Don Aronow exit was a surprise to most

[Lake X Kid]

Remembering Don Aronow on February, being it was the last month he left his boat shop.


https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/332955198_700586968474497_610020894666804501_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=dsswHjRRBS4AX_u1OU-&tn=2eDESG_nOEF0eNfU&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAt6bU6ED_5zz8rlvfssHFWPFdZnsfe_32233n1n6gFMA&oe=63FFBFB7

[Lake X Kid]

Don's Mercedes Benz, where it all ended for him.


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0056/9622/5369/files/vehicule_magazine_thunderboat_row_2_2048x2048.png_copy_2048x2048.png?v=1671725009

[Lake X Kid]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0056/9622/5369/articles/vehicule_magazine_thunderboat_row_cover_copy.jpg?v=1607175901&width=1100

[Lake X Kid]

A Don Aronow creation.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyachtsboatslist.com%2Fybphotos%2Fbig%2F1966-1969-magnum-missle-donzi-don-arronow-cigarette-5.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=5059b5eb9c8bc5de55e843c85b13a92c85533dabb7d1f9f74dd1722a540ab33f&ipo=images

https://magnummarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/3Magnum162-768x512.jpg

[Instigator]

So sad…..

[AlliStan]

​Were his killers ever found?

[Lake X Kid]

Aronow was murdered in Miami in his car by hitman Robert ‘Bobby’ Young on 3 February 1987. He was 59.

Young was allegedly paid $60,000 to kill Aronow by Benjamin Barry Kramer, an offshore race boat builder (owner & driver of Warpath race boat) and co-defendant who had a dispute with the multimillionaire and racer.

Is Speed Kills a true story? What we know about the real-life Don Aronow (mby.com) (https://www.mby.com/news/hit-mans-death-closes-notorious-aronow-case-9799)


https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/68/81/216881b2615d223c831d9ba056f14b7e.jpg

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchiefpowerboats.com%2Fimages%2FF198641911.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=5758928618933169b3280611f4629f231b14a721bb7fc4d52d1ee82ed7d7aa6c&ipo=images

[John S]

I'm probably crossing this guy up with someone else, but wasn't he involved in drug running? Or was it Arneson? Or ???

[LakeFever]

The movie is worth the watch

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jHIJDZRi5kE

[FUJIMO]

I'm probably crossing this guy up with someone else, but wasn't he involved in drug running? Or was it Arneson? Or ???
...yes, he was one of the largest importers is the states at the time. he had 40 million a year to spend on offshore racing & boat building & he did just that...

[John S]

...yes, he was one of the largest importers is the states at the time. he had 40 million a year to spend on offshore racing & boat building & he did just that...

I mean, it may have been cut short, but it sounds like a pretty good run.:D

[WaterZebra]

Aronow was murdered in Miami in his car by hitman Robert ‘Bobby’ Young on 3 February 1987. He was 59.

Young was allegedly paid $60,000 to kill Aronow by Benjamin Barry Kramer, an offshore race boat builder (owner & driver of Warpath race boat) and co-defendant who had a dispute with the multimillionaire and racer.

Is Speed Kills a true story? What we know about the real-life Don Aronow (mby.com) (https://www.mby.com/news/hit-mans-death-closes-notorious-aronow-case-9799)


https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/68/81/216881b2615d223c831d9ba056f14b7e.jpg

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchiefpowerboats.com%2Fimages%2FF198641911.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=5758928618933169b3280611f4629f231b14a721bb7fc4d52d1ee82ed7d7aa6c&ipo=images
I'm confused. I always thought DA's murder was directly linked to drug running? So was it indirectly linked? What was Kramer's beef with him?

[Instigator]

Story was that Don always got large, NON REFUNDABLE, cash deposits on his business transactions.

Was rumored to be either 2 or $300K (don’t remember which) w/the Kramers.

One of things that got Don the big money for the sale was his contract w/the US government for drug interdiction boats.
Cant make this up!

It was worth several million $!

Almost immediately after the sale, our government learned of the sale and who to, one of the biggest, rumored drug dealers, and they cancelled the contract accordingly.

