Sports
Wow! Opening Day at St. Petersburg Grand Prix: Lots of Sunshine and Fast Cars
It was a picture-perfect opening day for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, which drew thousands of race fans downtown to watch car racing, chow down on grilled sausages and drink old-fashioned sodas.
ST. PETERSBURG - Thousands turned out for opening day of the Grand Prix St. Petersburg Friday, soaking up the rays, bay breezes and the crackshot noise of engines firing, as drivers ran practice and qualifying laps.
In between events, there was plenty to do and enjoy. Vendors sold souvenir baseball caps, grilled sausages and cold drinks. Wild Bill's Olde Fashioned Soda Pop Co., located behind the main grandstand near the finish line, had a steady line of customers.
Wild Bill's offered stainless steel, laser-etched collectors' mugs, for $10 each, filled with a choice of soda drinks. The clincher was the free refills all day.
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The Elks of Florida volunteered to manage the food concessions, with 10 percent of proceeds going to Elk Charities. The Elks' work includes visiting veterans to purchasing baseball equipment for local schools. Need a cold drink with that sausage? Elks have you covered, with four portable bars around the track.
