New features at 2010 O'Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels, Mar. 5-7

The 48th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels has a new spring date, March 5-7, 2010, and a new location at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, Ill.). This year’s show, presented by Denny Guest's South Oak Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep and produced by Championship Auto Shows, Inc., also promises several new car features. The show is open Friday, March 5, 3 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, March 7, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Admission is $16 per person, $5 for children ages 6-12. Children five and under have no fee.

“We feel the show is more accessible with the move to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont,” says Pete Toundas, president of Championship Auto Shows. “The Rosemont venue provides us with more space that we are excited to utilize with new special exhibit features this year.”

Celebrating its 48th year in showcasing the country’s best custom and restored cars, trucks and motorcycles, the O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels show is the oldest and largest enthusiast event in Chicago. The move to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center enables the show to continue to grow having 550,000 square feet of exhibition space. The show also has more exhibits, vendors, displays and events, including a live charity auction featuring auto and music memorabilia and showcases.

New Features at O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels
The O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels is a weekend to remember with new features like Drag City USA presenting a unique exhibit of nostalgic dragsters from The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Fla., including Garlits’ personal collection of “swamp rats;” Connie Kalitta’s “Bounty Hunter;” and Don Prudhomme’s 1970 Wynn’s Winder known as “The Snake” which some may remember as a Hot Wheels car. New this year is the Tuner Galleria featuring a collection of the finest European modern muscle and sport compacts paired with live entertainment. Formerly a show in itself, the popular Chevy VetteFest also is a new addition where the ultimate in original and restored Corvettes and Chevrolets compete for the Gold Spinner and Triple Crown Awards.

Back by Popular Demand
Returning this year are popular exhibits including Cycle Rama, featuring more than 100 of the nation’s best custom built choppers; and MotoRama, showcasing traditional rods and customs including cars from the well-known “VooDoo Larry.”

Celebrity appearances are always a popular feature at the O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels. Joining the line up this year includes Chip Foose, legendary auto designer and star of “Overhaulin,” who appears at the show on Saturday, March 6. More auto industry celebrities are also expected at this year’s event.

Throughout the weekend, cars compete for the prestigious Legend Cup, sponsored by CleanTools. This award is given to the winning vehicle which best represents a combination of style, quality and craftsmanship during the O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels weekend. The winner of the CleanTools Legend Cup is awarded a beautiful perennial cup and presented with a check for $5,000.

O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels also hopes to combine the worlds of auto and art with the Chicago Brushmasters Pinstripers Art Auction. This live charity auction features several hundred professionally decorated pieces from artists around the country. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

Committed to educating future generations about the automotive industry, the 5th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels Student Day is held Friday, March 5 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Participating students visit the show floor to see the vehicles and speak with sponsors and exhibitors before the event opens to the public, as well as earn complimentary access to all parts of the three-day show.

“Championship Auto Shows is committed to providing the best experience possible at the O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels show,” says Toundas, “We are confident the new features this year will please our guests new and old, and the show will continue to be Chicago’s largest auto enthusiast event.”

About O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels
The 48th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels, presented by Denny Guest's South Oak Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep is produced by Championship Auto Shows, Inc. of Auburn Hills, Mich. Part of the International Show Car Association custom car competition, the show takes place March 5-7, 2010 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, Ill.). The event hours are Friday, 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Discount pre-sale tickets can be purchased at O’Reilly Auto Parts. For more information, visit www.worldofwheels.com.

Legendary Auto Show Moving from McCormick Place after 47 years

On the heels of the announcement that two major trade shows are leaving Chicago, Championship Auto Shows, Inc. reveals it too is moving its annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels show from Chicago’s McCormick Place for the first time since its 47-year history. When the 2010 show rolls into town March 5-7, muscle car enthusiasts will flock to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River Rd., Rosemont, Ill.).

“The good news is, we aren’t leaving the Chicago area,” says president of Championship Auto Shows, Inc., Pete Toundas. “The Rosemont venue provides us with more space and accessibility that we are excited to utilize with new exhibit features this year.”

The O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels, presented by Denny Guest’s South Oak Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep is the oldest and largest auto enthusiast event in the Chicago area. Like the other events that have decided to leave, the show producers acknowledge increasing cost and customer convenience are major factors in making the decision to move the show.

Toundas also acknowledges that moving to Rosemont, Ill. is easier on the customers attending the show, providing affordable and convenient valet and garage parking. Since the show began at McCormick Place more than four decades ago, Toundas has seen the price of parking skyrocket, especially in recent years.

Along with the location, the show is also changing its date. Historically, the show has been in late January, one to two weeks within the new car show. This year, the O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels takes place in early March, when guests can expect better weather than previous years.

“Championship Auto Shows is committed to providing the best experience possible for guests of the show,” says Toundas. “With the move of the show to Rosemont in the spring, we feel the show has more to offer and can continue to be Chicago’s largest auto enthusiast event.”

Historically the show has drawn thousands of auto enthusiasts from across Illinois and the United States showcasing some of the country’s most unique muscle cars, trucks and motorcycles. Last year, the show boasted the legendary George Barris who designed the original Batmobile and other famous television cars. This year, the show is happy to have Chip Foose, legendary auto designer and star of “Overhaulin” as well as a number of new show features.

About O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels
The 48th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels, presented by Denny Guest's South Oak Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep is produced by Championship Auto Shows, Inc. of Auburn Hills, Mich. Part of the International Show Car Association custom car competition, the show takes place March 5-7, 2010 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, Ill.). The event hours are Friday, 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Discount pre-sale tickets can be purchased at O’Reilly Auto Parts. For more information, visit http://www.worldofwheels.com/.

----

Editor’s Note: To set up an interview with Pete Toundas about the O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels and his decision to move the show, please contact Stephanie DeMeester at Kurman Communications, Inc. at (312) 651-9000, via cell at (317) 340-0605 or via e-mail at stephanie@kurman.com