Mr. John Haggin
 

I was watching the special on "Miss Geico" the other night and it was awesome! I was wondering what Mr. Haggin does for a living - he seems to have totally endless pockets while being an extremely generous man. I don't even know how many race teams he supports. It seems like he is doing alot for the sport of offshore racing with all his generosity. Can anyone fill me in?

P.S. I'm not trying to get into his "business", he seems to be a very interesting guy.

Fair question. I'm always reading biographies, I find people's histories interesting, especially about someone whose unparalelled generosity and passion for our sport is doing wonders for us. I wouldn't mind learning more about the man, either.

:cool:

I was wondering the same thing.......Pretty laid back guy:)

:offtopic::offtopic:Hear say has it readers digest&Yellow book:rolleyes:Who's going to Glen cove poker run tommorow??:ernaehrung004:

truth be known haggin is a waiter at waffle house in west palm, the old rich people there just tip really well. :cool-smiley-011:

He's a great guy:ernaehrung004:

I heard he owns parking garages in new york city.

:cool-smiley-011::D

I heard that he doesn't work. Nice guy!!

Thanks man. Nice write-up!
:cool:

Great write up!

I didn't write it.....but I wish it was about me. :D

He just puts on a great BAR-B-QUE.................Thanks John you and OPA are the reason we are racing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for all that you do and the welcome you give to new teams!!!!!!!!!! I love the GEICO chics too!!!!!!!!!!!!

SCOTT
TEAM OCTANE 411

Oh I know, I meant thanks for digging up the link.

And ya, no kidding on it being me. :D :cool:

Gee I heard he invented and patented the "Early Bird Special" and now all the Florida restaurants have to pay him a dime a meal :D:D

Stories like that are great... real motivational guy.

Sounds like a really great guy who has done a lot for many people and the sport.

It looks I wasn't the only one that watched that and wondered "how can a guy in those yellow shorts have the kinda bucks to be behind this team."

can someone copy and paste the article? I can't access their site from work...Thanks, Tom

Here you go!


Team Owner

John Ben-Ali Haggin was born of Irish-Arabian descent on February 26, 1957 in New York City. Owner and Founder of AMF Offshore Racing, he believes in his team and does what it takes to stay number one. In just two short years, John Haggin has had more of an impact on the sport of Offshore Racing than anyone. From equipment to crew, AMF Offshore Racing is the country's premier and fastest-performing powerboat racing team.

He is a charismatic, good-hearted and down to earth man with a passion for life, people and the sport of offshore racing. He is also a very successful businessman who is never one to boast or talk about his private history. What is never told is that Haggin (as he prefers to be called) represents an incredible heritage which makes them on of the most influential families in history and whose involvement in international financing, mining, Thoroughbred racing, the arts as well as agricultural and industrial innovation influenced the politics, economy and development of the entire nation for nearly two centuries.

Haggin's name represents one of Kentucky’s oldest families and is synonymous with racing and great success. His exotic middle name comes from Turkish descent dating back to 1756. Ibrahim Ben Ali was a man of great wealth and means who immigrated to the United States and practiced as a physician in Philadelphia. His grandson was James Ben-Ali Haggin who became a lawyer who followed the gold rush to California and became partners with Senator Hearst. His wise investments and clear vision brought unprecedented personal success and great accomplishment in industry.

Haggin’s own biographies and interviews usually give a vague but entertaining account of cattle ranching, a horrendous motorcycle and polo accident that nearly cost him life and limb and his early days racing the Jersey Skiff, Dazed and Confused. He is a humble man with a positive attitude who you will always find laughing. His trucks are easily identifiable by the large happy face logos and the signature motto “BIG SMILE.”

When Haggin put together his team, he not only looked for more than skill, determination and drive, they had to know how to have fun and put it all out there. Because of that his team consists of what has been call the “who’s who of hell raisers in the sport” and one big happy family. The AMF Team is always smiling, and when the boats take to the seas, no matter which one it is, they run hard.

