MM Tokyo Motorshow Coverage

**G.Irish** · 10-21-2007, 09:51 AM

The eagle has landed. I just arrived in Japan a few hours ago to attend the Tokyo Motorshow on behalf of TOV. The show starts for the press on Wednesday so I've got two days to kill.

My evil scheme for the next two days is to rent a motorcycle and ride around. With the help of my Japanese speaking roommate I've rented a Honda Interceptor. The folks at the shop don't speak much English so it should be pretty interesting but I know a bit more Japanese than I did last time I was here.

Carlos Ghosn is on Japanese network TV talking about the GTR. He didn't said anything too groundbreaking or noteworthy but he was saying that they wanted to make a car that anyone can drive in any kind of weather. Its kind of weird that they have a show about the GTR on network TV here but I suppose you'd find the same stuff on network TV in Detroit prior to the Detroit Autoshow. I must say the car looks better in video than it did in those shots from Motortrend.

He did say they can make 1000 units a month, which of course means price gouging! I couldn't make out whether he meant 1000 units for just the JDM market or worldwide but that number wouldn't surprise me if it were the total production number.

Hopefully I'll be able to post pics on here but if nothing else we'll have some pics each day from TOV.

**G.Irish** · 10-23-2007, 05:50 PM

Whew, its been a busy two days and I'm about to head to da main event right now. Yesterday I rode on out to Motegi to see the Honda Collection Hall. I also stopped by Mugen's headquarters on Monday.

I did a story for vtec.net that should be up within the hour so check that for the full story (I won't be back on until late tonight). It was a hell of a ride with me getting lost in the Japanese countryside, pulled over for speeding, having to bump start the VFR, and getting buzzed on both sides by crazy Japanese dudes on scooters.

Here are a few of the pics from the article:

[Image: vfrmotegi.jpg]

.RJ · 10-23-2007, 05:58 PM

G.Irish Wrote:having to bump start the VFR

MM does not have good luck with those things...

G.Irish Wrote:and getting buzzed on both sides by crazy Japanese dudes on scooters

So you got smoked by dudes on scooters? For shame. :lol:

.RJ · 10-23-2007, 05:58 PM

.RJ Wrote:
G.Irish Wrote:having to bump start the VFR

MM does not have good luck with those things!

G.Irish Wrote:and getting buzzed on both sides by crazy Japanese dudes on scooters

So you got smoked by dudes on scooters? For shame. :lol:

Gotta get you racing again so we can make some money off your ass..

Ginger · 10-23-2007, 06:25 PM

.RJ Wrote:MM does not have good luck with those things...

Gonna listen to me yet?

VFR electrics are shit.

Period.

.RJ · 10-23-2007, 06:47 PM

la la la I cant hear you!

**G.Irish** · 10-23-2007, 07:05 PM

Had to stop back by to pick up my credentials. Here's the link to the TOV writeup: <a class="postlink" href="http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=717173">http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=717173</a>

Andy · 10-23-2007, 08:26 PM

Are you planning on going to some weird Japanese place as well? Starts with a B and ends in an ake.

Evan · 10-23-2007, 09:01 PM

Bake?

mmmm cupcakes

Apoc · 10-23-2007, 09:24 PM

I don't think you want the icing on those cupcakes.

**G.Irish** · 10-24-2007, 11:07 PM

Brief update time.

Whew, yesterday wore me out pretty good. The convention center is about a 30 minute train ride from Tokyo station. The convention center itself was enormous, maybe 2 or 3 times as big as the DC convention center.

A lot of the booths at the show were very elaborate, much more so than I was used to seeing. A couple of the manufacturers had two story booths and several of them had huge LCD screens to broadcast their press conferences. All of the motorcycle manufacturers had their Moto GP bikes on display and several of the manufacturers that are in F1 had a car on display too.

Polyphony Digital had a GT5 booth set up so people could come sample the game. Jeff and I had a go at it and its clear that the physics model has improved a lot but one thing that was really messed up is that in the first person view the dive effect under braking is ridiculous. It looks like the car is going to do an endo. Of course the graphics are excellent but still has a bit of aliasing. I guess Sony still hasn't figured out how to fix that.

Something that was unique about this show is that they had motorcycles as well as bikes. The booths weren't that big by comparison but a couple of the manufacturers used the opportunity to show new stuff. Yamaha had some really wild scooter concepts out there, and Honda had a pair of really cool retro concepts and a flat-6 powered naked bike on show.

