61 replies to this topic

[TheStranger]

first post, hello all

I've been on a GTP/Group C nostalgia kick lately at my home forums (the Crapwagon.com Champcarfanatics community), having a long back and forth about that era in a couple of threads...

http://www.champcarf...ead.php?t=21072
http://www.champcarf...ead.php?t=21247

(A lot of my enthusiasm was spurred on by an upcoming mod for the Papyrus NASCAR 2003 simulation which will introduce GTP physics and cars to the game for the very first time, more info at http://www.bhmotorsp....com/NR2003/GTP for those interested...)

One name which has kept popping up in a lot of my photosearches is Preston Henn, who I vaguely heard of when I was a kid (which happened to be, unfortunately, the last two or three years of GTP), but now am seeing lots of photos of his Swap Shop racers which almost won LeMans but did take Sebring and Daytona (twice). Of course, that wasn't even his day job; Preston's now-and-past occupation has been the successful magnate of the aforementioned Swap Shop flea market and drive-in theater complex in Florida.

Anyone know more of how he got started into racing, if Bonnie Henn was his daughter or a wife (she was entered in some of Preston's cars with Janet Guthrie and Desire Wilson at one time), and what spurred him to stop driving after coming so close to winning the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans. And how he was able to attract a great number of really good drivers (Al Unser Sr., Danny Sullivan, Arie Luyendyk, AJ Foyt, John Paul Jr., Claude Ballot-Lena, Jean Rondeau, and most importantly Bob Wollek) to share the duties with himself and his other hires...

And maybe confirmation on this hillariously classic story about Wollek's reaction to Preston's decision to pluck AJ Foyt from the Aston Martin pit in the 1983 24 Hours of Daytona:

http://www.champcarf...1&postcount=110

thanks guys

[lanciaman]

PBS showed a documentary last night called "Flea Markets." It was a tour of major sales venues in the US and included a visit to Henn's, without, alas, ANY mention of his auto involvement, much less showing of cars. (His market is an amazing operation.)

[fausto]

Bonnie was (is? :-) ) Preston daughter, if I remember well at that time she was married to a fellow GTP driver (Frank Rubino or Pepe Romero, pink 935&March GTP).

[TheStranger]

Romero of course is the guy who introduced Emerson Fittipaldi to both IMSA and Champcar, in pink cars...

There's a great shot of Fittipaldi's pink car speeding past a camera in Long Beach in Chet Jezierski's 1985 book "Speed!"...

[EDWARD FITZGERALD]

Yes, Bonnie Henn was his daughter , I think he attracted good drivers to his cars because he paid well , dont know what happened to him ,he probably lost interest when he started to count the cost .

[Arjan de Roos]

Isnt this Preston Henn the same Preston Henn who owns the Ferrari 275 GTB/Competizione Ch.# 6885 one of serie of three (some claim four) prototypes that where in fact to become the Ferrari 275 GTO 1965 (but didnt due to this famous homologation story).
This car is the only one who entered racing and came third at Le Mans 1965. Now beatifully restored it notched up several trophie at several Concours d'Elegances. See also many Cavallino and other Ferrari literature of the 90's and 2000+.

If yes, then Preston is one lucky man!

[TheStranger]

I believe that is the same guy...who also owns this baby:

http://motortrend.co...410_lemansenzo/

And just won a Chrysler through the casino:

http://www.sun-senti...,1754724.column

Even multimillionaire Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop owner Preston Henn concedes he doesn't need all the loot he has been winning at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood.

In the drawings that are held for members of the casino's players club, Henn and his wife Betty have won a new Chrysler, two huge flat-screen televisions and $3,000.

It is not that Henn is so lucky. He notes that he has poured thousands into the slots and the more you play, the more chances you are given in the prize sweepstakes.

"I'm under no illusion that I'm ahead," Henn said. "I spent at least as much as I got back, probably more."

[jimclark]

Condolences to Preston, family, and friends.

http://www.miami.com...es/14365042.htm

[john aston]

Just back from a trip to Italy;spent a night in Maranello at the Planet so I could pick up the 599GTB bright and early.We ate at the Cavallino and on the next table was a group of American guys who clearly knew their Ferraris and who had a major Bistecca fiorentina habit.Noticed one of the group sported a jacket with a very vaguely familiar name - Preston Henn.A bit of googling and TNFing revels this guy to have a colourful past, some of it involving finishing 2nd at Le Mans and owning some eye watering Cavallini Rampante.
I lied about the 599 - we were driving our powerful Panda hire car I will confess- which struggled with terminal understeer on the Futa and Raticosa passes.