Kramer went to Don for a refund and Don told him him to re-read the contract, and told him to pound sand.

He didn’t live much longer than that.

Rumors we’re, when the gangs were bringing in a boat full, they’d give Don a couple hundred $K to leave the gates unlocked on the gates to his docks where they’d unload the contraband to waiting cars.


I'm confused. I always thought DA's murder was directly linked to drug running? So was it indirectly linked? What was Kramer's beef with him?

[LakeFever]

The govt cancelled their contract or pressured Don to cancel Kramers contract?

[WaterZebra]

You can't play both sides of the fence without ending up getting killed. DEA should have never made a business arrangement with DA to begin with?

[Instigator]

I read it was the government.


The govt cancelled their contract or pressured Don to cancel Kramers contract?

[LakeFever]

If the govt cancelled their contracts why wouldnt Don just build Kramers boat? What motive would he have not to simply fullfill the order and avoid starting up a beef?

[FUJIMO]

...the above picture of the warpath 41, of the second/lower boat, the "b69" boat, was not built by ben kramers apache boat company in hollywood. it had nothing to do with the original ben kramer apache. it is a stepped bottom boat that benny never made. the molds for this boat were tooled later in the 90's by a company named "nu-tech", who asked bob saccenti to put his name on/endorse($), which he did. they only built a couple boats if i remember. it was of course painted as a tribute boat, to look like the original ben kramer warpath, which bobby always throttled in, with ben, all over the world. there were a few companies that came about like this after ben went away, to ride on the apache's coatails & huge noteriety of the day...

[powerabout]

I only have 2 cousins that grew up in Boca/Lickerdale but when they were at school I was amazed at how many of their school friends said oh, dad got caught with a boat load, got 12 months.
As my Uncle (RIP) used to say ( long time Ft Lauderdale lawyer), their isnt a restaurant or gas station that wasnt funded by a boat ride in this town.

[Instigator]

Was no longer his company when it happened.

Laughed all the way to the bank, likely believing he was untouchable.
The historians say his M.O. was to then buy the companies back at .50c on the dollar.
Said he’d done some companies 2 or 3 times.


If the govt cancelled their contracts why wouldnt Don just build Kramers boat? What motive would he have not to simply fullfill the order and avoid starting up a beef?

[Instigator]

Always infatuated w/that era of boat racing, especially while living down there.

Heard many, many stories.

An interesting one from x law enforcement, told me back in that day, there was a dead sport in local airports radar coverage on the north edge of Ft Pierce.

Claimed that drug filled planes would disappear off radar, land, offload then takeoff, reappearing on radar 15 mins later!

Very thick, deep, colorful history from the time.

[JBS]

Powerboating attracts a colorful cast of characters. Sometimes it doesn't end well.

[hellbents-10]

A friend told me something when I was young and it stuck regarding things like this. When your on that path to easy dirty money like that there is only two ways out in the end, death or prison.

[powerabout]

I used to love the Mercruiser service bulletins ( issued on OZ for some reason) please notify the USCG on the following number if a customer is paying cash for the following parts...MCM 3 drive ssm, 460 engines etc etc

[LakeFever]

Was no longer his company when it happened.

Laughed all the way to the bank, likely believing he was untouchable.
The historians say his M.O. was to then buy the companies back at .50c on the dollar.
Said he’d done some companies 2 or 3 times.


Now that makes sense and it echoes what i was told when it happened. During this period i was nowhere near the south except for the odd vacation. A former colleague of mine was in Fla and not a racer but a cig boat owner. He told me the story was selling off a championship winning boat co. Only to already have another lined up that was faster. This bad faith sale tactic is what led to his demise. Im digging in the memory vaults for this heresay story so if im wrong im wrong but it is something i was told eons ago.

as a small aside being a speed junky all my life. Theres two types of speed junkies as i see it. Ones like me who are strictly in it for the fix of speed. The adrenaline. The time shifting. All of that visceral element stuff. Then theres the ones who cement the winning into their ego and that is the juice that fuels them. In this arena i have known guys who were so scared of speed, truly horrified by it. But their passion to win was greater than their fears. Almost like two squirrels fighting inside their head. Fascinating and really courageous men too i admire their ability to work past whatever mental blocks they had to go that fast. I could unpack this stuff here for a few chapters but you guys all know this anyways.

rip Don

[David]

Maybe not a surprise to everyone... His business practices were on the edge of shady, he spent a lot of time with other men's wives, and he sold boats to both drug trafficker's and enforcement agencies. The link states that they had 140 suspects.

