Don Aronow question
 

I spent yesterday in NY with Michael Aronow, comparing information on what HORBA has in it's files and what the Aronow archives have.....there are tons of unbelievable stuff between the two sources.

We would like to do a tribute to Don in 2007 as he would have been 80 years old, if he had lived this coming March 1.

What would you, the people like to see?

We have everything from childhood photos to early racing shots and actual movies of him racing both here and overseas.

One idea was a book containing 80 photos, that had never been published before. Another was a history with photos of the development of each boat company that he started.

Please help with your suggestions, as we would like to get this organized and up and running soon after the first of the year.

Thank you for your interest and suggestions. You can write to us directly at www.historicraceboats.com or post an answer here on OSO.

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Charlie, I think the idea of covering the history in photos of the development of each boat company that he started is a great idea.

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Charlie

The idea of book is excellent, especially with the propect of previously unseen photographs.
Personally, if possible, I would like to see a three part book with a chapter covering the racer, another one his boat companies and finally one devoted to the man the man himself.

Phil.

Re: Don Aronow question
 

I like this too !

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Great ideas all . However I still believe he should have a memorial on 188th, maybe a statue with a plaque telling his story. Theres too much history there to let it be forgotten

Re: Don Aronow question
 

I agree, Its a shame nothing was done before it became what it is now. Also a book detailing the history would be very nice.

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Good point! I suggested on another thread somewhere that maybe the street should be renamed Thunderboat Row, or Don Aronow Boulevard or whatever. Anybody living in the area know if there is anything there to remind the world the history that was created in the area? Or is it all just new anonymous buildings with no suggestion of what went on there??

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Unfortunatly no one would ever have a clue, other than the old hold out of Magnum Marine on the corner, and the vacant wooded property on the end of the street, which was next to Bobby Moore/Aronow shops. HISTORY literally. I f we could scrape together 18 or 20 million we could buy the end piece owned by Magnum and do our Museum approx. 5 acres that Magnum owns. Figure couple more million for buildings and 1/2 mil a year to sustain it. I`ll chip in the first $100.00 and would like to be considered for the job of curator and founder.
Happy New Years thoughts. 7XCHAMP

Re: Don Aronow question
 

:D :D

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Yup, me too! The racing history is easier to come by. His development and sale of each company, in detail from those that know would be very interesting to learn about.

It's pretty amazing when you think about it,,,,,,,,,, starting and making successful several companies. Especially when you consider that they were ALL manufacturing boats, very similar boats. Has that even ever been done before???? Or since????

Re: Don Aronow question
 

He is a Legend and deserves a memorial.. I would think a petition to the town fathers . What about cig. they sell a few 500K boats because of the name. Id be on it if I didnt live in NH :D

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Here here and include the race stock :D

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Hey Richie, It´s incredibly sad to think that the folks who run the city of Miami did not see fit to recognise the historical importance of the Aronow legacy. Maybe we should at least petition the people that matter to create something in his name. What do you think? And do you have any idea of who to contact??

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Charlie,
I would think a lot of people would be interested in the boat companies he created, as to how many hulls,production dates, identification numbers from the 1970-1980 era, who the new owners was etc since we do not get any support or answers from the present owner of Cigarette boatbuilders. I assume this would be legal beeing so many years ago.

Or if Michael would set up a service we could pay for asking spesific questions regarding the hulls we own now?

Reg Joern

Re: Don Aronow question
 

I agree.....I'd give my left leg to know some real history on my Magnum.

Aaron

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Magnum and Cig should have the records from the old days, they are a part of the companies records and follow the co, not the owner.. On the Donzi board we have been sucessful in uncovering a LOT of the older boats details, there is some darn cool info out there...

Tboat row is in Aventura now, not Miamuh..

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Oh, I tried several attempts to the Cig factory, not as much as a reply, and I know others have been treated the same way.

I guess it would solve some of the hassle if HORBA could get them to cooperate on the board.

Reg Joern

Re: Don Aronow question
 

Magnum says they don't have anything......I guess I believe them?

Aaron

Re: Don Aronow question
 

When I was at the Cig factory last August, I was told that they had "boxes & boxes" of records in the back with the old Cigarette info and send a person back there to research once a month, the problem is that they are not filed in any order and have to go thru each box. They did take my hull number and said they would contact me with any info in a couple of months, that was 6 months ago, nothing...