[AMICALEMANS]

Preston Henn in 24hours of Le Mans
6 participations - 1 fois 2ème - 4 abandon(s).

Résultats Voiture Pilotes
1979 DNF Abandon Ferrari 512 BB N° 64 Grandet, Delaunay, Henn
1980 NQ Non partant Ferrari 512 BB N° 74 Henn, Delaunay
1981 DNF Abandon Porsche 953 K3 N° 41 Henn, Chandler, Mignot
1982 DNF Abandon Ferrari 512 BB LM N° 73 Henn, Morin, Lanier
1983 10ème Porsche 956 N° 47 Ballot Lena, Schlesser, Henn
1984 2ème Porsche 956 N° 26 Henn, Paul Jr, Rondeau
1984 DNF Abandon Porsche 962 N° 61 Ferté, Henn, Dören
In 84 he drove two cars

[Arjan de Roos]

You are welcome to use the "searh BB" button (top right) and find among others:

http://forums.autosp...ht=preston henn

[Jack-the-Lad]

Preston is from my hometown and is indeed a very colorful guy. He has a number of delectable Ferraris including a 275GTB/C (shown multiple times at Cavallino Classic) and an Enzo, among others. I'm sure he would own a 250GTO if only one were available! His primary business has been the operation of "Swap Shops" (or flea markets) at his drive-in movie theaters, thus making his properties generate cash 24 hours per day.

During the hayday of IMSA he sponsored some very successful Porsche 935s and 962s, supporting such prominent drivers as Bob Wolleck and AJ Foyt.

Any idea who the others with him were? He frequently travels to Italy with a couple of other locals, including the mechanic who looks after his cars.

Jack

[john aston]

No idea who his mates were - all American . middle aged and with appetites bigger than this humble Brit's.Had not been to Maranello for about 6years - seemed to be full of tourists taking cameraphone pictures of anything red.I was of course a serious visitor and above such matters.But the sound of an F40 being given a good seeing to down the Via Abetone was memorable...

[Cynic]

Preston Henn currently owns a Ferrari FXX, and participates in the FXX program whereby owners can driver their cars at special events around the world. Quite likely Henn was in Italy with the program, as the World Finals only recently concluded at Mugello, and many of the FXX drivers were there.

[drivers71]

Silverstone 1000kms 1983.
Preston Henn with Bob Wollek.
Preston entered a Porsche 956 for himself, Guy Edwards and Rupert Keegan.

[URY914]

I saw Preston at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in Daytona late last year. He still has the 935 that won the Daytona 24 hour and he was driving his 962.

[David M. Kane]

Didn't he own a auto sales place in the Miami area called the Toy Box?

[Hugewally]

'Flea market' - http://www.floridaswapshop.com/

[URY914]

Henn never owned the Toy Store and it is in Ft. Lauderdale, north of Miami.

[David M. Kane]

Yes you guys are correct, I got the 2 confused. Regardless, the Swap Shop must have been very profitable.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Originally posted by john aston
No idea who his mates were - all American . middle aged and with appetites bigger than this humble Brit's.Had not been to Maranello for about 6years - seemed to be full of tourists taking cameraphone pictures of anything red.I was of course a serious visitor and above such matters.But the sound of an F40 being given a good seeing to down the Via Abetone was memorable...

Chances are two of the Americans with him were his friend Bil Scherer and his (actually, Shelton Sports Cars') mechanic and early Ferrari restoration and maintenance ace Al Roberts. Both great guys...I can only imagine being in Italy with the three of them!

Jack.

[Simon Davis]

It seems that Preston Henn, former endurance driver and entrant and owner of Swap Shop, has filed a defamation suit against Ferrari for refusing to sell him a LaFerrari Spider supercar.

 

The legal suit states:- “The publication of the statement that Preston Henn is not qualified to purchase a LaFerrari Spider is an untrue statement which harms Henn’s reputation and holds him up to ridicule, disrespect and disrepute in his profession, trade, occupation, avocation, and among his friends and business and social associates.”

 

Henn is apparently seeking a payment in excess of $75,000.

 

Not sure Henn will be buying many more new limited edition Ferraris with this move.

 

 

[ensign14]

This is a bit weird.  For a defamation claim, you need to show that the statement has been published.  Looking at the claim (which you can see here), Ferrari told Henn's friends in the Ferrari world that he was not qualified to drive it.  So there's an immediate argument that it has not been published as only Henn's agents knew.  Alternatively, publication was to a very small circle, so damages would be nominal.

