By The Hays Daily News

SPEED -- Speed will be hosting an event that it has been around for a few decades.

And it just so happens to fit in with the town's name on an ironic level.

The Hot Wheels Need for Speed Road Trip will cruise in to Speed on Aug. 24, as part of a cross-country trip to mark the anniversary of the company that began making die-cast cars as toys 40 years ago.

This is not the first time the makers of the popular toys have been to the Phillips County town of less than 50 people. In August 2006, The Need for Speed festival drew around 10,000 people from across the country with a car show, parade and an attempt to break a world distance record for the 1/64-scale cars. The day's early heat warped the 6,000 feet of plastic orange track, and officially, no record was broken, although a test run resulted in one car traveling 1,800 feet -- 150 feet past the official record.

"I think it's going to be even bigger than before," said Jean Boyd, a Speed native who is providing a free-will camping ground for the event. "I think the reality is starting to set in that, 'Oh my, this is big,' and that's exciting."

The road trip will feature a collectors' show of Hot Wheels memorabilia, a motorcycle and car show, and a separate toy and collectibles show. There will also be food, vendors and entertainment.

"Even with gas being so high, the cars that come in with the caravan on the road trip are worth the sight," Boyd said. "You never know how many it's going to be, and these enthusiasts likely won't let gas get in the way of them going from California to New York."

The road trip leaves from the Mattel headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., on Aug. 19, and will feature four stops, including Speed, before ending in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Boyd says camping space is at a premium.

"It's dry camping (no hookups), but anyone who's interested just needs to give us a call," she said. "With the limited space from the car show, people need to get their reservations in soon." She says that there is not a definite estimate in space available or how much has been taken, but it will most certainly run out.

"We don't have the space marked off in footage yet, but we're taking down the sizes of campers and RVs to see how much space we're using," she said. "If it's as big as it sounds, like it probably will be, people are probably going to be getting walked on."

Those interested in a camping space can call Boyd at (785) 543-5150.