The mystery behind the death of powerboat racing champion Don Aronow (boatinternational.com) (https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/don-aronow-power-florida-boat-racing-champion-death)

"He was formidably competitive both on and off the water, brutally handsome and adroit at negotiating the line between the legal and the illicit – at least until the very end. A ruthless businessman, he equally relished a challenge in his personal life; “He’d f--- your wife in a second,” said powerboat Hall of Fame racer and boatbuilder Allan “Brownie” Brown, author of Tales from Thunderboat Row. Celebrated yacht designer Michael Peters (https://www.boatinternational.com/profiles/michael-peters--21615), who went to work for Aronow the day before he died, said, “He was an asshole, but he was my asshole – a benefactor for whom I’ll always be grateful.”

[RBT]

Find the book Blue Thunder, it is worth the read.

[Instigator]

Yeah I’m double sided on my feelings of him.

Side 1 is, he was a bad ass!
He raced no mater what and raced to win.

And built his own boats, CO’s etc.

He was the real deal.

Side 2 was, you couldn’t trust the guy as far as you could throw him.

I thought for sure his murderer would be found to be the husband of a married lover.

Rumor is, he had a hidden apartment at the Cigarette factory so he could bed the wives of his friends, customers wives/girlfriends.

And yeah, you live like that (I’ve known many) it’s not if, but when life catches up w/you.





Maybe not a surprise to everyone... His business practices were on the edge of shady, he spent a lot of time with other men's wives, and he sold boats to both drug trafficker's and enforcement agencies. The link states that they had 140 suspects.

The mystery behind the death of powerboat racing champion Don Aronow (boatinternational.com) (https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/don-aronow-power-florida-boat-racing-champion-death)

"He was formidably competitive both on and off the water, brutally handsome and adroit at negotiating the line between the legal and the illicit – at least until the very end. A ruthless businessman, he equally relished a challenge in his personal life; “He’d f--- your wife in a second,” said powerboat Hall of Fame racer and boatbuilder Allan “Brownie” Brown, author of Tales from Thunderboat Row. Celebrated yacht designer Michael Peters (https://www.boatinternational.com/profiles/michael-peters--21615), who went to work for Aronow the day before he died, said, “He was an asshole, but he was my asshole – a benefactor for whom I’ll always be grateful.”

[David]

People are complicated. Mr Aronow accomplished a lot. I did not mean to diminish his achievements by pointing out that his murder was not a surprise to all. It's sort of like sports in that I don't expect my favorite athletes to be model citizens.

Blue Thunder is not available from the Orillia Public Library but is available used from Amazon.ca for $30 Cdn.

[powerabout]

His name ended up on a kill list with a price via the Colombians, so a low level guy with a debt got the job to clear his debt.
With no connection to the victim it took a while to find him

[WaterZebra]

I used to love the Mercruiser service bulletins ( issued on OZ for some reason) please notify the USCG on the following number if a customer is paying cash for the following parts...MCM 3 drive ssm, 460 engines etc etc

Mercury HiPerf changed their procedures for new product sales and service. Everybody had to have a written contract and banking / credit references. No exceptions. This applied to OPC racers as well. Cash sales were prohibited. If you were a business, you had to provide a tax ID number too.

[FUJIMO]

Mercury HiPerf changed their procedures for new product sales and service. Everybody had to have a written contract and banking / credit references. No exceptions. This applied to OPC racers as well. Cash sales were prohibited. If you were a business, you had to provide a tax ID number too.
...if relating this to the aronow era of getting hi-perf product, and the amounts of cash that was out there then, this was no hindrance at all...

[WaterZebra]

...if relating this to the aronow era of getting hi-perf product, and the amounts of cash that was out there then, this was no hindrance at all...

