ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Overseeing every facet of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, event president Tim Ramsberger subscribes to the “it takes a village” approach – or in this case a city – in hosting an INDYCAR race event.
“There are so many people involved in this event that the credit is spread throughout the community,” said Ramsberger, a native of St. Petersburg. “We’ve had the benefit of having tremendous staff and contractors involved, and we have a database of more than 750 volunteers and they continue to come back year after year. We do a training session during race week and when I ask about 70 percent stand up who have been with us year after year.
“Not every volunteer position is glamorous, but they take ownership and pride.”
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Ramsberger has been a member of the executive leadership team since the initial race under INDYCAR sanction in 2005 – the first non-oval race in Verizon IndyCar Series history. Through the succeeding years, the on-track competition and atmosphere of the race week have emboldened “The World’s Fastest Spring Break Party” moniker. Another exciting race weekend is in the offing March 28-30.
“I’ve been looking forward to it since we went checkered last year,” Ramsberger said. “We couldn’t be more proud in St. Petersburg to host the INDYCAR opener. We have a beautiful venue and a community that’s great to do business in, and I think the community has responded well to this event – not only the fans that have attended the event through the years but the sponsorship program is tremendous.
“We throw a party. The racing is the centerpiece of the entertainment but it’s the atmosphere that we create to attract those fans to come out and enjoy the weekend. We have a very interesting (demographic) in St. Petersburg, a very competitive DMA with all the sports teams, so we have to do a good job finding that entertainment value for the fans. The IndyCar Series is the best that it’s been in years.”
Ramsberger, who has been involved at the highest levels in planning for the World Cup USA (1994) and the Atlanta Olympics (1996), also headed the business and legal affairs team for Disney’s Wide World of Sports. A City Commissioner for Treasure Island (on the Gulf side of St. Petersburg), a member of the board of directors of All Children’s Hospital Foundation and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce … his roots are planted like one of the palm trees that line the 1.8-mile, 14-turn race course.
“I’m proud and excited. It’s something that’s unique,” he said. “There isn’t a day I wake up excited about it. I spent a few years in Orlando and I think having that experience and coming to St. Pete and this opportunity to put on a major sporting event in my hometown I couldn’t have asked for a better script.”