World of Wheels, Kansas City
KANSAS CITY – The weekend of February 13-15th marked the return of the 55th annual O’reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels inside Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City, MO.
After ascending the escalators to the display floor my first reaction was “WoW” (pun certainly intended). In all seriousness, at first glance it was overwhelming. 388,800 square feet of column-free space jam packed with over 700 custom vehicles of all genres and vintages; a sight to behold for sure.
Although having arrived early to try and avoid the onslaught of spectators, one was greeted by a sparse 
crowd, consisting mostly of middle-age gentlemen. Many were clad head to toe in western attire or biker gear, all very amicable and obviously hyped to be in attendance. However, as the afternoon blended into early evening, the demographic evolved into more families with children (most clutching the obligatory soft pretzel) intermingling with teen and young adult couples, apparently using the event as a dating venue. Not the worst place for a date on a bitter day in February… because, you know, Applebee’s.
The vehicles seemed to be grouped by category; classics, late models, motorcycles, etc., in their own areas, with some diversity interwoven between. This layout made for a fun viewer experience. Just when one thought they’d seen it all, around the next corner there was something unique to admire. It’s unimaginable the tedium that went into such a well-executed design and highly commend those who were able to orchestrate it.
While initially, the revelers meandered unhurried as the evening progressed, so did the tempo of the 
crowd. Bumping contemporary pop and hip-hop tunes blaring from the PA turned the growing mass of revelers into a very jovial bunch. This coupled with adult libations dispensed by various vendors turned an ordinary car show into a carnival or festival-like atmosphere; ‘Carstival’ seems an appropriate term here.
The joy of getting an up-close view of a coveted Mustang or Corvette gave way to enjoying not only a car show, but also being an integral part of a genuinely fun community event. The worries of the cold outside world aside, we were all united in a different world… a World of Wheels.
If the World of Wheels comes to a city near you, go. Come early. Stay late. See cool cars. People watch. Soak in the general ambience. Just make sure to get an adult beverage and a soft pretzel. With mustard. Thank me later.
Article and Photos by: Alex Stockdale
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