Beech Bend Raceway Park will soon become a car lover’s paradise with the likes of deuce coupes, hot rod roadsters, ’57 Chevys, Camaros and Hemi Barracudas – and other beauties – as it’s set to host the Goodguys First Nostalgia Nationals.

“They don’t make cars like this anymore,” said John Drummond, publicity director for Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. “These old cars make people happy.”

For three days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – the northern California-based association will give car enthusiasts the ultimate hot-rod experience with a car show, drag racing and other events.

“This is the way we roll,” Drummond said. “When we come to town with an event, we bring our show to town. We are like a circus of chrome and flames. You know at the circus, you got the trapeze, the animals, the clowns. Here, you get the cars, the cars for sale … the whole gamut of automotive activity.”

More than 2,000 hot rods, customs and classics through 1972, will be sprawled throughout the grounds of the park, making up the Show & Shine car show. While these cars will be on display, the dragstrip will feature a full-scale vintage drag race with 250 mph front engined top fuel dragsters, 230 mph nitro burning nostalgia funny cars and vintage super stockers competing in 12 classes.

General admission is $20 and $6 for children 7 to 12 years old; three-day adult weekend passes are $55. Tickets are available at the event or online at www.nostalgianats.com or www.good-guys.com.

As part of the event, northern California-based drag racer Rich “Pure Hell” Guasco will be on hand all three days to sign autographs. Guasco drove the famous nitro burning roadster “Pure Hell” in the 1960s and National Hot Rod Association funny cars in the 1970s. Also Revell-Monogram, known for model cars, will sponsor the “Make and Take” program, where youth can build model cars and take them home.

Another popular event will be the specialty parking areas with special themes like the “Trick Truck” corral exclusive to pickup trucks, the “Mighty Muscle” for muscle cars 1960 through 1972 and the “Young Guys” for the 25 and younger crowd. The special parking areas take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Other events will include an automotive parts swap meet and a “cars for sale” corral, where automotive aficionados may search for those hard-to-find parts and buy and/or sell their cars. There will also be a vendor exhibit.

The weekend would not be complete without an awards ceremony, which will start at 2:22 p.m Sunday on the drag strip’s starting line. Some awards will include specialty awards such as the “Low Lid” award for the hot rod or custom car with the lowest roof and the “Homebuilt Heaven” pick – sponsored by Timberland/Pro apparel – for the rod or custom car that was completely built by the owner in his or her own garage. The Goodguys staff will also present an award to a finalist for the 2008 Muscle Car of the Year.

“This is a unique opportunity,” Drummond said. “(People will) see cars they remember when they were kids, much like being in a time capsule. People can expect a trip down memory lane with acres full of colorful hot rods and custom cars … some of the finest cars in the nation, a real nostalgic feel.”