09-12-2004, 11:49 AM
Honda CEO takes 181 mph joyride
Takeo Fukui hits the race track during a day-long presentation showcasing new safety technology.
August 24, 2004: 9:01 AM EDT
TOKYO (Reuters) - Few auto makers boast a CEO who can demonstrate his company's racing vehicles at speeds of 181 miles an hour. Honda is one of them.
"Takeo Fukui, president and chief executive of Japan's third-biggest car maker, pulled off a publicity stunt Tuesday that had spectators applauding as he squeezed out of Honda's BAR f-1 racing car after doing laps around the test track.....
Minutes after stepping out of the F-1 machine, the 59-year-old Fukui continued to impress as he got on an RC211V racing bike and roared past the crowd, clearly in his element....
He then drove off quietly in the newly developed hydrogen-powered fuel cell scooter."
Man you gotta see the pics. You gotta remember Honda only uses CEOs who were past engineers with them. This is why they are so successfull. They only use guys who know what racing is about and have a passion for it. Wonder if you'll ever see any of the other CEO rip around a track on such wicked and dangerous machinerey. Especially the RCV211V.
You better recognize!! I always new this company had the spirit of racing.
Here's even more from Da Man from Motogp.com. You just gotta respect what he says about team orders.
Honda Motor Company president Takeo Fukui
Interview, 11/09/04
Honda Motor Company president Takeo Fukui was at the Estoril circuit last weekend to witness for himself Valentino RossiÔÇÖs Yamaha revolution and watch the Italian rider take another step towards maintaining the title he won for Honda three times in a row. Fukui-san, the man behind the 1973 Honda Civic and the head of the engineers that created the NR500 in 1979, spoke frankly about the plight of the Honda riders in the MotoGP World Championship this season and admitted the factory were missing Rossi.
Q: Why are you here?
TF: I come to motivate all Honda riders, meaning to energise them to get better results.
Q: Do you think theyÔÇÖre not doing enough?
TF: I think so, especially in MotoGP
Q: Were you expecting better results?
TF: Yes, I think this years conditions are very severe.
Q: Were you involved in the decision about which Honda team does development?
TF: For us the current situation is not reasonable. Basically, the works team should be top level, but at this moment itÔÇÖs different and there are a lot of reasons for that. HRC is now thinking about 2005 but at the moment I canÔÇÖt tell you what will happen except that the works team should be top.
Q: What do you think about Max Biaggi? Do you think heÔÇÖs got the racing and personal characteristics for your factory team?
TF: Hmm, I think so.
Q: The season is coming to end, whatÔÇÖs your feeling about team orders?
TF: Personally I donÔÇÖt like them. They use them in F1, but I donÔÇÖt like. We wonÔÇÖt make orders, I would prefer to lose the championship rather than use team orders.
Q: Are you missing Rossi?
TF: Yes, (laughing). But it was his decision, we canÔÇÖt do anything about that. We did everything we could do but he chose his own way.
Q: Do you think that losing Jeremy Burgess and the rest of the crew was very bad for Honda?
TF: Yes, but we couldnÔÇÖt keep them.
Q: Will you give special support to a Japanese rider like Tamada?
TF: Tamada has potential, but Biaggi also, Sete also, so weÔÇÖre not yet decided. We will decide two works rider from our six riders.
Q: Will you keep Nicky Hayden?
TF: Mmm, yes.
Q: WhoÔÇÖs you favourite Honda rider of the past?
TF: Freddie (Spencer). I need Freddie now!
Q: Ducati is making a Desmosedici streetbike and there are also heard rumours that Yamaha will make an M1 replica. Do you any plans for an RCV replica?
TF: At the moment we have no plan, but IÔÇÖm sure we will in the future, if you request!
W000000000!!! Time to start writing the letters!
Takeo Fukui hits the race track during a day-long presentation showcasing new safety technology.
August 24, 2004: 9:01 AM EDT
TOKYO (Reuters) - Few auto makers boast a CEO who can demonstrate his company's racing vehicles at speeds of 181 miles an hour. Honda is one of them.
"Takeo Fukui, president and chief executive of Japan's third-biggest car maker, pulled off a publicity stunt Tuesday that had spectators applauding as he squeezed out of Honda's BAR f-1 racing car after doing laps around the test track.....
Minutes after stepping out of the F-1 machine, the 59-year-old Fukui continued to impress as he got on an RC211V racing bike and roared past the crowd, clearly in his element....
He then drove off quietly in the newly developed hydrogen-powered fuel cell scooter."
Man you gotta see the pics. You gotta remember Honda only uses CEOs who were past engineers with them. This is why they are so successfull. They only use guys who know what racing is about and have a passion for it. Wonder if you'll ever see any of the other CEO rip around a track on such wicked and dangerous machinerey. Especially the RCV211V.
You better recognize!! I always new this company had the spirit of racing.
Here's even more from Da Man from Motogp.com. You just gotta respect what he says about team orders.
Honda Motor Company president Takeo Fukui
Interview, 11/09/04
Honda Motor Company president Takeo Fukui was at the Estoril circuit last weekend to witness for himself Valentino RossiÔÇÖs Yamaha revolution and watch the Italian rider take another step towards maintaining the title he won for Honda three times in a row. Fukui-san, the man behind the 1973 Honda Civic and the head of the engineers that created the NR500 in 1979, spoke frankly about the plight of the Honda riders in the MotoGP World Championship this season and admitted the factory were missing Rossi.
Q: Why are you here?
TF: I come to motivate all Honda riders, meaning to energise them to get better results.
Q: Do you think theyÔÇÖre not doing enough?
TF: I think so, especially in MotoGP
Q: Were you expecting better results?
TF: Yes, I think this years conditions are very severe.
Q: Were you involved in the decision about which Honda team does development?
TF: For us the current situation is not reasonable. Basically, the works team should be top level, but at this moment itÔÇÖs different and there are a lot of reasons for that. HRC is now thinking about 2005 but at the moment I canÔÇÖt tell you what will happen except that the works team should be top.
Q: What do you think about Max Biaggi? Do you think heÔÇÖs got the racing and personal characteristics for your factory team?
TF: Hmm, I think so.
Q: The season is coming to end, whatÔÇÖs your feeling about team orders?
TF: Personally I donÔÇÖt like them. They use them in F1, but I donÔÇÖt like. We wonÔÇÖt make orders, I would prefer to lose the championship rather than use team orders.
Q: Are you missing Rossi?
TF: Yes, (laughing). But it was his decision, we canÔÇÖt do anything about that. We did everything we could do but he chose his own way.
Q: Do you think that losing Jeremy Burgess and the rest of the crew was very bad for Honda?
TF: Yes, but we couldnÔÇÖt keep them.
Q: Will you give special support to a Japanese rider like Tamada?
TF: Tamada has potential, but Biaggi also, Sete also, so weÔÇÖre not yet decided. We will decide two works rider from our six riders.
Q: Will you keep Nicky Hayden?
TF: Mmm, yes.
Q: WhoÔÇÖs you favourite Honda rider of the past?
TF: Freddie (Spencer). I need Freddie now!
Q: Ducati is making a Desmosedici streetbike and there are also heard rumours that Yamaha will make an M1 replica. Do you any plans for an RCV replica?
TF: At the moment we have no plan, but IÔÇÖm sure we will in the future, if you request!
W000000000!!! Time to start writing the letters!
