Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Just read the Mens Vogue article and wondered if the King of Cool was really a good guy or not? They portrayed him as the coolest guy in Florida at the time and everyone wanted to be him.
But from the article you couldn't trust him to be near your money or your wife. If he sold you a company and then violated the non-compete or better yet was entertaining your wife/girlfriend you wouldn't think he was such a great guy.

So is this a guy you would have hung out with given the opportunity?

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

An acquaintance? Or a Friend?

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Even though the thunderboat row stuff is interesting , I wouldn't hang out w/ that crowd. Seems a little risky for me.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Sure I would have hung out with him. He was a personal friend of my father's and his wife was a friend of my mother's.

I believe there is an imposter Don Aronow running around South Florida now. Except he drives a Fountain and a Hummer instead of a Cig and an SL.

Or would that be a Reggie Imposter???

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

No






But he built great boats and sparked the best pass-time in the world.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

:D :evilb: :drink: :evilb: :evilb:

B.B.?????

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

I've often wondered this myself..........I just assumed he was a tough businessman and might have made a few enemies.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

I think I would be social with him had we ever met, but he would have been in a different social circle than me I'm sure.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

He was a hands down racer and just for that Yes I would have hung out with him.
He surely did figure it out how to make the most out of fiberglassing....sell molds a lot.
But would´ve he been my family friend probably no because of his connections and reputation.
Come to think of it my racing buddies none are family friends.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Yes.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

I would have left my wallet and wife at home that is for sure!!! :D

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Absolutely

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Yes

Look, you have to keep in mind that when they write articles like that they are always going to go after the stuff that will make it racy....their interest is not in keping you informed, but selling an image of their magazine and they write to build that image.

I first met Don in 1963....I was a poor college student with the emphasis on poor. I loved boat racing and to be around this stuff was like going to a circus every day. He was just starting out in the business and wasn't alegend at the time, just another racer.

Over all the years I knew Don, the one thing that I remember most, was that he was a guy that was always laughing. At himself a lot of times, but also at life. He was a fun guy to be with and always made the most of every situation.

One time I set him up with a question in front of some other racers. Don, you are a friend of mine and I need a special favor. What, he asked. I said....could you introduce me to Jim Wynne? He broke out laughing...he saw the joke made on him and got it.

He didn't come from wealth and I think that slanted him in a way. I saw him help many people who didn't come from money and be ruthless with those who had a silver spoon.

In the 70's when we had the country's first gas lines at the pumps, boat sales tanked...nothing was selling. He told the people at Cigarette...no one gets laid off...just keep making the boats and park them in the yard, this will turn around.
The workers needed a shot of confidence at a time like this and he gave it to them.

Forget all the stuff you read and ask yourself....what other house builder from New Jersey, ever took all of the existing marine talent in Miami, and drew on the strength of each of them, to create major boat companies that continue to exist to this day....and they still use his name as a positive reference.

The guy was cool.....I for one am glad that he was my friend and helped me start a boat co that I could never had done on my own.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

I just read Speed Kills, and I totally agree! :D

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Thanks Charlie.......that's what I needed to hear.

What does the Jim Wynne joke mean?.....

Aaron

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

The Man.........................

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

An optimistic and down to earth Racer and man shortly. ;)
Those telling others have strong egos are the ones who do lack it totally...:drink: :D
Thanks Charlie you made my day with those words!

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

I asked him to introduce me to Jim Wynne. (Who I already knew and Don knew that)

At that time Don had already won all his championships and was considered a big deal in his own right.....my asking him that was llike saying....hey Don your just a racer like the rest of us....BUT Jim Wynne....he is like a god...can you introduce me to HIM !!!

Don knew I was making fun of him and got a big kick out of it.

Another time after he sold me the molds from Cigarette, he asked me one day..."You know why I sold you the molds?"
I looked at him dead serious and said "Yeah, you needed the money" He laughed his head off.

He said...."No, because I knew you could do it." He had the coinfidence in me and that gave me the confidence to do it.

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Absolutely

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Without a doubt

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Dont have to ask me.. I already own a DONzi... :) :) ya shouldnt have one if you dont like where they came from or who started them.. :drink: :drink: Jamie / Lakeside

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

I would have to make that call after meeting him..

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Ask not if you would hang with him, but if he would hang with you.:D

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Now there is a statement that has a lot of truth in it!!!:rolleyes:

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

hell YEAH i would hang with him, do business with him , be his right hand man. He was a great guy by what i have read and heard from my sources. So what if he was blended in with the wrong people and stuff, that was part of our sport at the time. Look at people like Charlie, Richie, Brownie and so on on how successfull and knowlegdeble they are because of Don. Like i tell all my friends, God knows where i would be today if i was my age now in those days.....i would have loved it .

The real question should be "would he have wanted to hang out with us"..........

Mike

Re: Is Don Aronow a guy you would have hung out with?
 

Probably no, though I try not to judge people based on their rep or hearsay.