Eccentric millionaire, former offshore racer Preston Henn died at 86....
05-01-2017, 12:25 PM
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Eccentric millionaire, former offshore racer Preston Henn died at 86....
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/br...501-story.html
From Gulfstream jets, oceanfront mansions and a Ferrari/Car collection that was insane, Preston sure had made a lot of money in that Swap Shop!
Preston Henn, the colorful entrepreneur of the Swap Shop Flea Market and Drive-in Theater in Lauderhill, died Sunday at age 86.
Henn was an eccentric but successful businessman, a self-made millionaire, who drove around his vast Swap Shop acreage in a golf cart. He worked every day, and if he came in at 7 a.m., that was late, friends said.
Former Sen. Jim Scott, a longtime friend of the late Preston Henn, says he was "brilliant, eccentric, gutsy, an entrepreneur. And a showman."
Bruce Rogow, his longtime friend and his attorney, said the bustling economy that Henn created in the Swap Shop was a tribute to the diversity of America. Immigrants got their start there, working hard to accumulate money before starting businesses on their own, he said.
“I don’t think there’s anything like it in Florida,” he said. “He and the Swap Shop were kind of iconic.
From Gulfstream jets, oceanfront mansions and a Ferrari/Car collection that was insane, Preston sure had made a lot of money in that Swap Shop!
Preston Henn, the colorful entrepreneur of the Swap Shop Flea Market and Drive-in Theater in Lauderhill, died Sunday at age 86.
Henn was an eccentric but successful businessman, a self-made millionaire, who drove around his vast Swap Shop acreage in a golf cart. He worked every day, and if he came in at 7 a.m., that was late, friends said.
Former Sen. Jim Scott, a longtime friend of the late Preston Henn, says he was "brilliant, eccentric, gutsy, an entrepreneur. And a showman."
Bruce Rogow, his longtime friend and his attorney, said the bustling economy that Henn created in the Swap Shop was a tribute to the diversity of America. Immigrants got their start there, working hard to accumulate money before starting businesses on their own, he said.
“I don’t think there’s anything like it in Florida,” he said. “He and the Swap Shop were kind of iconic.
05-01-2017, 12:26 PM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWfUNkrkQ4g
Racing career
In 1983 Henn, along with co-drivers A. J. Foyt, Bob Wollek, and Claude Ballot-Lena drove his Porsche 935 to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona.[3] The following year Henn's Porsche 956 driven by John Paul, Jr. and Jean Rondeau placed second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, just two laps behind the winning 956 of Henri Pescarolo and Klaus Ludwig. Henn, driving with Michel Ferté and Edgar Dören, failed to finish in their Porsche 962 after ignition failure while on lap 247 (Pescarolo/Ludwig covered 360 laps). Driving in the IMSA GTP class, Henn's brand new 962 was the first time the new model was raced at Le Mans. There was another Porsche 962 in the Group C class run for British team John Fitzpatrick Racing, though it was a converted 956, making the white Swap Shop Porsche the first true 962 to race at Le Mans.
Henn himself made five starts at Le Mans with a best finish of 10th in 1983. His Porsche 962 driven by Foyt and Wollek won the 1985 12 Hours of Sebring.
Henn also participated in offshore powerboat racing. He inexplicably ceased all racing activities a few years later and subsequently refused to discuss his racing career.[4] Despite this, Henn still maintained an extensive exotic car collection both in his private estate and on display at the Swap Shop and is a participant of the Ferrari FXX program.
Racing career
In 1983 Henn, along with co-drivers A. J. Foyt, Bob Wollek, and Claude Ballot-Lena drove his Porsche 935 to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona.[3] The following year Henn's Porsche 956 driven by John Paul, Jr. and Jean Rondeau placed second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, just two laps behind the winning 956 of Henri Pescarolo and Klaus Ludwig. Henn, driving with Michel Ferté and Edgar Dören, failed to finish in their Porsche 962 after ignition failure while on lap 247 (Pescarolo/Ludwig covered 360 laps). Driving in the IMSA GTP class, Henn's brand new 962 was the first time the new model was raced at Le Mans. There was another Porsche 962 in the Group C class run for British team John Fitzpatrick Racing, though it was a converted 956, making the white Swap Shop Porsche the first true 962 to race at Le Mans.
Henn himself made five starts at Le Mans with a best finish of 10th in 1983. His Porsche 962 driven by Foyt and Wollek won the 1985 12 Hours of Sebring.
Henn also participated in offshore powerboat racing. He inexplicably ceased all racing activities a few years later and subsequently refused to discuss his racing career.[4] Despite this, Henn still maintained an extensive exotic car collection both in his private estate and on display at the Swap Shop and is a participant of the Ferrari FXX program.