Haggin’s passion and endless generosity has been felt by thousands and his with his enthusiasm there seems to be no bounds to Haggin’s dedication to the sport of Offshore Racing. “We always come ready to perform that show – but we’re also full of pleasant surprises, like compassion for children and encouragement for those who need it most.” Often visiting Children’s and Veteran’s Hospitals many times before camp is settled. Haggin's generosity extends beyond visits and recently donated a turnkey $75,000.00 race boat to the OPA that was auctioned off on OffshoreOnly.com to benefit the OPA's Shore Dreams for Kids Charity and Cancer research. Last Christmas, Haggin's team donated 676 bicycles to Toys for Tots and AMF sponsored the Policeman's Benevolent Associations golf tournament at Trump Mar-A-Lago Resort in Palm Beach.

Haggin is well known for his impressive entourage and hospitality and learned from his father how to entertain in grand style and something he recently learned has been a family tradition for over 200 years. “Sunday was a day of everybody getting together” he explains and talks of how his dad would strip down a steer and barbeque. One thing has changed, his team travels with a chef who feeds everyone in the pits breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. The meals and parties are famous for being over the top and with hammocks strewn about and a pool it is the perfect way to relax and get back to having fun.

Perhaps it is his great sense of humor and charismatic nature that lead many to underestimate the driving force behind the team of men throttling their way into the forefront as a force to be reckoned with. Haggin is an accomplished businessman in his own right whose passion and drive fuel clearly define him as a leader and innovator who makes things happen. He was recently described as a “Man on a Mission” and has already attained unprecedented accomplishments this season. The new Miss GEICO just began testing the waters and has already taken the undefeated title from Budweiser Select. Despite their abilities and having a powerful GEICO sponsorship behind them, it was a win that left the team in shock and generated huge interest with fans and media. It is also a portent of things to come as commits his vast resources and boundless energy in a quest to unite offshore racing as a major worldwide motor sport.

When it comes to racing, history proclaims John Haggin as the owner of the first Kentucky horse track in 1785. His grandson, James Ben Ali Haggin migrated to California during the gold rush and built the largest Thoroughbred industry the world had ever seen. He remains one of the greatest influences in racing history and his bloodlines and breeding programs are still noted as being the finest Thoroughbreds that ever ran on both American and European tracks.

As a pioneer of industry, interest in racing didn’t end with horses. Hurd & Haggin engines were built and used to power the speed boats that ran in the first APBA Gold Cup races and later evolved into interests in the aviation industry. John’s father, a two time Civil Air patrol hero entered phase one of what would lead to a series of Donzi purchases, which then lead to a friendship with the “Don” of powerboats Don Aronow. Weekends were then spent gallivanting around with Aronow and the likes of celebrities such as Lee Marvin, splashing the Donzi with frequent trips to the Bahamas.

He's been in love with the sport ever since his father took him to see Miami-Nassau-Miami race when Haggin was a boy. But it was a love for offshore boats that was instilled at an early age. When he was 6, Haggin went to the Miami to Nassau race and saw a boat crash into the docks. The crew came off bloodied and battered with broken bones and a plethora of injuries, but the young Haggin noticed something else on the transom of their boat. It said "AMF," which Haggin explains with a wry smile, means America Moving Forward. Haggin's love for the history of boat racing is evidenced by his relationship with speed record holder Ken Warby.

With a history so deeply embedded in racing and influenced by competent racers, it was only natural that John Jr. who was now in his late teens evolved into an adrenaline junkie. An 18-foot Donzi, with a blown 454 was his first watercraft, which soon after triggered the race-bug in him. Tom Sayward would be his partner in the JS-77 Jersey Skiff, known to racers and enthusiasts simply as, Dazed and Confused. Tom and John raced Dazed and Confused to numerous titles throughout Southern Georgia and Florida until racing ceased for the duo, when the Jersey Skiff program changed courses and steered its events to locations in the Northern United States.

Cancer took Haggin's father's life when his son was young, so the whole AMF Racing concept is dedicated to his dad. His affection for the regular guy is reflected in his sponsorship of 13 Production class teams. These categories are also known as ‘run-what-you-brung’ classes and are often made up of competitors who scrape up enough money for entry fees and sleep in their trucks. He does what he can to help drivers make it to the races and succeed.

"Whatever it takes to be the best, is what I commit to our team -- this sponsorship takes that commitment to the next level." With a past history and proven record for success, there isn’t anyone better suited to lead the campaign “United We Race!”

Good write up!

That is a nice article. I have been wondering "where it all came from" for a while now.