What was really cool is I got to meet some of the American Honda execs so hopefully those connections will allow me to do some of the cool tours and what not. One of the Acura marketing guys actually used to race motorcycles in the now defunct Formula 1 class in the United States. After that he became a test rider for Honda.

I also Larry Webster from Car and Driver, Dutch Mendel from Autoweek, and a couple of other guys from different pubs. All of them pretty much were just car guys with a cool job. I wish I had more time to chat with them but I didn't end up sitting next to any of them at dinner so I only talked to them briefly.

More to come later.

Andy Wrote:Are you planning on going to some weird Japanese place as well? Starts with a B and ends in an ake.

I want to visit the red light district (called Kabukicho) just to see all the weirdness but I think a lot of the places don't allow foreigners. I'll try to take pictures of what I can.

Maengelito · 10-25-2007, 08:33 AM

G.Irish Wrote:
Andy Wrote:Are you planning on going to some weird Japanese place as well? Starts with a B and ends in an ake.
I want to visit the red light district (called Kabukicho) just to see all the weirdness but I think a lot of the places don't allow foreigners. I'll try to take pictures of what I can.

dont sweat it G, you should be able to pass for a native

Apoc · 10-25-2007, 08:43 AM

Just find some of these chicks...

[Image: ganguro-pink1.jpg]

**G.Irish** · 10-26-2007, 01:36 AM

My Honda motorcycles at TMS article (with pics)
<a class="postlink" href="http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=717693">http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=717693</a>

My other motorcycles from the show pics:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-article?article_id=717631">http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-artic ... _id=717631</a>

TMS Car Photo Gallery

<a class="postlink" href="http://vtec.net/articles/view-article?article_id=717641">http://vtec.net/articles/view-article?article_id=717641</a>

Page 1 has some pics of the Civic Type-R track test they had for journalists and their little jaunt to the Collection Hall.

We didn't get many good pics of the GTR because there was a throng of people crowded around the car even 3 or 4 hours after the debut and we didn't quite feel like fighting or way through to take pics (especially since we're a Honda site). I did get video of Carlos Ghosn's press conference though.

PDenbigh · 10-26-2007, 07:20 AM

Good coverage man! Sounds like an awesome time.

**G.Irish** · 10-31-2007, 06:55 AM

More pics from the Collection Hall

[Image: lobby.jpg]

I guess Steve McQueen raced Hondas when he was masquerading as Harvey Mudman.

[Image: mcqueen.jpg]

Little know fact, Honda actually dominated American dirt track racing in the 80's until Harley lobbied the AMA to get the rules changed (I forget exactly what they did) and effectively forced them out.
[Image: dirttrack.jpg]

I believe one of the first bikes to feature the single sided swingarm. Notice the hubcentric steering too.
[Image: elf.jpg]

Honda's best endurance racing motorcycles over the years.
[Image: endurancebikes.jpg]

Hard to imagine that was just one year ago...
[Image: hungary2006.jpg]

I think the John Player's paint scheme was the first commercially sponsored livery in the history of racing. Before that racing vehicles used the country's colors or some sort of custom paint job. John Surtees is still the only man to win a motorcycle grand prix title and a F1 title.
[Image: surtees.jpg]

Freddie Spencer's corner
[Image: freddie.jpg]

Biaggi wasn't always persona non grata at Honda
[Image: biaggi.jpg]

The most technically advanced motorcycle sold to the public for a long time. The blue tint on the windscreen is actually titanium (I don't know why they did that though). Only oval-pistoned production vehicle in the world. Only 200 made.
[Image: nr750.jpg]

The colossal failure that was the GP racing version of the oval-pistoned engine.
[Image: nr500engine.jpg]

Here's a pic of the engines Mugen has sitting in the showroom:

[Image: mugenengines.jpg]

CaptainHenreh · 10-31-2007, 07:06 AM

hock:

**JackoliciousLegs** · 10-31-2007, 03:02 PM

bad ass pics

Apoc · 11-01-2007, 10:31 PM

G.Irish Wrote:It was a hell of a ride with me getting lost in the Japanese countryside, pulled over for speeding, having to bump start the VFR, and getting buzzed on both sides by crazy Japanese dudes on scooters.

Did you have to get an International Driver's Permit thingie to drive there?

Steve85 · 11-01-2007, 11:05 PM

VERY COOL!

I remember a commercial back in the day where Honda claims to be the winningest mfr in motorsports. I don't have any reason to doubt it from F1 to AMA they have ruled era's. Just curious, yes...no?

edit...I remember reading about theoval piston when they first came out with it...what was the problem with it?

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