The Al Copeland Story - Life in the Fast Lane. Popeyes Founder.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- In the high-stakes world of boat racing and business, the key rule is simple: WIN. What sets Al Copeland apart from other winners is his strong values and ethics. His rapid rise to fame has earned him deep respect from his family, friends, and peers. In New Orleans, his hometown, he’s considered a folk hero.
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"I started with nothing and worked my way up every step of the way," says Copeland, who grew up in the projects after his parents divorced. At 16, he dropped out of school to pursue his dreams, working various jobs, including selling baby food and working at his brother’s doughnut shop. In 1972, he launched his first Cajun-style chicken restaurant, which became Popeyes, named after The French Connection movie character. By the late 1980s, he owned over 800 Popeyes and acquired 1,400 Church's Chicken locations in 1989. When the junk bond market crashed, Copeland filed for bankruptcy but secured a permanent contract to supply Popeyes and Church's with products through his Diversified Foods Company.
Copeland’s business empire now includes 20 Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurants, Straya California Creole Cafes, and the Grand Boutique Hotel. His establishments are known for their lavish decor, designed by his wife, Luan. However, one of his developments angered Anne Rice, the famed novelist, leading to a public spat, which Copeland responded to with humor. Though the case went to court, the judge dismissed it, and polls showed public support for Copeland.
A workaholic, Copeland is dedicated to his family and values. He purchased a 22-acre estate in Mandeville to create a family compound complete with homes for his children, a marina, and a mansion that showcases his famous one-million-light Christmas display.
Romantic and extravagant, Copeland married his third wife, Luan, in a grand ceremony at the New Orleans Museum of Art in 1991. The couple renews their vows annually in different unique locations. Copeland has five children from previous marriages, all of whom work in his businesses.
Beyond business, Copeland has a passion for boating. His love for powerboats began in the late 1970s when he bought a speedboat, quickly becoming a competitive offshore racer. He won multiple championships, including a world title in 1985 and six consecutive U.S. championships. After a near-fatal snowmobile accident, he retired from racing but continued to build the fastest boats in the world, including a 40-foot Skater that hit 166 mph.
Copeland also owns a Boss Hoss motorcycle dealership, known for its custom-built bikes with powerful V-8 engines. His collection includes a Lamborghini Diablo, and he regularly showcases his boats and motorcycles at events across the country.
Despite his love of speed and adventure, Copeland’s philosophy remains simple: "If I can’t play with it and have fun with it, I don’t want it anymore."
Al Copeland Popeyes, Relieve the 1980's and 1990's POPEYES OFFSHORE RACING, With Don Aronow, Ben Kramer, Rocky Aoki, Don Johnson, Chuck Norris, Miami Vice, Speedboats, Powerboats, Ferraris, Show this video to people who searched for: Apache Powerboats, DONZI, Formula, Magnum Marine, MIAMI, OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING, VEHICULE MAGAZINE, VÉHICULE, Classic Offshore Racing, Thunderboat Row, NE 188 Street, Retro Racing, Speedboats, POPEYES CHICKEN
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Al Copeland was the most flamboyant man in Powerboat history! His fans loved him! The press and the media would hound him like a movie star! He was an innovator who worked with the manufacturers to try new products! Of course this was a richman's sport and Al Copeland spent millions of dollars on this sport!
yes sir
ran a few coke runs too
Chuck Norris vs Don Johnson the 80s what a time to be alive
yes sir! read all about i in vehicule-magazine.com
with Kurt Russell Navigating all in the Trump Castle Offshore race.
I live on the Hudson in Battery Park and saw Don and Chuck race up to West Point many years ago.
Don’s answer was golden! “The waters gonna be wetter”
Bruce was the man back then 2:59
The 1979 Ventura Grand Prix, California offshore race was Al Copeland's first national race. He leased a 1976 Team Scarab 9 Meter P-38, from Larry Smith that I later owned. Al loved it, ordered a Team Scarab 38 from Larry and the rest is history. Al Copeland R.I.P.
thx for the info
Met him years ago along with family and toys.
They used to hang out in Destin,Fl every summer.
Crazy Times!
🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
The Popeyes guy is so cool even Chuck Freakin Norris hangs with him! Growing up i saw the popeyes boats and truck and trailers come to town every year heading to Destin, Fl. Everyone knew he was very active in offshore racing! What a legend!
yes
I grew up in the 90's in New Orleans. Al had a garage right off of I-10 and had all his toys on display for anyone driving thru to see. It was always a treat to see them ripping the boat out on Lake Pontchatrain while I ate a 2 piece spicy and a biscuit on the shore. I SWEAR I saw that boat out on the lake again a couple of years ago........ The man also put on the best Christmas light display which was a must see.
