They’re going to have to bury me in it,” he laughed, “It’s going with me.”
But some of the cars on display are more than just personal projects. Jake Clayton, 14, has driven for several years won multiple junior championships. He’s driven one of the dragster Super Comps on display and said he reached 135 mph on one pass.
The teen is getting his learner’s permit this year and he said when you’re making a quarter-mile pass at 112 mph, “you get tunnel vision.”
Gesturing to the dragster next to him he said, “this one leaves hard and pins you in the seat.”
“And yeah, it’s fun.”
Visitors who don’t get quite as excited about cars as Clayton have plenty else to see at World of Wheels, including Disney star Laura Marano, the actor who plays Ally in “Austin & Ally.”
Hundreds of families were lined up in front of a stage where Marano was signing autographs, kids craning their necks to catch a glimpse while parents clutched headshots for her to sign.
Jonas Baker, a Rock Spring resident who works for Riverside Transport, brought his daughters Laila, 8, and Lola, 6, to meet Marano.
As the two girls sheepishly hid their faces while waiting in line, he said, “Her show is one of their favorites, but Daddy comes here for the cars.”
But one of the main events for a consistent crowd of men, both young and old, is an opportunity to meet and take a photograph with five World of Wheels calendar girls.
Autumn Compton, one of the women who competed in the calendar girl contest last night, said, “this is my first time being here, but so far everyone has been great.”
Back at the start of the line for Marano, an advertising agent named Amy Coffey was handing out tickets to meet the starlet. She said the celebrities are always a huge draw at the convention and there was more to come with an appearance by WWE and movie star Kevin Nash today.
In addition to handling the advertising for World of Wheels, Coffey is actually the daughter of the president and CEO, Sonny McLean. His wife, Deborah, and son, Adam, are also corporate officers and play essential roles in putting on the show.
Deborah McLean said her husband was in a car club when she married him and he apparently managed to extend his love for cars to his children as well.
“They started out running errands and selling pictures as kids,” she said.
Now, looking at 154 cars on the convention floor, she said, “It’s grown and it’s a good business. A family business.”
Contact staff writer Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6731.