THE Z11 CHEVY DAYS
August 16, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Masterclass in Metal: The Battle for the Al Slonaker Memorial Award
The 75th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show, presented by Meguiar’s, went full throttle this year, bringing out some of the most insane custom cars the hot rod world has ever seen. Sure, the AMBR award gets all the press, but the real hardcore builders know that the Al Slonaker Memorial Award is where true engineering battles happen. This isn’t just about looking pretty—this is about pushing the limits of fabrication, design, and flat-out mechanical genius.
Right Rod
If you attend car events in California, such as NHRA’s California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, the West Coast Kustoms show in Paso Robles or the L.A. Roadster Show in Pomona, you will notice that rat rods are a growing segment of the hot rod hobby. Years ago, when they started becoming a common sight at many of the shows, the mechanical aspects of most of the cars were scary at best. You could see cars with no springs, some without floorboards, and many constructed with less-than-desirable stick welding. It is this type of construction that created the name “rat rod.” Fortunately, over the past few years there has been an attempt to upgrade the construction of rat rods, even though the enthusiasts want to use as many original parts as possible.
PHAT ’53
Join Jeff Schwierman in his quest for the prestigious F-100 Truck of the Year award as he breathes new life into a ’53 Ford F-100. From the ground-up build on a Fat Man Fabrications chassis to the powerful Ford Racing 351W engine, every detail of this custom pickup is crafted to perfection. Follow along as Schwierman and his team reshape the classic truck into a true showstopper, setting new standards for classic Ford truck enthusiasts.
Spotlighter
Winter WOW
World of Wheels Chattanooga Kicks Off the Show Season
Just after New Year’s, when the cold really starts settling in, one of the first major indoor car shows of the year rolls into town. The O'Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels Custom Auto Show has become a yearly tradition—mixing hot rods, customs, and classics with a dose of pop culture to create a winter event that gives the whole family a reason to get out of the house.
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
58th Annual Chattanooga World of Wheels
The 58th annual Chattanooga edition took place January 9–11, 2026, inside the spacious Chattanooga Convention Center. Held every year during the second weekend of January, the event transforms more than 100,000 square feet of exhibition space into one of the South’s premier indoor showcases of custom automotive craftsmanship.
A Stop on the Legendary World of Wheels Circuit
Part of the legendary World of Wheels circuit, the Chattanooga stop brings together an impressive mix of hot rods, customs, classics, motorcycles, and radical builds—all polished and displayed under bright convention hall lights. For builders and enthusiasts across the Southeast, it’s a chance to debut winter projects, connect with fellow gearheads, and kick off another year of car show season.
A Winter Tradition for Car Enthusiasts
Blending serious automotive creativity with entertainment and family-friendly attractions, World of Wheels continues to deliver the kind of high-energy indoor show that has kept it a winter tradition for nearly six decades.