I'm sure everyone wonders how people run their lives but probably a question better asked directly, not publicly on the internet.

i'll tell ya ont thing, sitting down talking with him you can feel everything in that article wether it be a 10 second convo or a 10 minute one...he's an awesome guy

THANK YOU!!!!


great article

they have changed somethings on that site, at one time there was a link to a really cool magazine article from the horse racing industry. I wish that article was still there it really gave me an insite to a completely differnt side of his interests. In that article they mentioned he was married to Roxanne Pulitzer and still remain great friends. I have met him only once but he sure seems to have a heart of gold.

I had the pleasure of meeting John when he purchased our 51 OL (the original Team AMF boat) He showed up in Dania with cut off shorts and work boots, I was wondering who this guy was???? But once I spent the day with him on the water, I realized that he was a great guy, who at the time was boatless, but still had a passion for entering the offshore world.

He made us a deal, if we brought the boat to Sarasota for the poker run, and his then girlfriend, now wife enjoyed the poker run, he would buy it. We ended up having a great day on the water, and a better day with the cards, we won the card hand, and true to his word, he bought the boat. I must say that was one of the most interesting poker runs I have ever been on, and I had no idea that he would take it to this level.

Keep up the good work John.

I am so privilege to say that he is a friend. He is one person that I will always remember fourty years from now. John you are second to none, keep up the big smile my friend. See you soon...

WOW! I got my answers. He is definately an interesting guy! His family history is interesting as well.

Kudos to you and all your generosity Mr. Haggin :ernaehrung004:

Mr. John Haggin
 

http://www.ecbrcnj.com/id27.htmlRecently I had the extreme pleasure of meeting John Haggin in person @ our Club Meeting ( East Coast Boat Racing Club of New Jersey) www.ecbrcnj.com , I Own & Drive my Boat = Noreaster G-47One of our members a former offshore power-boat racer, contacted John Haggin and told him about our club and the boat's we have racing. New Jersey Garvey's & Jersey Speed Skiff's. As I was told John became interested and came to check us out. And after seeing and meeting us , John decided to invite us = our entire club and all our boats to come join him and all the great people who race the big power boats. We are looking foward to being @ 3rd Annual Chattanooga, Tennessee Offshore Powerboat Races Oct 12 - 14, 2007 We will be racing two races on Oct.13th. and final race on Oct.14th. We are Honored to join in all the Racing Fun. Last week a few of our club members including myself, went to Cambridge, Maryland to watch John Haggin's Team = Miss Geico Race to another 1st place Win. I must admit it's been many yrs since ive seen a offshore power boat race, I was very impressed by the Friendy and Professional attitudes of all the race teams. I envited John to go for a Ride in my boat. I hope he does. If your going to be there stop by and say hello.

I thank animal house for remembering my now wife "princess". She started this madness

I'm proud to say I shook your hand when you stepped out of the Denali on Saturday morning of the Ozarks OSS Races. I was the guy in the running shorts...out for my morning jog down to the dry pits checking out the hardware. You are a credit to the sport Mr. Haggin...keep going full throttle.

BTW...Scott and Marc are awesome as well...Straight Jacket and I yacked with them about starting racing for a while Sunday morning down on the docks. Team Geico rocks.

Stories like this are great... real motivational guy
ROCK ON !!!!!:ernaehrung004:

It seems Mr. Haggin has learned much from his family and is not resting on his dad's laurals, I hope he is in this for the long haul, the sport can use more down to earth people like him, hats off!

Great article !

....

Mr. Haggin does have an admirable lifestyle that needs emmulating. I don't care how he makes it, all I care is how I'm going to make it happen! :D

My only question: How much does it take to be EBM's “Professional” Extreme Boater of the year? :cool-smiley-027:

More realistic. What kind of money does it take to run each of the classes, either cat or V?

The most important role we as fans can do though. Make it known that we exist! Companies sponsor racers based on how much exposure their "brand" is going to get. Same with broadcast networks, they sell advertising and part of that is based on how many watch the program. United we get to watch more races on TV!!!!! :D

And with all the Toys he has, I still cant figure out why all he wants to do is race this boat. Haggin, You are a Nut, Luv ya man. Smitty

because he has a habit of surrounding himself with good people

OH PLEASE !!!! as if you don't know how much fun that boat is

Bernie I forgot where I met you because I was drunk but your a cool dude , no need to brown nose.