When a helicopter appreciation event and a small car show were combined over a decade ago, the basis for the Wings, Wheels, Rotors and Expo was formed.
There was a good turnout for the inaugural event, but even the organizers at the time could not have predicted the size to which WWR&E would eventually grow. This year marks the 14th year of the event and when the 2015 WWR&E opens to the public on Oct. 25 at 9 a.m., more than 30,000 visitors are expected to converge on the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
In August 2001, the Los Alamitos Chamber and Ford West held a Mustang car show which included a couple World War II era, P-51 Mustang fighter planes. The event proved successful on the JFTB.
Combined with the Helicopter Appreciation Day in April 2000, the two separate events became the nucleus of Wings Wheels and Rotors. The Chamber of Commerce, with Connie Pedenko, Mary Ann Senske, Chris Barnes and the JFTB started planning a larger, varied event and the first WWRE occurred in the fall of 2002 on the day the Angels won the World Series.
The first event had approximately 100 cars, a dozen helicopters, some military aircraft and a couple dozen vendors but again a good turnout of visitors and great feedback was encouraging for the future of WWRE. The event has grown to include hundreds of cars, planes, helicopters and military vehicles. Hundreds of vendors also bring a variety of goods and food and entertainment is abundant all throughout the day.
Visitors will get to get an up close view of various types of aircraft and even see the inside of a jumbo military C-17 cargo plane.
“I highly encourage everyone to come out to the base and participate in this wonderful family-friendly event,” said retired JFTB Commander, Lt. Col Susan Russell.
The kids corner returns with activities and crafts for youths. Marching bands will parade through the event and almost continual entertainment will be offered at the stage area.
The event also helps military families by raising money for those in need. In 2011, the event earned $ 22,000 for the base Morale Welfare Recreation Fund for troops and families who work at the base.
Hundreds of volunteers plan, almost year round to keep this event going and each year, thousands more volunteer hours and required just to staff the event for the day. Students from Los Alamitos High can be found volunteering at the Kids Corner booth.
For more information about Wings Wheels & Rotors, visit www.WWRExpo.net. The Joint Forces Training Base is located in Los Alamitos at 11200 Lexington Drive. Photo ID for adults is required to enter the base.
