So far as i know, Soichiro trained as a mechanic then started manufacturing piston rings in his own business, then he made little engines to go in pushbikes after WW2 and did well out of that. Then he made C90 style stuff and expanded from there. I'm voting for the 'S man'!! _________________ After years of moaning about immigrants now i am one...
Soichiro Honda was born in 1906 in central Japan, the eldest of nine children. His father repaired bicycles and Soichiro was fascinated by his workshop. This natural interest and ability with anything mechanical was boosted considerably when he saw his first Model T Ford at the age of eight. He was determined to work with cars and became an apprentice at a garage in Tokyo when he finished school.
He went on to build and drive racing cars himself, winning several races, but his career was cut short when he almost died during the All Japan Speed Rally of 1936. As a consolation his average speed that day (75mph) remained a Japanese race record for almost 20 years.
In 1937 he went into business for himself supplying the military with piston rings, patenting his ideas on die casting, even learning metallurgy so that he could supply Toyota (they held 40% equity in his company) and the Nakajima Aircraft company.
Expecting a period of instability and uncertainty after the war he sold the remainder of his company to Toyota and took a year off to make sake and kick up his heels. This unorthodox approach was indicative of his extrovert and fun-loving nature. A colourful man in character and clothing Soichiro insisted that nonconformity was essential to an artist or innovator.
In October 1945 he started the Honda Technical Research Institute which two years later became the Honda Motor Company. He was extremely proud of his plant's industrial relations which, he claimed, worked as a 'meritocracy'. The prosperity of his company was 'based on trust of youth and the promotion of creative people'. These high ideals aside, he was known to visit the shop floor with spanner in hand for a noisy tirade on poor performance or shoddy workmanship. The tirade would often end with a well aimed throw!
Personally testing models until he was 65, like his peer, Ferry Porsche, he barred his family from senior positions. Soichiro insisted that the presidency should be gained on the basis of merit, passed "to a person possessing the most distinguished qualities of leadership."
After retirement he devoted himself to the Honda Foundation which aimed to harmonise technology with ecology. He also served as vice-president of both the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japanese Automobile Manufacturer's Association.
He died in August 1991, aged 85, leaving a wife, Sachi, one son and two daughters.
The companies Kawasaki and Toyota were named so, because the founder was Mr. Kawasaki and Mr. Toyota. Those family names are quite common and have long lasted in Japan taking it's origin in the samurai field. Literally, Kawa-saki means "river tip" and Toyo-ta or often read Toyo-da means "abundant rice field".
The other thing about HONDA is it is one of the only ,If not the only Automotive company which is still privately owned in Japan.Unlike Toyota,Kawasaki,Yamaha and Suzuki these are all owned by big conglomerate's or are subsiduaries of larger parent companie's.(Toyota make houses boats and loads of other things in Japan as also Subaru is a subsiduary of Fuji heavy industries)
One thing everybody seems to forget Soichiro hated 2 Strokes and the NS/RS & NSR's were only born due to the embarasing failures of the NR in GP racing.
It was due to the skill and engineering prowess of Miyakoshi-san (Head of MX development during the 70's) that these 2 strokes were born.(He was the man who come up with the V3 concept)
Had the NR proved succesful earlier in its racing life WE would never have had the NSR.
So if it was'nt for this technolgical marvel's failure (NR) we would never have had the the bike we have all come to love the NSR. _________________ MC21R Repsol replica
SC36 'Fire storm'
RG250 MK3 GAMMA 'WALTER WOLF'
DR350SEV winter hack
Last edited by BOSOZOKU on Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:16 am; edited 1 time in total
fenton wrote:its a disease (kawasaki disease) have a look on google
That's right, my father used to suffer fom it. Then he traded in the GPZ500S for a Honda.
It may have that meaning but not with reference to the bike maker.
In the way my name (which is Japanese) has 2 meanings that I know of and that is before you start screwing around with dialects. _________________ These aren't the droids you're looking for.
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