After 64 hours, man outlasts others in contest for new car

When 38-year-old Roy Ramsey, or Corbin, placed his hand on the 2006 Suzuki Firenza Wednesday as part of a contest to win the vehicle, he was determined to do “whatever it took” to be the last man standing.
Sixty-four hours later, in a gutsy display of raw will and stamina, Ramsey stood tall, his competitors vanquished.
The contest, sponsored by Legend Suzuki of Corbin last week, pitted 13 people against one another for a chance to win the car. The contestants placed one hand on the vehicle and, with the exception of brief hourly restroom breaks and a 15 minute break every eight hours, had to stand with that hand remaining on the car as long as possible.
“I would have stood there as long as it took,” Ramsey said. “I was just determined and I had been praying about it and I give God the glory out of it. I needed a new vehicle.”
Ramsey seemed fated to win the contest after his 1998 Mercury Sable broke down two weeks ago. Costly repairs were necessary as the engine needed replaced. Ramsey tried to purchase a new vehicle from Legend Suzuki weeks before but didn’t have the required credit. That’s when the contest became a golden opportunity.
“He’d come in every single day to register for it,” Legend Suzuki owner Jimmy Brafford said. “He would go to every Kroger store and to our dealership and register every day. Then he’d go out and pat on the car and say ‘how’s my car doing.’ I knew if determination had anything to do with it, he’d win. I thought he could hold up.”
Fifteen names were randomly drawn from those registered to participate. Ramsey was not among those first selected, but got into the contest after four people dropped out for various reasons.
“They were older,” Brafford said. “They felt like they couldn’t stand up for a long period of time.”
Contestants were required to get a medical release from their family doctor before participating and had to sign a waiver holding the dealership not responsible for any harm they may suffer for participating.
The contest started at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Slowly, one by one, contestants faltered. Brafford said the last woman standing actually passed out when she was eliminated. It stretched on for 64 hours before finally, at 1:40 a.m., Ramsey was the winner.
“It was getting rough,” Ramsey said. “Most people think it would have been the cold, but it really wasn’t that … my legs and feet really hurt from standing so long.”
Ramsey said severe sleep deprivation was also difficult to overcome. After returning home victorious early Saturday morning, he slept for nearly two full days.
Brafford presented Ramsey with keys to the car Monday night. Ramsey said it cost him $1,105 in taxes to license the vehicle.
“It’s a pretty good price for a brand new car,” he said. “It drives real good. I love it.”
Brafford said the contest went smoothly overall, and added that he was surprised it went on as long as it did.
“Normally, they go two or three days,” he said. “I was thinking two days. I really didn’t think they would last quite as long as they did.”
He said the dealership would likely sponsor a similar contest in the future because of its tremendous popularity.