(Photos by Tommy Lee Byrd) – Some of the most entertaining and satisfying days you will ever spend at a drag strip are at events like the recently held Summer Show and Go at Calhoun, Georgia’s Paradise Drag Strip. Why? Events like this present a relaxed environment where people have a blast, run down the track, and check out each other’s stuff. As you will see in the great Tommy Lee Byrd photos below, there was a diversity in the equipment that showed up which we have trouble explaining in words. Hell, look at the thing in the lead photo! It is a set of frame rails, a roll cage, and a gusty driver! That’s throwing down old school, right?!
The Paradise Drag Strip has been open for a long, long time and it is one of those little southern tracks that you need to experience if you have not had the chance to. If your only drag racing experience has been in the huge stadium style tracks of national event competition, make sure to put Paradise on your “must visit” list.
Aside from the nostalgia drag racing on the track, the event also featured a car show and swap meet to keep everyone occupied and happy over the course of the day. While things have certainly evolved since Paradise Drag Strip opened in 1961, the track has kept its old school, hometown flavor and we think that is great.
The 2016 Summer Show and Go was a big success and we thank Tommy Lee Byrd for being there and sharing his photos with us!
Click the images below to expand them and then scroll with arrow keys to see ’em all
I raced there in the summer of 67 with a 66 Hemi Satellite. Never won, but had fun. Go up to the top of the hill, turn around and come back down the track, turning off and going down the right side to return. There was only a small path on the right side with a steep drop off, if you stood along the guard rail and a car got out of shape (many early “funny cars and gassers did), you made a quick run down the hill. Lots a fun Sundays there.