No, but to us regular racers, the HiPerf contracts were kind of a shock.............

[CUDA]

The Miami area is like another country, two months ago I stopped to get a sub at the largest supermarket chain (Publix) and the three people working there had to call someone over that speeks english:rolleyes:

If someone need immigration papers just bring CASH and things happen real quick, or do it the normal way and wait many years, only in Miami, 20 years ago I told my main guy to get a CDL license, his repiy was give me 500 cash, I'll get one next week, I've had a few Cubans that could not back up a trailer to save their life but they had class A CDLs $$$ will solve most problems in Miami.

[FUJIMO]

No, but to us regular racers, the HiPerf contracts were kind of a shock.............
...so what did you do to get what you wanted?...

[WaterZebra]

...so what did you do to get what you wanted?...

Just filled out their paperwork and went on as usuual. The guys that brought cash in briefcases disappeared.

[FUJIMO]

Just filled out their paperwork and went on as usuual. The guys that brought cash in briefcases disappeared.
...and prior to that, you paid cash, to mercury hi-perf in oshkosh, or to whoever was in the truck at the races, or?...

[WaterZebra]

...and prior to that, you paid cash, to mercury hi-perf in oshkosh, or to whoever was in the truck at the races, or?...

Got my stuff off the truck or had it shipped. They sent me a bill and that was it.

[FUJIMO]

...gotcha. same way for many that raced. for many of us that were competitive in offshore and champ, etc., & had a rapport with merc, we spent the money, but at the same time, (many, many times) never was even billed. old powerhead out, new powerhead in. old gearcase out, new gearcase in. miss those times...

[FUJIMO]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/94/39/cb/9439cbdc33c7ea1991c6d540fb72962f.jpg

[FUJIMO]

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/be/da/8c/beda8c5d5ff2e1f7a835d9b94106359e.jpg

[FUJIMO]

His name ended up on a kill list with a price via the Colombians, so a low level guy with a debt got the job to clear his debt.
With no connection to the victim it took a while to find him
...correction. "via ben kramer". ben kramer wanted to "BE" don aronow. note the number 69 (don's favorite #) above, in both of the photo's on their boats...

[WaterZebra]

...gotcha. same way for many that raced. for many of us that were competitive in offshore and champ, etc., & had a rapport with merc, we spent the money, but at the same time, (many, many times) never was even billed. old powerhead out, new powerhead in. old gearcase out, new gearcase in. miss those times...

Yup.............something OMC cannot claim credit for......

[LakeFever]

...gotcha. same way for many that raced. for many of us that were competitive in offshore and champ, etc., & had a rapport with merc, we spent the money, but at the same time, (many, many times) never was even billed. old powerhead out, new powerhead in. old gearcase out, new gearcase in. miss those times...

I had nothing to do with the Marine biz but I can echo similar treatment from corps I worked with. It used to be looked upon that team morale and bonding was all but priceless. We had some damn good times. Then the computer nerds showed up, started tracking everything making noise. Then Enron blew up and well, that was the end of that awesome era. And the good times everyone is so fond of simply went away and do we see anyone really any wealthier or living better for it?

[mikesufka]

Anybody here met Don Arronow ? Have some good stories ? What’s Ben Kramer doing now ?

MDS

[FUJIMO]

Anybody here met Don Arronow ? Have some good stories ? What’s Ben Kramer doing now ?

MDS
...yes. yes, but not worth sharing. prison for life...

[Instigator]

I knew the answer to the last question and only what I’ve read for the second.

Although I thought I read about a potential release?

Remember the botched Helicopter jail break ��
Someone misjudged payload!

For the life of me I thought, as smart as you guys are supposed to be, I’d of thought that’d be the one thing you got right!

Especially w/their background in transporting goods???

[FUJIMO]

...a fella named augie, a devoted employee of bens, who never flew a copter in his life, was taught, via multiple condensed helicopter flying lessons, how to fly a helo. augie would do anything for ben and the flight into the florida prison recreation yard was timed for ben to hop on board. other inmates as well as ben, tried to jump on the landing bars on one side, throwing the chopper off kilter. the craft spun around & the tail rotor then hit the perimeter fencing. ben lost his grip & fell from too high of a height & broke a leg. and that was the end of that. there's a lot more to just this one event, but i won't bore you with the details. this "is" an aronow thread after all...

