(Words and Photos by Tommy Lee Byrd) – This past weekend, a couple of events in North Georgia kept Tommy Lee Byrd busy, as he pulled a double shift with two great drag racing events. First off is the Paradise Show-N-Go, held at the historic Paradise Drag Strip in Calhoun, Georgia. With a name like “Paradise Drag Strip” you know it has to be a cool place. And it is.
Built in 1961 by Otto Timms, the track was a hot spot for Super Stock and A/FX, but a number of factors put the track into a bit of a slump for a few years. In 2006, the track, along with local hot rodder, B.B. Brown teamed up to create the Paradise Show-N-Go, which offered a car show, swap meet and drag racing, all at the historic eighth mile track. It was a big hit, and continues to be a go-to event for folks in the area, with multiple events each year.
The fall event had some of the most crazy creations we’ve ever seen, including a Vega gasser, a slammed Opel GT drag car, and a Crosley wagon with a turbo inline six to name a few. And though the event is based on nostalgia drag racing, the track crew is pretty lenient about who can make a pass down the track, so the variety is astonishing. The highlight of the event involved a wild big block S-10, lots of nitrous and lots of traction, all of which resulted in oval-shaped collectors, a smashed oil pan and bent-up front suspension.
Plenty of action kept the spectators against the fence all day, and it kept Tommy Lee Byrd on his toes, so check out his gallery of photos from the Paradise Show-N-Go!
DRAG GALLERY: 
Great show! Swap meet had tons of go fast goodies! Drivers put on a great show!
Loved the Tri-5 Gassers, Zorro’s Charger, the beautiful black Willys Coupe, the black ’64 Pontiac, and the blown Anglia.
Badly wanted to adopt the lifted Falcon/Bronco Trar resting in the field behind the vendors.
Definitely worth the trip! See you in the spring!