 

Am guessing though that Ferrari's Brave New World of Management and Accountants does not have anyone who knows their arse from their elbow, and therefore are entirely ignorant of Preston Henn.  Hence the initial refusal.  "85 year old from Fort Lauderdale?  Shyeah, right."

[sabrejet]

I found the bit about Henn's 275 GTB/C Speciale being, "the world's first $100 million car" of interest.

 

I know it's inappropriate to discuss such subjects, but why would it qualify (in terms of its worth rather than monetary value)?

[10kDA]

 Coincidentally, my own road car is also worth $100 million (ono). Any interested parties should send me a PM.

 

Yours too? So is mine!

 

[Jack-the-Lad]

I believe the American legal sense of "publication" is virtually any form of communication to third parties. Therefore, some gossip at SpA telling someone else that Henn is "not qualified" could be considered publication, and it could be considered damaging at that level. Henn is at or near the top of the Gulfstream's client list. He has owned and promoted Ferraris for decades, largely at his own expense. He is one of the first Corsa Clienti customers. He doesn't buy the latest Ferrari hyper car simply to flip it for a million dollar profit. He is a self made billionaire and not one to be trifled with. There is bad blood between the Arnaults and Henn over one of his Swap Shop vendors selling fake LV goods. LV sued and Henn settled. The connection is that there's an Arnault on Ferrari's board. That could very well have something to do with this situation.....settling scores, etc.

I know the attorney who represents Henn in this matter although I have not discussed it with him, nor would I. He is highly respected and doesn't take on nuisance or vanity cases. Ferrari could be learning a hard lesson on the inconveniences of being a public company as it applies to matters of transparency.

As far as 06885 is concerned it could very well be worth $100 million in today's market.

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 11 August 2016 - 14:03.

[Arjan de Roos]

If only Enzo would have known that his great grandchildren would limit sales of HIS cars (up to 499 or whatever) and say no to rich Americanos for selling another car...... The boat with 42 LM's has yet to arrive in the States.

[john aston]

I was once dining in Maranello and Preston Henn  and his entourage were eating at the next table. Seemed to be enjoying themselves and conformed to the American tourist stereotype--very , very loud and with gargantuan appetites - and from the look on the waiter's face , gargantuan tippers too. .  

[ensign14]

I believe the American legal sense of "publication" is virtually any form of communication to third parties. Therefore, some gossip at SpA telling someone else that Henn is "not qualified" could be considered publication, and it could be considered damaging at that level.

 

...

 

There is bad blood between the Arnaults and Henn over one of his Swap Shop vendors selling fake LV goods. LV sued and Henn settled. The connection is that there's an Arnault on Ferrari's board. That could very well have something to do with this situation.....settling scores, etc.
 

 

 

OK, that's the thing then.  Under US law you need to prove malice for defamation.  That seemed unlikely but if Henn thinks someone on the Ferrari board has been badmouthing him out of personal malice he will want to prove it - not least to compromise that person's position.  So this might well be an attack on Arnault.  Discovery will be interesting.

[fbarrett]

From what I've heard of his days in IMSA, Henn's long-term reputation could hardly be deflated more than it already was before he even tried to buy the Fazzazz.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Aside from being a tough competitor, I'm not sure what his IMSA reputation was. I can see him being a huge PITA to organizers, promoters, competitors, etc. From my perspective if the likes of Foyt, Wolleck and Ballot-Lena were willing to drive for him, his rep with them must have been pretty good.

[Jack-the-Lad]

I was once dining in Maranello and Preston Henn and his entourage were eating at the next table. Seemed to be enjoying themselves and conformed to the American tourist stereotype--very , very loud and with gargantuan appetites - and from the look on the waiter's face , gargantuan tippers too. .

Do you recall when that was.....perhaps during the 275GTB tour?

By the way, some of us make an effort not to conform to that stereotype. I hope that I do not. (Conform, that is )

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 11 August 2016 - 19:32.

[Vitesse2]

Can I just remind people that Autosport and Haymarket probably definitely wouldn't appreciate being on the receiving end of a libel writ from Mr Henn.

 

Since this affair appears to be sub judice, please make sure that you respect that.

[JacnGille]

Not claiming to be an "IMSA Insider" of any sort but I don't remember much, if any bad words directed against Preston or his daughter Bonnie. They had lots of money and they liked to spend it. If that makes someone less than anyone else then I don't know. He could pedal a race car pretty well. Not of AJ or Wolleck's caliber but who is/was???

[kayemod]

Do you recall when that was.....perhaps during the 275GTB tour?