[FUJIMO]

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/attachments/classic-offshore/242780d1161337775-cigarette-model-donald-aronow0021a.jpg

[mikesufka]

...yes. yes, but not worth sharing. prison for life...

That’s no fun :)

MDS

[Greg G]

This is all well before my time but Aronow was a commercial builder in the tri-state area before going to Florida with the rest of you old scoundrels and thieves. First foray into the boat building business was I believe 1961 when he decided to start Formula with Wynne and Walters as the design team. As 188th got noticed a certain special someone was living on a houseboat on the canal at the same time Formula was taking off. Don sold Formula and then started Donzi Marine in 1964 with formal production facilities. The young woman (hint) on the houseboat would go on to be more famous the Don himself. Anyone?

[powerabout]

...correction. "via ben kramer". ben kramer wanted to "BE" don aronow. note the number 69 (don's favorite #) above, in both of the photo's on their boats...
Sure it was Ben and The Dons deal that put the Don on the list after the southern investors investment came to nothing?

[FUJIMO]

... As 188th got noticed a certain special someone was living on a houseboat on the canal at the same time Formula was taking off. Don sold Formula and then started Donzi Marine in 1964 with formal production facilities. The young woman (hint) on the houseboat would go on to be more famous the Don himself. Anyone?
...linda susan boreman. she had a hard life. she had a second very bad automobile accident that killed her at age 53. this is her, just before her last accident...https://www.wallofcelebrities.com/celebrity/linda-lovelace/pictures/xxlarge/linda-lovelace_693132.jpg

[rgsauger]

Damn…..hard life…..

[XstreamVking]

Him being called Don Z Baby = Donzi boats... Any truth to it? A cool story they tell.

[Instigator]

Linda Lovelace?

I remembered the story of the woman on the houseboat but couldn’t remember who it was?



...linda susan boreman. she had a hard life. she had a second very bad automobile accident that killed her at age 53. this is her, just before her last accident...https://www.wallofcelebrities.com/celebrity/linda-lovelace/pictures/xxlarge/linda-lovelace_693132.jpg

[Lake X Kid]

You wonder if Don suggested to Linda (later aka Linda Lovelace) that Deep Throat technique of yours is Hollywood material. Maybe you should get into the movies.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtYOvTDek5JonvfbgYmCYtFjOhy-3iGsnNVaeKSLlN6aQZa50Vr6b3j7uN-4Fd2DhTmnzlVUg16tbkYQv40i_HBj7HbAENlmy3AEMGkPok&usqp=CAc



...linda susan boreman. she had a hard life. she had a second very bad automobile accident that killed her at age 53. this is her, just before her last accident...https://www.wallofcelebrities.com/celebrity/linda-lovelace/pictures/xxlarge/linda-lovelace_693132.jpg

[David]

Find the book Blue Thunder, it is worth the read.

I have two library books to finish and then I will start Blue Thunder. It was easy to find.

[Redbirdman]

Him being called Don Z Baby = Donzi boats... Any truth to it? A cool story they tell.

Shirley A.---

[Greg G]

You sure it was the first wife?

I thought it was his secretary that he brought with him from Formula with the "Donzy Baby" line from the next room when a phone call came in for him.

Shirley is probably correct.

[Redbirdman]

Howard built some nice boats out of plywood---Won the Gold Coast Marathon in one of his own boat

Had his own shop on NW 10th Avenue and 143rd

Had a bright young neighbor--

516413

[Instigator]

Very cool shot!

Is that Aronow on the bow?

Back when men were men and risk was understood and accepted!



Howard built some nice boats out of plywood---Won the Gold Coast Marathon in one of his own boat

Had his own shop on NW 10th Avenue and 143rd

Had a bright young neighbor--

516413

[FUJIMO]

Very cool shot!

Is that Aronow on the bow?

Back when men were men and risk was understood and accepted!
...yes...

