Beyond NASCAR: Paradise Drag Strip
By Tara Nichols
"Gentlemen, start your engines”
is a phrase heard not only at Indy 500 and other NASCAR/stock car races, but
also at a little local Georgia dragway called "Paradise."
Paradise Drag Strip is a mom-and-pop racetrack run by Otto Tims that has been
located in Calhoun, Ga. since the mid-sixties. Paradise features races by
everyday folks on small budgets who love the thrill of auto racing. People
who either can’t afford to contend on the big tracks, or people who
perhaps could not qualify, or people who simply do not wish to invest so much
time can still have a chance to race and compete.
This hidden track is a treasure trove of Grade A drag cars, serious racers,
and good old racing excitement. Paradise doesn’t boast a lot of fans.
Those that do attend are almost exclusively friends and family of the drivers.
But at Paradise, the fans can enjoy a thrill not possible elsewhere. They
can stay in the pit during races where they are saturated with the deafening
roar of the cars intermingled with the smell of the 119 octane fuel. As Stephen.
Nichols describes it: “The excitement is built by the sound of the engine
and the smell of the fuel as well as moments of sheer terror and excitement.”
Nichols, one of the car owners, proudly races his ’97 Camaro he calls
“Reddi.” His lightweight, 1,930 pound, fiberglass car boasts a
477 cubic inch, 728 horsepower engine and comes complete with a rear parachute.
“Reddi” is able to reach speeds of about 135 miles per hour in
just 5.55 seconds.
No special license is required to run on the Paradise track. However, every
car and driver must meet certain safety regulations such as roll bars, safety
belts, and, of course, the driver must wear a fire suit. The track itself
has recently been switched from a quarter mile track to an eighth mile track.
A smaller track enables more drivers to race per day and cuts down on cost
per race since racing fuel is so expensive. A shorter track is also safer
as it cuts down the top speeds achieved.
For such a no-frills establishment, though, Paradise certainly supports some
high-tech, top-of-the-line cars such as Camaros, Fords, Mustangs, and modified
Dragsters. The car owners spend whatever snippets of time they can grab on
tuning and fixing their cars, trying to ensure that they will be in peak form
for race day. Hours are spent fine-tuning carburetors and streamlining the
aerodynamics for a race that lasts all of five to six seconds. “So much
is built up to that one time,” said Nichols. Those that are eliminated
may feel the disappointment, but are always welcome to return next week and
try again.
In a typical drag race, two contestants will line their cars up at the line
and wait for the countdown. A sequential light-pole called “the Christmas
Tree” signals the beginning of the race. As soon as the countdown is
complete, the racers take off, eating an eighth of a mile of asphalt before
screeching to an abrupt halt. In just a couple of seconds, the whole thing
is over and a winner declared.
Paradise also participates in "bracket racing," which gives all
racers a chance to race each other fairly. Each driver states his car’s
top drive time and tries to get as close to that mark, without going over,
as they can. The closest to his or her own top time is the winner. This type
of racing enables those with less powerful cars to compete fully.
The events at Paradise Drag Strip are exciting not only for the drivers, but
also for the fans. Paradise features all the thrills to be found in NASCAR:
Speed, danger, competition, and fantastic cars. At a fraction of the cost
of NASCAR, local racetracks offer an opportunity to view high-speed, high-powered
cars up close and in action. Paradise Drag Strip is, indeed, a paradise for
racing fans.
To visit Paradise
Drag Strip take I-75 to Exit 131 south. Travel 4/10 of a mile on Georgia
State Road 225 and Paradise will be on the right. Racing is on Sunday afternoons.
For more information call 706-629-6161. See you at the races!
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Copyright © 2002 by Tara Nichols. All rights reserved.
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