Round Up
ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
AMERICAN HONDA has announced the promotion of H.G. Nakamura from general manager of American Honda Motor Co. to general manager of the Financial Division of the parent company, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Japan.
Mr. Nakamura was head of the prestigious Honda division for four years and made many friends in this country while the firm achieved an almost unbelievable growth. Mr. Nakamura also racked up a considerable record in humanitarianism with such deeds as the Honda/ YMCA minibike program. He has always been friendly and cooperative with us here at CW. His spirit of enthusiasm and genuine interest in the future of the motorcycle and those who ride them will prevail, I’m sure.
Replacing Mr. Nakamura is, er, ah, Mr. Nakamura. Hirobumi Nakamura, that is, a familiar name to us, since he is returning to American Honda from his position as general manager of Honda Japan’s Tokyo offices. He was formerly sales director of American Honda so is an old friend to CYCLE WORLD. I had a brief opportunity to renew an old acquaintance at the recent running of the Champion Spark Plug Co.’s fantastic 250-mile AMA National road race at Ontario Motor Speedway.
We rented one of OMS’s plush suites in the grandstands to entertain race visitors and watch a bike road race from what has to be the grandest grandstand of all. It felt almost sinful to sit in soft, wool-covered, foam rubber chairs, high enough to see the entire course, drink in hand, food at your elbow, wondering what all of the other race fans in the world were doing at the time.
For onewho has been around motorcycle racing for almost 30 years it was quite a treat. Wish we could build one at Saddleback Park, but I’m afraid it would take all of the fun out of motocross racing. I would miss getting as dirty as the riders, eating dust and having my ears permanently damaged.
ISDT RECALL
Sammy Miller, smiling Irishman and British/European Trials Champion who had recently retired, was at the ISDT, scene of the nearby photo of Sam, on the left, me, and CW’s resident genius (leader of The Mojo Company), Senior Editor Dan Hunt.
We are discussing what had become one of most perplexing problems for us this year: How to get the newly printed copies of his revised edition of the Sammy Miller On Trials book out of the English publisher with whom we had arranged the new printing.
We are now shipping them to the hundreds who endured the world’s longest back order situation. It was almost one year late, and I must apologize to the many who had to wait and had doubts of our business ethics. Needless to say, we will not rely on any other printers but our own, right here in the good old U.S.A., for further efforts.
Sam, Dan and I are in the pits at the International Six Days Trial on the beautiful Isle of Man. Not quite fully retired, Sam rode one of his special Bultacos to a Gold Medal. As always, he made it look very easy.
VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DEALER
For several years I have been on the mailing list of Kirk White Motors Inc., in Overbrook, Pa. They specialize in used foreign cars, particularly the exotic variety like Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos, and the most exotic of all, Ferraris. Being a Ferrari owner and lover, I often spent hours eagerly reading and wishing. White has now added a Vintage Motorcycle Division, and his latest bulletin lists several tempting goodies. For example: a 1937 Velocette KSS; a 1953 BSA Gold Star; 1906, 1910, 1914, 1937, 1940 and 1948
Indians; and several Vincents including a ’55 Black Prince with sidecar for $2800. Their address is 2097 North 63rd St., Overbrook, PA 19151.
While speaking of Ferraris, I have been saving my pennies for quite a while and in September I took delivery of a new 365 GTB-4 Daytona at the factory in Italy. Dan and I traveled 2300 miles in Europe and England to see the Motocross Des Nation at Vannes, France, and to the Isle of Man for the ISDT.
The car produces a reaction somewhat similar to that of having Sophia Loren on your arm. It became almost embarrassing. But, not being one who disclaims a certain amount of male ego, it was a gas! The car, capable of 173 mph, is without question the finest thing on four wheels. It is frighteningly quick, handles perfectly, is comfortable, not too loud, and demands driving every moment. Much like a motorcycle. Through the kind efforts of Norton Vi Uiers Director Dennis Poore, and Vice-President Bill Colquhoun, it was gently slipped into one of their huge cargo containers, sharing the space with several equally handsome Norton Commandos, and arrived on the Johnson Line’s SS San Francisco in Long Beach, Calif.
The U.S.A. is a difficult place to own such a vehicle. Though it runs well at low speeds, it comes alive at 100 mph and over; the factory enforced a 4500-rpm limit on me when I took delivery. In fifth gear this amounts to 1 18 mph!
Too bad I am not much of a gambler or I would set out for Reno or Las Vegas every weekend just to drive it in no-limit Nevada. The photo shows the car with one of its traveling companions. [O]