I used to work at the ExxonMobil on Causeway and Veterans. Used to see the crew bringing boats to Bonnabel boat launch in the late 1980s.
Love this channel, y’all nailed the vibe of it all. Ordered some swag a couple days ago.
love it! thx
Bruce Jenner...wow, now a 'female'. Times they sure have changed.
✔️
yea and not for the better in many ways.
I remember being fascinated as a kid by the rig that carried the popeye's catamaran with their own helicopter that traveled on the trailer with it! They spent crazy money on this sport! I didn't want to leave from staring at that setup. The only thing that compared, for me as a kid, was seeing "Shockwave" the jet powered semi truck light up the drag track on a run in the dark of night! Saw The Popeye's rig at the Jersey shore offshore powerboat races and saw Shockwave at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.
🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
I attended a lake ponchartrain race, but it was in the 90's because we did not live there in the 80's.... The issue my wife and sons had was that the boats would scream by us in 20 seconds and then be literally out of sight for 15 minutes... We could not even tell what place the boats were in....My family did not have the patience ... But the boats were amazing and so powerful.... Al Copeland was a great guy whom i met becuase he wanted to look at my new MB at the marina... Great guy.. i also got the long version of the donut shop beginning, directly from his brother...and Mrs D. Starr doing his books.. and giving him that first check AFTER the franchising started... She said he exclaimed that franchising was what he was going to do... .. they were great guys to me ( other have differing opinions in new orleans).. i talked with them regularly at the Marina including his yacht captain.. ... My sons always looking at his yellow lambo at the Marina....great memories..
The High Octane 80s!
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the 90's into the early 2's were no slouch either, then a slow fade, but oh the memories are still great..
Don johnson, Kurt Russell, Chuck Norris and now you throw Bruce Jenner in the mix? Wild.
who woulda thunk bruce jenner would be doing deep knee bends in the cucumber patch in later years
😂😂
That was an epic boat. I may still have a magazine my dad had. He had a fast boat for our lake. Lots of fun can’t imagine popeyes
And his X-Mas light displays were fantastic !
🍗🍗🍗🍗
Went to Northport MI when the circus came to race there in the 80's. Popeye's everything - heli, boats in every class, jetskis, pit scooters, trucks, vehicles, and team clothing, all in yellow. We'd never seen anything like it.
Chuck Norris and Kurt Russell wow this was super cool to watch!
🏁🏁🏁
Used to watch him run the popeyes boat on ponchatrain when i lived in NoLa back in the 80s. Way cool
them were the days man
now only at VÉHICULE
so good!
I remember when this boat first showed up at the PB races on LI
💪🏻🏁
I love Popeyes even more now.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
awesome feature
😍😍😍😍😍😍
3:45 PORT AND STARBOARD 😂
Mid 80s I worked at Fisher Island Miami Beach. Popeyes yacht and race boat pulled up and docked. Mr and Mrs Popeye arrived on the Popeye helicopter.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Wait... Chuck Norris was a powerboat pilot? I mean I'm not surprised. But then again i am!
don’t be
legend
🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
Kurt Russel vs. Bruce Jener vs. CHUCK NORRIS..... take me back god
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Hola😁muy bien me encanta
😍
Wait.. THE Kurt Russel?
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One of the very few actors that was conservative. Still defending the second amendment to this day.
@@Rubeless Way to bring up politics in a video that has *literally* nothing to do with politics 🤦♂️🤦♂️
My favorit downtown Julie brown ❤wapawapa
3:05 Dang :o Keeping up w/the Kardashians
Al knew how to celebrate..massive partys..he was quite a guy..sure was an EXPERIENCE 😎
sounds awesome!
And look at Bruce Jenner today.😂😂😂
3:24 didn’t “SHE” off someone in a traffic accident ?
Dudes wig game wasn’t on point for sure. Dude threw a raccoon up there or something.
so what
561 to 303..who's that Bruce Jenner guy?.....palm beach represent
Al was not worlds. Champion in 81,82,83,84
thx for clearing that up
Don, Chuck, and Caitlyn…
lol
Not as cool as the original Donzi
A pack of merc. V6 2 strokes in a 50' cat still blows my mind. I love my merc smokers but the BBC torque proved key in big boats. Can't say I wouldn't have tried the same shit with a few million to burn trying.
facts
Must be why I love Popeyes chicken so much…
It’s in my blood…
Boy, Bruce should’ve laid off the wheaties… maybe he’d still be a man…