[Instigator]

So we can talk all the crap about him we want but part of the attraction is….., he was one of us and he was a man’s man.

As I always thought and accepted.



...yes...

[FUJIMO]

...my last conversation with him was about a newer product at the time, (that i actually had been already using for about three years), called coremat, made & first introduced by west point-pepperell. telling him what its advantages are in the lamination schedule, its costs, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm thicknesses, etc. i left him & another famous individuals office, that i was talking with & started walking down the short hallway & overheard don complimenting me by name & my exceptional knowledge. it put a rather big smile on my face considering who it came from & who he was saying this to. he was dead very shortly thereafter...

[powerabout]

...my last conversation with him was about a newer product at the time, (that i actually had been already using for about three years), called coremat, made & first introduced by west point-pepperell. telling him what its advantages are in the lamination schedule, its costs, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm thicknesses, etc. i left him & another famous individuals office, that i was talking with & started walking down the short hallway & overheard don complimenting me by name & my exceptional knowledge. it put a rather big smile on my face considering who it came from & who he was saying this to. he was dead very shortly thereafter...
Would you put coremat anywhere besides the hatch covers and lockers?

[FUJIMO]

...been used in many different manufacturers decks & hullsides as a print barrier & panel stiffener since 1984...

[powerabout]

...been used in many different manufacturers decks & hullsides as a print barrier & panel stiffener since 1984...

"heavy stuff dude"

[Instigator]

Yep.

We used quite bit of it when I was building boats in Sebastian.

Cool stuff.

Have also seen it in many boats I’ve worked on.

I think maybe it’s biggest feature was the elimination of print through, which always mystified me.

...been used in many different manufacturers decks & hullsides as a print barrier & panel stiffener since 1984...

[Greg G]

Very cool shot!

Is that Aronow on the bow?

Back when men were men and risk was understood and accepted!

Copter is right in there. If you look close there are two men on the bow and yes one of them is Don A.

[Instigator]

Yep.

Noticed both.

Remember the story of him almost hitting a chopper after launching off a wave in rough race.

Also, note the driver at the transom.
Leg up on the gunnel like they’re out on a lunch run!

Wussy’s not apply!



Copter is right in there. If you look close there are two men on the bow and yes one of them is Don A.

[Lake X Kid]

Yep.

Noticed both.

Remember the story of him almost hitting a chopper after launching off a wave in rough race.



My dad raced offshore in the 1960s in Florida (like Don A.).
And I remember him telling me, there were times when he thought he could just reach up and touch one of the helicopters.

Which to this day, I think it was the Copter pilot making a statement to the Offshore racers, that I got skills too.
See how close I can get to you racers.

Because photographers do not need to be 12 feet from the boat's cockpit.

[Amberjack1234]

Yes, Don Z was an old scoundrel from New Jersey and had a lot of connections with Genovese and Gambino. Came to Florida for his health and to spend money.

[Amberjack1234]

You bet your Bippy that’s a donzi himself. Abi built boats.

[Amberjack1234]

Just discovered this discussion. I grew up as a kid in Miami Speed boat Row was a special place with all the activity going on to a kid growing up. In 1965 and 66 we lived in a development called old Cutler Bay. Don Arronow lived in a development call Gables Estates across the canal from us. He lived on a peninsula at the end of the cul-de-sac and shared the property with the Miller family who owned Lennar construction. They had 1/2 of the peninsula and Don had the other right across from Matheson hammock. My father had a big interest in the race tracks, and Don used to come and sit in his box at Hialeah and Calder some days. Gulfstream racetrack also which was owned by the exotic gardens flower people. His son, Michael got into race horses quite a bit. I think I remember that he was crippled after a car accident and was in a wheelchair. funny, but true story when Don with customs to sell them the blue thunder cats he was demonstrating them to then VP Bush, and they were taking a ride out haul over and into some pretty snotty weather. Don demonstrated a hard turn and one of the customs guys wasn’t holding on right properly ended up with a broken arm or leg I don’t remember which. Another urban rumor was that when the finished product blue thunder cats were delivered to customs some of the builders in the factory, they shall remain nameless, altered the balance of the modes by moving all the weight forward a couple of feet, so that the Boats ran bow, heavy, and did not go over about 60 miles an hour. Having been chased by one, I can attest to that fact.

