They called him “Flamin’ Raymond” back in the day — because of his red hair and freckles.

At 70, Lakewood resident Raymond Anderson’s red jacket and shirt denotes his membership in the C300, also known as the Committee of 300, the official volunteer arm of the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

For 28 years, Anderson has managed the workings of Grandstands No. 36 and 40, from crowd control to safety, and as a volunteer ambassador who has seen the racing series evolve from an idea to the fender-to-fender, tire-smoking, ear-splitting “roar by the shore.”

Anderson joined the party in 1997, at the invitation of his neighbor Esther Ross, a founding member of the committee.

“They drew my name in a lottery and that’s how I became a member, ” he said. “I was here back when the track was a dirt road and the cars would race through the parking lot of the convention center.”

And yes, where toy shops and restaurants now stand instead of the seedy theaters and abandoned buildings of before.

“You used to be able to park motor homes right by the course and watch the races for $125 for a three-day pass,” Anderson said. “A lot has changed.”

Anderson, a retired operations engineer who worked on high rises in Downtown L.A., said his annual volunteer gig is a family tradition now. Two of his four sons are members now, and he and his partner, Melody Meddles, 61, regularly bring their two grandsons to help, too.They usually arrive at 6 a.m. , setting up a bse under the grandstand with coffee, cookies, and pastries.

Anderson trains other volunteers on how to check people in and how to ensure everyone is safe and having a good time.

“It’s always so interesting with all the spectators,” he said. “I have never had any issues in 28 years.”

The couple recognize their regulars, with some racing fans coming from Oregon, Arizona and Washington.

When their kids were younger, the family would park their camper at Shoreline Village and scooter in.

“Home is six miles away now, so we just drive in,” Meddles said.

They also enjoy a pretty sweet view of the races, from the parachute jumpers at the beginning of the race to crashes at nearby Turn 1. Over the years, Anderson has met some of the racing greats, such as Mario Andretti and Bobby Gordon of jump trucks fame. But it isn’t so much what’s happening on the track that has Anderson’s heart.

“It’s the people, the volunteers, ” he said.

And there are plenty of volunteers.

Rosie Badajos, 55, of Huntington Beach, has volunteered with Anderson for 25 years.

“My first year I was pregnant with my oldest of four; I didn’t know any better,” she said. “And every year, I would say I’m not coming back and here I am.”

The Grand Prix almost always falls on Badajos’ birthday weekend too, so she ends up celebrating her milestones on Long Beach’s downtown streets.

“I come back every year for the fans and the volunteers who have become family,” she said. “To be responsible for more than 13,000 people in these grandstands, I love that.”

Badajos works with members of the Fire and Police departments, as well as the Coast Guard, to keep people safe, she said.

“It’s beyond racing,” Badajos said. “I love watching the fans having a good time.”

Both Anderson and Badajos said they’ve loved their work a long time — but this may be their last year at this post. Next year, they may give themselves permission to step back, relax and enjoy the show.

Anderson’s red jacket is festooned now with a chest full of Grand Prix pins. He added two this year commemorating the event’s 50th anniversary.

Anderson said he also shoots a video at the end of each race day, panning the crowds on the grandstands. He has film from 28 years of happy fans waving and giving him thumbs ups.

“I get a lot of ‘See you next years,’” Anderson said. “Isn’t that great?”