By the way, some of us make an effort not to conform to that stereotype. I hope that I do not. (Conform, that is )

 

And I'm sure your efforts are appreciated by most of us. Many of the Americans I've met on my mainly European travels are charm personified, mostly delightful people. The stereotypically loud ones will always be with us though, and they certainly stand out. I've never forgotten one couple that wife and I saw studying the menu outside a restaurant somewhere in Brittany. They were complaining that it "Wasn't written in American". In France? As if! I offered to translate it for them, but they declined my offer, with the man's comment, "I aint eating anything I don't know what it is, and my own language too". I think they went off to search for a McDonalds or some similar temple to gastronomic excellence. 

Edited by kayemod, 12 August 2016 - 08:01.

[john aston]

Do you recall when that was.....perhaps during the 275GTB tour?

By the way, some of us make an effort not to conform to that stereotype. I hope that I do not. (Conform, that is )

 I think he was picking up a car or at least testing it ; I wrote an article about my visit and have just checked to see it was in 2007. Might he have been there for an FXX reason perhaps? His favourite dish at the Cavallino was bisteccca Fiorentina , I can report .

[Jack-the-Lad]

Out of interest could you elaborate on why this particular 275GTB could be worth GTO money? Thank you.

Simon,

I'm in transit for the next couple of days, so posting is a bit awkward so until I can post something coherent others more qualified may wish to chime in. There's a lot of history about the car on the internet if you'd like to search for that. Briefly, the car was designed as a highly modified 275GTB. My understanding is that three chassis were planned, but only one was actually built. To the casual observer it appears as a 275GTB....until compared side-by-side. The engine is likely to LM or P specification. At Le Mans in 1965 the car finished first in GT and third overall with Mairesse and, I think, Beurlys (sp?) driving. The car has an unbroken history and documentation and has been raced all over the world by both professionals and competent amateurs. I can provide more when my travel concludes.

As to the value, well that is highly speculative and I doubt Mr. Henn has any intention of ever selling.

[Tim Murray]

Here's an article suggesting that the Preston Henn 275GTB might fetch a lot of money if it ever came up for sale:

http://www.drivecult...ar-in-the-world

[kayemod]

Out of interest could you elaborate on why this particular 275GTB could be worth GTO money? Thank you.

 

Having read Tim's contribution, the Henn 275 GTB is clearly a very valuable item, but surely nowhere near 250 GTO valuable? The GTO is "iconic" whatever that means, even my non-enthusiast accountant knows what one of those is, but the Henn 275 GTB is only truly remarkable to anoraks like us. I really can't see $100 million or anywhere near that, not in our lifetimes anyway.

[Cynic2]

There were three chassis built for the very special 275s.  (Someone claims he has a fourth, but so far he's the only one who thinks so.) Henn's car is the only one of the three with any real racing history.

 

At the end of the 1964 season Ferrari could have gone two ways with their GT program:  the rear-engined 250 (275) LM, or to continue to evolve the front-engined GTO.  The decision was taken to go with the rear-engined cars, but for all practical purposes Henn's car is a 1965 GTO.  To him this justifies the price.  There are some knowledgeable people who concur.  It is a very important car, but as it hasn't been on the market in donkey years (as a friend would say) that's impossible to prove or disprove. 

 

(The other two cars have been sold, but for nowhere near the price of a GTO.)  IF -- big if -- Henn's car came on the market it would be very quiet, and announced to a very small list.  Would one billionaire in whatever country want the car and pay $100M?  We may never know (although I suspect the car could be sold for that amount if the stars aligned.)

 

(Rethinking:  If the car came on the market I suspect it would not be quiet; Henn would get a great deal of publicity for the possible sale.  That would definitely reduce the sale price.)

 

 

Edit to add:  in the late 1970s the car was stored in one of Bob Cressman's warehouses in Fort Lauderdale.  Bob showed me the car, which was sitting next to a standard 275 GTB (2 cam).  Henn's car may be a "berlinetta normale" as Ferrari claimed, but I don't think the two cars had a single panel in common.  I really wish I'd had a camera . . . .

Edited by Cynic2, 12 August 2016 - 21:37.

[JoBo]

And I'm sure your efforts are appreciated by most of us. Many of the Americans I've met on my mainly European travels are charm personified, mostly delightful people. The stereotypically loud ones will always be with us though, and they certainly stand out. I've never forgotten one couple that wife and I saw studying the menu outside a restaurant somewhere in Brittany. They were complaining that it "Wasn't written in American". In France? As if! I offered to translate it for them, but they declined my offer, with the man's comment, "I aint eating anything I don't know what it is, and my own language too". I think they went off to search for a McDonalds or some similar temple to gastronomic excellence. 