[David]

I finished reading Blue Thunder a few days ago. The short story per the book:

Mr Aronow was the best offshore racer of his era and founded a lot of boat companies, building some excellent boats.

He got his start in construction with his father in laws company, and then blackmailed his father in law into the money to start his own business. With mob support this business was successful. He then left New Jersey for Florida either to escape winter or escape the mob.

Once in Florida he began racing, building boats, and resumed his ties with organized crime, including allowing his buildings to be used for marijuana smuggling.

Mr Aronow was taken out by two hit men from Chicago the day before he was scheduled to testify. He was not trusted to plead the 5th or lie as he had before.

The man convicted of his murder had nothing to do with it.


The book seems well researched and credible. It does not take away from Mr Aronow’s racing accomplishments, it does cast his business achievements in a different light

[Tomanytoys]

I finished reading Blue Thunder a few days ago. The short story per the book:

Mr Aronow was the best offshore racer of his era and founded a lot of boat companies, building some excellent boats.

He got his start in construction with his father in laws company, and then blackmailed his father in law into the money to start his own business. With mob support this business was successful. He then left New Jersey for Florida either to escape winter or escape the mob.

Once in Florida he began racing, building boats, and resumed his ties with organized crime, including allowing his buildings to be used for marijuana smuggling.

Mr Aronow was taken out by two hit men from Chicago the day before he was scheduled to testify. He was not trusted to plead the 5th or lie as he had before.

The man convicted of his murder had nothing to do with it.


The book seems well researched and credible. It does not take away from Mr Aronow’s racing accomplishments, it does cast his business achievements in a different light

Better than Cole’s Notes……..thanks David!

[David]

If you have the time, I can loan the book to you.

[donmac]

Fort Appache was quite the place back then 86, I remember seeing a 52'? magnum sitting at the plant just up the street out of the mold getting rigged. I was in awe at the size.

my memory is good for an old guy!

[David]

You could post some stories while you have a memory, LOL. Same offer, if you want to read the book, I could run it up to the next lake.

[donmac]

thanks David , some things are better off left in the past and were Canadian get back in your igloo! took my blower and cab off the tractor yesterday that guarantees another sled ride,even if it's road ridin still seat time!

One thing I would like to find out about from back in the day is a British jounalist did an interview with my wife and I at the 87 worlds, it happened to be a crew chiefs working honeymoon! wondered if it ever made it into print, maybe Mr. W. would be the one who might know,wife has a checkered flag bathing suit on if there's any pics. out there!

[RBT]

Fort Appache was quite the place back then 86, I remember seeing a 52'? magnum sitting at the plant just up the street out of the mold getting rigged. I was in awe at the size.

my memory is good for an old guy!

I spent a bit of time there in the 80’s into the 90’s. Somewhere it have a photo album with some amazing pics. Some of the engine shop with Keith Eickert and Warpath.
Wish I could find it.. Times were WILD specially for a teenage kid

[David]

Thanks for the book suggestion

[Amberjack1234]

I finished reading Blue Thunder a few days ago. The short story per the book:

Mr Aronow was the best offshore racer of his era and founded a lot of boat companies, building some excellent boats.

He got his start in construction with his father in laws company, and then blackmailed his father in law into the money to start his own business. With mob support this business was successful. He then left New Jersey for Florida either to escape winter or escape the mob.

Once in Florida he began racing, building boats, and resumed his ties with organized crime, including allowing his buildings to be used for marijuana smuggling.

Mr Aronow was taken out by two hit men from Chicago the day before he was scheduled to testify. He was not trusted to plead the 5th or lie as he had before.

The man convicted of his murder had nothing to do with it.


The book seems well researched and credible. It does not take away from Mr Aronow’s racing accomplishments, it does cast his business achievements in a different light
Although it’s just a theory, I have to agree. I think Bobby Young was the fall guy.

