Countdown To Miami: Cigarette To Kick Off 50th Birthday Celebration
 

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Cigarette Racing Team has plenty of surprises in store for Miami and beyond, https://speedonthewater.com/in-the-n...ay-celebration.

CIgarette Racing Team did open for business until 1970

You'll want take that up with the people at Cigarette. However, since I began working at Powerboat magazine in 1994 I was told the company was founded in 1969. Whether that means it was "open for business" is another matter.

This is from the Cigarette website (http://www.cigaretteracing.com/eng/history.php)

1960'S - THE DAWN OF DON ARONOW'S POWERBOAT LEGEND. THE BIRTH OF THUNDERBOAT ROW

"Early retirement from the construction industry and relaxation weren't in Don Aronow's blood. As he cruised in his own custom-built sport fisherman and shared stories with the boaters in Miami, he heard of the Miami-Nassau race. In 1962 he commissioned a 28' boat, barely lost his first race due to a blown engine and was officially bitten by the racing bug. He built three boat companies and numerous boat models, then founded the most legendary, Cigarette, earning the title, "The King of Thunderboat Row"--the empire he built on 188th Street in Aventura, Florida.


Making his 1969 debut in a 32' deep V hull with twin Kiekhaefer 475 hp MerCruisers, "The Cigarette," named for a notorious prohibition-era rum smuggler, Aronow won the Long Beach to Ensenada Mexico Race averaging 76.2 mph. Racing in both the US and Europe, Aronow won 8 races, broke the Miami-Nassau speed record, and set others in France, England and Italy; he won a third consecutive US championship and his second world championship in three years."


But this is not my fight. I'll be happy to put you in touch the folks at Cigarette if you like.

March 19th 1970 was the date.
 

The main thing is that Don Aronow's visionary brand, like Braver said, will no doubt be around for at least another 51 years. Believe Don is
saying something of that nature in the photo and Jim Wynne seems a little shaken. (Photo of sign courtesy of OSO member Ratman).

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...381f5af075.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...d17e3f7dc3.jpg

LOve the vest on Don!

Cigarette even has the famous ad with the models that says "Founded in 69 and still on top". Ive never heard it as 1970.

In 1969, the shop at 3099 N, E. 188th St. was housed with nothing but black 32' "Cary" race boats and a few 27' Magnums named "The Cigarette" along with lots of tooling, extra parts and Merc engines - there was no production going on.
The ad stating 1969 was not Don's; and
as Larslindoth points out - March of 1970 Cigarette sounds correct as to the time Cigarette went into business -
All in all it does not matter so celebrate the 49th anniversary - its all fine but the history should be clear.

Love that pic of Don and Jim - was taken in 1974 - Palm Bay Club - its 1st race - they won it in the white 36' shown

49 or 50th I don't care. Just as long as they don't do yet another AMG themed boat this year.

Thank you for the clarification. That is what I remember too.

Speaks volumes........

And the bottom photo courtesy of HORBA.......Thank you!