S I B To Bimini Run
05-12-2008, 04:00 PM
#41
Gold Member
Gold Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Grosse ile michigan
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 0
Received 79 Likes
on
32 Posts
Let's just get this thing back into perspective.
Forty years ago, on the morning of June 9, 1968, one of my all time heroes, Odell Lewis, (Who is coming for the old racers get together) began racing the Bahamas 500 in his aluminum 32 foot Maritime.
He finished the race 11 hours later and won. Imagine how long the slow boats took.
There was no talk of your boat is this or that with these guys.....they just brought the best they had, or could get their hands on and got in them and raced....all day and sometimes all night too.
Just come and enjoy the experience. Even if we get a field of 50 boats, they will still be rare among racers of today with experience in this open ocean stuff.
Forty years ago, on the morning of June 9, 1968, one of my all time heroes, Odell Lewis, (Who is coming for the old racers get together) began racing the Bahamas 500 in his aluminum 32 foot Maritime.
He finished the race 11 hours later and won. Imagine how long the slow boats took.
There was no talk of your boat is this or that with these guys.....they just brought the best they had, or could get their hands on and got in them and raced....all day and sometimes all night too.
Just come and enjoy the experience. Even if we get a field of 50 boats, they will still be rare among racers of today with experience in this open ocean stuff.
05-12-2008, 05:08 PM
#42
VIP Member
VIP Member
my interpretation was it was an old school style run in Honor of Don Aronow and to help a childrens charity. It is set up to allow pleasure boats to run in race style look at it this way, the spirit of the challenge should be foremost and egos left at home or this may never happen again.
05-12-2008, 05:18 PM
#43
Registered User
Will Katrin Theodoli and 16 of her closest friends be making the run this time? Maybe she'll use the 80 this time.
http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/0f1...045f1258f1f4a1
http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/0f1...045f1258f1f4a1
05-12-2008, 08:01 PM
#44
Enjoy the show
VIP Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: The Joisey Shore
Posts: 10,353
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my interpretation was it was an old school style run in Honor of Don Aronow and to help a childrens charity. It is set up to allow pleasure boats to run in race style look at it this way, the spirit of the challenge should be foremost and egos left at home or this may never happen again.
Also please recognize the city of Sunny Isles Beach for believing in us (OSS and HORBA, and now FPB) to bring a great event to their city and to help put this 11 year old city on the map. This is an expensive proposition and The City of Sunny Isles Beach wrote the big check all by themselves to make this happen and they've been more than fantastic to work with.
We have a chance to make this an annual event like Sarasota, but we've got to put on a good show this first year in order for them to see how it can grow. This event will be covered by American Powerboat TV. They'll cover the Bimini Run and Races. Stu may have his cameras there for his TV show and if Miss Geico gets their way, they'll have some big time network coverage there too. Of course Jeff will be there too giving aerial coverage.
It should be an awesome weekend in one of the nicest oceanfront towns in south Florida. The racer packet will be out in a few days and have all the info about the entire event and where to stay.
Now if we can Riendle to come, maybe he could rent out a few Bat boats for Sunday.
05-12-2008, 08:08 PM
#45
Enjoy the show
VIP Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: The Joisey Shore
Posts: 10,353
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My long term goal is to erect a statue of Don in Haulover Park over looking the inlet. Lifesize, holding the model boat in his outstreatched arm.
I'm in the middle of asking the park for permission. This would be a 3 - 5 year goal. Do you think it's possible to raise $300K for this?
Years ago I went to 188th St when OSO had thier offices there in Don's old office above TNT and saw the deal. Now it's a high school and condos. There's nothing left to what this man created, not a plaque, not a building, nothing. It's up to us to remember him...is it possible?
05-12-2008, 08:54 PM
#46
VIP Member
VIP Member
My long term goal is to erect a statue of Don in Haulover Park over looking the inlet. Lifesize, holding the model boat in his outstreatched arm.
I'm in the middle of asking the park for permission. This would be a 3 - 5 year goal. Do you think it's possible to raise $300K for this?
Years ago I went to 188th St when OSO had thier offices there in Don's old office above TNT and saw the deal. Now it's a high school and condos. There's nothing left to what this man created, not a plaque, not a building, nothing. It's up to us to remember him...is it possible?
I'm in the middle of asking the park for permission. This would be a 3 - 5 year goal. Do you think it's possible to raise $300K for this?
Years ago I went to 188th St when OSO had thier offices there in Don's old office above TNT and saw the deal. Now it's a high school and condos. There's nothing left to what this man created, not a plaque, not a building, nothing. It's up to us to remember him...is it possible?
05-13-2008, 11:14 AM
#47
Registered
I'm all for it Ron, As soon as it was announced I said I'm in, Charlie should have received my entry form by now...That was my point in saying if it isn't done right this time, we might not get a second chance. Henry ford got his credit for cars, the Wright brothers for flight, why not Don for power boating?
What is going on with the Apache and Fountain guys? It looks like Cigarette is going to be the lead candidate for the win by default if nothing else. We have a few Cigarette's but none of the other big water boat brands.
Then of course we have the cats....all that speed...the question is can it be used out there??
05-13-2008, 03:45 PM
#49
Registered
Here is the boat that Don Aronow originally raced in the '63 Miami to Key West race.
He sold it to George Peroni who promptly went out and won the Gateway Marathon in '64 with it.
He not only collected the trophy and the bragging rights, it looks like he also got the trophy queen.
Now, would we get more entries if we gave away the queen too?
George himself will be at the old racers reunion. I have the good fortune to be joining his son, along with the present owner of the boat, in the race this year with this very same boat
He sold it to George Peroni who promptly went out and won the Gateway Marathon in '64 with it.
He not only collected the trophy and the bragging rights, it looks like he also got the trophy queen.
Now, would we get more entries if we gave away the queen too?
George himself will be at the old racers reunion. I have the good fortune to be joining his son, along with the present owner of the boat, in the race this year with this very same boat