 

I luuuuuve that post!

 

JoBo

Edited by JoBo, 15 August 2016 - 08:28.

[JoBo]

Having read Tim's contribution, the Henn 275 GTB is clearly a very valuable item, but surely nowhere near 250 GTO valuable? The GTO is "iconic" whatever that means, even my non-enthusiast accountant knows what one of those is, but the Henn 275 GTB is only truly remarkable to anoraks like us. I really can't see $100 million or anywhere near that, not in our lifetimes anyway.

 

Totally agree! Its a great car - yes! But does not come close to GTOs that ran in Le Mans, Targa Florio, 1000 km Nürburgring, etc., etc. with all that magic!

 

JoBo

[JoBo]

It seems that Preston Henn, former endurance driver and entrant and owner of Swap Shop, has filed a defamation suit against Ferrari for refusing to sell him a LaFerrari Spider supercar.

 

The legal suit states:- “The publication of the statement that Preston Henn is not qualified to purchase a LaFerrari Spider is an untrue statement which harms Henn’s reputation and holds him up to ridicule, disrespect and disrepute in his profession, trade, occupation, avocation, and among his friends and business and social associates.”

 

Henn is apparently seeking a payment in excess of $75,000.

 

Not sure Henn will be buying many more new limited edition Ferraris with this move.

 

75,000$$$s??? Pocket money compared to his 275.

 

What a silly decision to sue Ferrari for that reason.

Mr. Henn should not buy a new Ferrari from the Factory anymore. That should be his answer...(although that would not change anything in Maranello!)

[Arjan de Roos]

There were three chassis built for the very special 275s.  (Someone claims he has a fourth, but so far he's the only one who thinks so.) Henn's car is the only one of the three with any real racing history.

 

Well, in principal 6885 is one of four considered to be in the 275 GTB/C series 0, together with 6021, 6051 and 7185. The last one is maybe questionable yet is mentioned already in early literature. 

The Competizione Speciale is a different animal then the standard GTB. Particularly 6885 by engine and also as the body size is somewhat smaller, making the frontal area smaller to gain advantage.

6885 (Henn's car) does stick out in the Ferrari history with Targa, Ring and Le Mans history. With a third at Le Mans is does stand out compared to some GTO's. Its value is that of a remarkable Ferrari, yet the GTO beats all (except for the P4's).

[Jack-the-Lad]

75,000$$$s??? Pocket money compared to his 275.
 
What a silly decision to sue Ferrari for that reason.
Mr. Henn should not buy a new Ferrari from the Factory anymore. That should be his answer...(although that would not change anything in Maranello!)

Well, that isn't exactly how it works in U.S. courts. I'm not a lawyer, but when a suit is filed for damages the minimum amount sought is stated in the pleadings as a determinate of what court will hear the case, and what the rules of evidence, testimony, etc., will be. You can be assured that the damages sought will be far in excess of $75,000.

Perhaps one of our attorneys can chime in and take the rough edges off of my post.

[ensign14]

In England you have to state a value of claim so they can work out the lodging fee.  Plus there are three bands of case-dealing depending on how valuable it is - you can go outside those bands if you have a good reason (e.g. £1,000 claim that happens to be a test case).

[JoBo]

Well, that isn't exactly how it works in U.S. courts. I'm not a lawyer, but when a suit is filed for damages the minimum amount sought is stated in the pleadings as a determinate of what court will hear the case, and what the rules of evidence, testimony, etc., will be. You can be assured that the damages sought will be far in excess of $75,000.

Perhaps one of our attorneys can chime in and take the rough edges off of my post.

 

The only persons who will benefit from this GaGa-law case are the laywers...

 

JoBo

[Jack-the-Lad]

The only persons who will benefit from this GaGa-law case are the laywers...
 
JoBo

Maybe. You can be sure that Henn has negotiated a fee arrangement that is acceptable to him.

Preston Henn is not motivated by the same things as most people. Only a fool would underestimate him. My (wholly unsolicited) advice to Ferrari would be to build one more LaFerrari Aperta and call it even. They built an extra 288GTO for Lauda, they can do it again. 😎

[jcbc3]

I found this car that has room for Mr. Henn's ego and is his kind of class.

[FLB]

Actual news:

 

 

http://www.autonews....re-public-debut

 

 

According to this article, Mr. Henn's lawsuit was dismissed this week (at the bottom of the article)