If you go
› What: 50th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels› Where: Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St.› When: 3-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7› Admission: $16 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for children under age 6; $28 weekend pass sold at O’Reilly Auto Parts, not at Convention Center door. Adults buying single-day tickets at O’Reilly Auto Parts in advance get a $2 discount.› For more information: worldofwheels.net
The front of a 1972 convertible Corvette Stingray is seen at the 2017 World of Wheels.When World of Wheels first rolled into Chattanooga in 1967, Pontiac’s Catalina/Grand Prix was considered the best full-size sedan, according to Car and Driver magazine. Muscle cars were hitting their stride with the ’67 Barracuda, Plymouth GTX and Ford Mustang GT. And drivers were just being introduced to a new Chevrolet called the Camaro.
Now those cars will be considered classics at this weekend’s 50th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels in the Chattanooga Convention Center. The auto show opens Friday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. and closes Sunday, Jan. 7, at 6 p.m.
It’s a car-lover’s mecca with custom to classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles and more. In addition to vehicles on display there will be vendors with auto parts, equipment, services and accessories.
There is plenty on the 100,000-square-foot display floor to entertain everybody in the family.
There will be a Custom Auto Show on the floor, waiting to award more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. The best “first-time shown” wins $2,500 for a vehicle, $500 motorcycle. The best entry in each category will take home $400.
The first 100 kids through the door each day will receive a free Hot Wheels car, which they can race on the Hot Wheels Drag Track.
Costumed Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion will walk the Kids’ World area, along with members of the MidSouth Garrison’s MosNooga Squad. Parents will want to have their cellphones handy for some cool photo-ops.
A 1964 VW Beetle is displayed at the 2017 World of Wheels.Other characters in the hall will include Transformer-like robots and SpongeBob SquarePants.
The Pat Tillman 1968 Chevy Impala tribute car will be on the floor, along with the Miller Electric Augmented Arc welding simulator, which visitors can try for themselves.
Visitors can meet Von Hot Rod, aka The West Coast pinstriper and master of the fine line, who will pinstripe items for the public all weekend.
Don’t leave without registering for one of eight sweet door prizes. They include:
» A WWE Prize Pack.
» Talladega NASCAR VIP Package that includes four tickets to Friday and Saturday races at Talladega Super Speedway and four tickets to Sunday’s GEICO 500 Race at Talladega Super Speedway, along with VIP Pre-Race Pit Passes.
» Concert tickets to hear either Kenny Chesney or Avenged Sevenfold.
Additionally, a Yeti load-out bucket will be given away every hour all weekend.
For more information: worldofwheels.net.
Meet-and-greets
› Friday, 5-8 p.m. WWE superstar Daniel Bryan› Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dawn Wells, Mary Ann from “Gilligan’s Island”› Saturday, 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. Kevin Mack from History Channel’s “Counting Cars”› Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dawn Wells, Mary Ann from “Gilligan’t Island”