By Heather Leiphart, Student Reporter
The World of Wheels show will celebrate its 30th year at the Abilene Civic Center Friday through Saturday with special guests, including Preston Pearson of the Dallas Cowboys, Jackson from the popular show Hannah Montana and Cartoon Network’s Scooby Doo and Shaggy. All proceeds will be donated to local charities.
“It’s really a show for all ages; definitely great for college students too,” said Bill Moeller, show producer. “Primarily, the event appeals to men because of the cars and motorcycles that are in it, but we have Jason Earles who stars as Jackson in Hannah Montana, and that’s really popular with teens and young women.”
The audience also can expect to see Kitt from KRBC-TV’s Knight Rider and Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders Brooke Sorenson and Crystal Trevino.
Auto enthusiasts can enter the model car contest, enjoy a motorcycle-ATV expo and see the 2009 Car and Truckarama, showcasing a selection of the latest vehicles. Abilene pinstripe artist Steve Cox will be available for pinstriping and lettering vehicles as well.
The main event of the car show will feature “millions of dollars in customized, modified and restored vehicles entered by private owners in competition judged by the International Show Car Association,” according to a news release. “Included are hi-tech hot rods; futuristic customs, leadsleds and lowriders; street machines and sports compacts; supercharged race cars; exotic sports cars; powerful pickups and slick mini-trucks; motorcycles; antiques, classics and off-road.”
“Because [the show] is sanctioned by the ISCA, the entrants earn points toward championships, so they come from as far as California,” said Moeller, who has been involved in producing shows coast-to-coast for more than 50 years. “Half of the cars are from the local area and the other half comes from out of town, a lot from Texas and Oklahoma and the surrounding states.”
Joseph Lopez, second year social work graduate student from Haskell, said his favorite parts of the event are the excitement and seeing the hot rods and fast cars.
“I’ve been there a couple times growing up; I haven’t been in a long time though,” Lopez said. “It kind of breaks up the monotony of studying and going to school. It’s something different, and usually there are some pretty cool, interesting cars there, so you get to see things you usually don’t get to see.”
The show will run 6-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. General Admission is $9.95 for adults, $3.95 for children ages 6 to11 and free for kids less than six years old. For more information, contact the Civic Center at 676-6211.