Re: Don Aronow question
 

A friend of mine and Cigarette owner went back to Thunder Boat Row in it's last days and claims to have found the original bill of sale to his Cig that he bought used, he said their was all kinds of papers around the dumpster, that may be what happend to a lot of the old records. I believe Cigarette was still building boats till the last day's one step ahead of the wreaking ball? The move my have been a hasty one and some records lost,, just a thought !!!

Re: Don Aronow question
 

I will be meeting with Giovanni Theodoli at Magnum this week before the races in Hollwood. They do have some info and was was able to acquire some basic info on all 25's amd the Maltese. He iindicated he was going to provide me with the same info on the 27's but he has backed off...I will keep trying.

The new 27 will not be at the Miami show,maybe they will let me shoot a few more pictures and I will post them.I also checked on the turrett and they did not have any. Bud

Re: Don Aronow question
 

the cigarette history - and especially Aronow are simply amazing. I live in Texas, so I'm somewhat removed from the scene - but I am down with what you guys are trying to accomplish and definitely echo your sentiments and respect.

Just found this 1980 old add for the Little Broad Jumper if this was the real deal, what a deal this would have been !!!

But I do have this one on the hoist in the back yard, it was said to be one of the Donzi race boat's???? It dose have vee drive's and big block's.

The book sounds like a great idea!!! I am anxious to see what comes of this.

I also think a memorial for Don on 188 St. would be appropiate. Someone is doing a documentary and movie about him silviosardi.com and some girl called me up after Christmas asking me some questions. Like I wanted to talk about it at that time after losing my dad last September. I was up at USA talking to Don about a revised (new and improved) 46'cat hull about a week before he died, and I was living down the street from his new house next to Barry Gibb. Even got an old archtop door from him that he was throwing out and turned it into a woodcut painting. He really was a terrific designer. By the way what bone head thought JC Simone designed the 32 cary, the only thing JC Simone did was ruin cary marine by trying to get into Don's market. If anyone really wants to know who designed the damn thing it was a few people, a few years, and a few improvements PERIOD

I fished a 28 Cary many moons ago out of Hilton Head. 40+ years ago. We caught several marlin in the tournament. Cary was a nice riding boat, but after trolling all day, you have to take the seat cover off the engines, because the built up carbon from trolling all day, the engines would start back firing. Not a good sign to see a foot of fire blowing back out of the carbs when you are 80 miles offshore and they had no EBIRBS in those days. Johnny Peters took the Cary and designed the 26' release which he sold a lot of boats, but I never road in a Release 26


I have to say with all the money in the boating industry why have they not committed to build a bronze statue of Don and a plaque of his history where he was murdered. I was at the Miami boat show that year and everybody was stunned that Don was murdered. Damn 40 foot outboard now going over $1,000,000 is just insane.

Last year I started looking back where Don was rebuilding his house over and the library said it was on the western shore @ 59th street

After reading this very old thread unearthed by DHKEYWEST, a shame nothing ever eventuated, or did it?
Any chance to try again for what would have been his 90th birthday......?

If the OP wants to build a 24' Banana 'DA 90 Edition' with a Verado, I'd happily swap my Fountain for it. :)

RR

This past spring I ventured into trying to get the Sheepshead Bay Community board to acknoweledge Don Aronow by renaming the street sign in front of his place of birth (1206 ave.R Brooklyn)
I had phoned Michael Aronow and with his support he sent me numerous historical articles and together we filled out a lenghty questionaire and 3 months later I presented my case for a street
renaming called "Don Aronow way".........I gave a short speech about all of his early accomplishments in Brooklyn and how he went on to change the world in offshore power boat racing and
became a world champion and was known internationally................They voted it down 15 to 0 .....not one vote to rename!!!.........one reason given was, when he made his millions in building
shopping malls in Jersey ..........Why didn't he send some money back to his former community in SHB???.........I was shocked that it was all about the "money" and not about a favorite son
of Sheepsheasd Bay who made good and the community was proud to acknowledge him!................I too was born in SHB and thought what a great thing to happen, but ofcourse BS politics!!

Disappointing, sounds like you were addressing 15 sailboat owners. They're always jealous!

I wonder if the controversy surrounding some of his associates and the circumstances of his death could make it politically awkward to have some public memorial for him. We all admire him and the great achievements but he wasn't an angel.

Anyway, kudos for your efforts. ;)

RR

True.........Micheal told me he kinda knew what the outcome would be before the board even voted on it, but he thought it was good to give it a try...........he was not surprised, but I really was.

Call Magnum and get their new book. It is fantastic.

Love old threads such as these. I consider myself part of the younger generation but i'm more interested in how things used to be vs. all the new stuff. Great thread.

Maybe name the street after him....