[Amberjack1234]

I had just finished delivering a 41 cigarette diesel boat from Long Island into Fort Apache a few hours before I heard on the radio going back up to West Palm Beach that Don Z had been notified for final notice. You can’t have it both ways and you can only walk that tight rope so long Karma is an unforgiving bitch.

[FUJIMO]

...aronow in one of his earliest small boat projects with jim wynne...https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.ba6bd96057e4bba5834f9a77377442a1?rik=6GYqZguA106osg&riu=http%3a%2f%2fmagnummarine.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2014%2f06%2fDon-Aronow-on-Magnum-16.jpg&ehk=6igEC4%2b23bCI0s2fxFwolXbkdR8u0dCpyA%2fFBOXg7SU%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0

[Greg G]

Good photo Fuji, any idea on date? Some of that Wynne design looks like it made it over to there Sweet 16 hull.

[FUJIMO]

...first two donzi 16's made...https://i1.wp.com/www.altomareblu.com/wp-content/uploads/RockaroundtheStates3JimWynne_85C7/jimwynneallanbrown.jpg?ssl=1

[Greg G]

Jim and Brownie ..............

[FUJIMO]

Good photo Fuji, any idea on date? Some of that Wynne design looks like it made it over to there Sweet 16 hull.
...very early sixties...

[FUJIMO]

Jim and Brownie ..............
...jim wynne, forfront, & allan brown. helms were always on the port side, as all the drives were left hand rotation. both the eaton drives and the volvo drives...

[FUJIMO]

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.XDsYJS7C9BvFK-2Xn7E4ggHaGE?pid=ImgDet&w=1992&h=1632&rs=1

[donmac]

some I/O challengers were also left hand helm even though the drive was righthand [trs] must have been for countering engine torque with the big blocks. Last one I saw 85 "little brown slug" we converted to outboard 2.4OS with gill bracker but left the helm original!

[powerabout]

Could never get to grips with driving left hand throttle, litterally, ozzies ones were outboard and MerCruiser so RH props

[donmac]

foot throttle works good until water gets rough, found that out in the first offshore race in the 24 skater!

[hydra-sports]

The Miami area is like another country, two months ago I stopped to get a sub at the largest supermarket chain (Publix) and the three people working there had to call someone over that speeks english:rolleyes:

If someone need immigration papers just bring CASH and things happen real quick, or do it the normal way and wait many years, only in Miami, 20 years ago I told my main guy to get a CDL license, his repiy was give me 500 cash, I'll get one next week, I've had a few Cubans that could not back up a trailer to save their life but they had class A CDLs $$$ will solve most problems in Miami.

Back in the 70's and 80's I was an independent trucker hauling produce and frozen seafood. My truck insurance had a clause in it that stated 'In the city limits of Miami, from sundown to sunrise, theft or hijacking was not covered. and yes for $50 you could buy a duplicate CDL license from any state with your name and picture on it

[Instigator]

Always wanted a 16’ OB.

Came very close to building a hot rod OMC looper for a customer w/one yrs ago.

Would have been big trouble w/the wrong driver!


some I/O challengers were also left hand helm even though the drive was righthand [trs] must have been for countering engine torque with the big blocks. Last one I saw 85 "little brown slug" we converted to outboard 2.4OS with gill bracker but left the helm original!

[donmac]

speaking of wrong driver!
we had 2 techs at the shop near the end of my time there! other tech told me he just sold a guy a modvp and he was going to bring the boat in when we got the motor on site!I picked the motor from Fred Wolf the next week in mississauga and told the other tech to call his customer! one day i walk around the back and there's a hull similar to a delta about 15', i walked in and asked what that boat was here for ,other tech said that's the one were hanging the mod vp on! "I' wanted no part in the lake test!
we got the boat rigged and the guy came to pick it and I had a little conversation about the power that motor had and really shouldn't be on that boat! He said he wanted it just to show off to his buddies [they wouldn't even know the difference between a 200 and modvp].
He left with the boat to go back to Ottawa where he lived and I remember him saying he drove for greyhound! about a week later I heard about a greyhound bus rear ending a load of steel and the driver was killed, looked at the name and it was the same guy and I was thinking that was probably quicker and less painfull than if he'd got a chance to get brave with the throttle in the boat!