From: bulkes@mr.med.ge.com (Cherik Bulkes 4-6434 MR Sys)
Subject: Re: F1: Honda
Summary: Honda's identity
Organization: GE Medical Systems, Magnetic Resonance
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 92 17:33:55 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.142706.6781@stsci.edu>, lallo@stsci.edu (Matthew D. Lallo,622,4577) writes:> 
> 
> Subj:  Honda                   
> 
> IMHO,
> 
> ---
> ---
> ---
> 
> A withdrawal now, I feel, would leave the Japanese (as well as McLaren Honda
> fans in general) felling cheated or "sold-out".  No one
> stays on top forever, I think Ferrari is the quintessential example of that,
> but pulling out completely at the first sight of a raindrop seems
> unsportsmanlike and  cowardly.  I think the fans would much rather see their
> team struggling, trying to regain supremacy rather than simply quitting when
> the going got tough.  
> 
> Granted I'm not Honda's Chief Financial Officer, and their may be some
> legitimate financial reasons for the withdrawal, but it just seems to me that
> if small teams like Leyton House and Footwork manage to make it from race to
> race Honda could easily do the same.
> 
> 
I have been a Honda (not Senna) fan for a long time, and I believe most of 
that credit is towards the Master himself Sochioro (sp?). Honda is probably 
the most  un_japanese (car) company, as was made clear to him numerous times by
the other "big" guys (Toyota, Nissan etc.). 
Even till his last days did he play an active role in directing the
company as an engineering company, not a bank (GM / Toyota style).
The F1 has always been a proving ground for Honda as "the Master"
realized that he could improve his product by exposing it to the stress
of F1 racing. Way back in the 60's he proved himself right and developed
the company (with the help of loyal followers) into today's success.

I think the company is in trouble now that they are bowing to conservative
pressures, from both outside and inside. Sochioro's power was in finding
the compromise. Similar to "the Dragon" (Enzo Ferrari), when these
giants pass away, they leave too much of a gap behind. Followers never
become leaders. Just look at the new Accord, it's got the the right
technical components for a performance car, yet you fall asleep riding it.
They didn't make it "sing". My old '76 CVCC 1.5 ltr was a lot more fun
to drive (until it transformed into a rust ball).

In my mind the only hope is to get Sochioro's son (the guy that owns
the Mugen company and takes care of the old F1_V10 engines) who his 
father did not grant a company position because it would "limit" his 
ultimate potential (hmmm... a little forsight here?). 
Mr. Mugen_Honda has shown to be worthy of his heritage in developing 
several high performance products both for 2 and 4 cycle products and 
currently runs an succesful international business in after market 
racing components.
He may likely "get" the V12 to maintain if "Honda" pulls out.
...perhaps he'll fix it too.

So, I apologize for my long winded posting but I just hate to
see one of the last real engineering companies throw in the towel.

The list is getting longer and longer.... Lancia, Alfa, Porsche...
just to name some recent attrition.

- Cherik

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