Honda Pledges Generators, Equipment And More than $300,000 for Haitian Earthquake Relief

January 19 2010

Honda today announced a donation to the Red Cross of more than $300,000, as well as portable generators, water pumps, and other Honda products for use during humanitarian relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.

The donation represents the collective contribution of the Honda family of companies in North America, which consists of sales, manufacturing, finance and research and development operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with employment of more than 31,000 associates.

“We want to help address the dire human need that Haiti is experiencing as a result of this disaster,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & chief executive officer of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and chief operating officer of Honda’s North American region. “Honda has a longstanding relationship with the Red Cross, and we will work continuously with them to assist with the effort to provide much-needed relief.”

The Red Cross has emphasized that the greatest current need is funding to support on-site emergency response teams. Honda has also been in close communication with the Red Cross regarding its need for material and equipment such as generators and water pumps on site, and Honda will continue to work with the Red Cross to determine its need for such support in Haiti.

The Honda donation consists of more than $300,000 in cash. This pledge will be augmented by a company matching gift available at various Honda companies, with funds designated to the Red Cross.

The evolution of a biker

I’m not going to talk in general about the evolution of a biker but I will tell you my story because looking back is kind of funny. About 2 days ago one of my friends saw my post on Parked Motorcycle Syndrome. He’s a car guy and I needed to explain a little how I become a biker and eventhough I’ve got the chance to drive some quite exotic cars myself  like the 507 HP BMW M6 or the 5 series, I know and you know that these are different things. He said that nothing compares with the “orgasms” a good car provides, all I could think was the cost of auto insurance for example – look here to see some exotic wrecked vehicles and you will get a nasty feeling about.

So how did I become a biker? My uncle is a biker for 30 something years, I’ve got to ride as a bitch on several occasions but that wasn’t the thing. In fact I felt mostly afraid and looking forward to the ride end each time.

That happen until about 5 years ago when I went to a bikers party to meet my uncle there (I’ve drove my car there). And what do you know. Everybody knew anybody. Long stories about trips. Long stories about adventures, accidents, getting your buddies help and an overall warm feeling of belonging to a special group. Oh and the sound of engines!

I’ve got home mad! It was a Sunday and I remember I could hardly wait for the Monday to find a moto learning school. 2 days later I was taking lessons – I remember I was very afraid of loosing the bike there and in the same day I went and bought myself a bicycle – I had a fake feeling it would help me get my equilibrium and confidence, that is how afraid I was. The exam day came a month later – I was still very afraid and quit and took some more lessons. By the time I was convinced I will never be able to actually ride.

I somehow managed to fight my fear and took the exam some 2 weeks later. And went ahead and bought myself a $400 Russian motorcycle bike with sidecar and kickstart. An absolute nightmare – nothing was working. So anyway I went in traffic in Bucharest which is a very bad traffic city – crowded, nobody follows the rules and nobody notices the bikers. I remember I stopped at a traffic light next to a bus and the rear wheel was incredible close and big.

About 3 months later I decided that riding the Russian bike was simply totally unreliable, borrowed some money from my mother and bought myself a ‘86 Honda CB450S – that’s when my love for Hondas started. Now, you should know that this “86 Honda was very tired, and had like millions of Km done. And still, it started each morning and got me everywhere. It was a Honda!

By this time I managed to fight my fear somehow, and I remember I was thinking: well maybe in a few years I will become a real biker. Go to the Alps, ride and ride and ride like a real biker. I think this is one of the very few moments in life when your dreams come true.

Good news in the second year, my uncle sold me his Honda CB750 Nighthawk – which I still own today and take a great pride when riding it. I’m very convinced that this bike will “outrun the Universe” as the Top Gear show says about Hondas. It got me my first true rides, the biker feeling and the first brooken leg. Yep, I had an accident on my second year – a car didn’t stop at the sign. Nothing major, just remember my mom going crazy.

Third year started and I was kind of shaken because of the accident. I was riding really slowwwww. I still had fun, but I wasn’t riding each day. Totally unrelated, one day I had a business lunch next to the Honda dealer. I entered the shop just to have a look at the new Hornet 2007 – it was just launched and in the magazines it was looking amazing. I’ve sat on it. Looked at it. It wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t me.

I was trying to see the Hornet from different perspectives and got about 2 steps back – that was when my back went for the first time in contact with the CBF600. I turned to see what I was touching, and here is was. My love at first sight bike: the 2007 CBF600s -  naked bike, classic looks, non-digital gauges, no ABS and with carburators. As close as it gets to the real biking experience – no fancy electronics, no allien looks.

I jumped on the seat. I had an incredible feeling – it was like I didn’t need to change anything – perfect seat position, perfect handlebars, everything was already set for me. I bought it – I remember my mom saying I’m crazy to pay the price – it was almost the same price with a low cost car. I was thinking the same.

30.000 km later, Alps trip done, may riding stories, I know that no money can buy what a bike can give you. It doesn’t matter how much it costs, it changed and maybe saved my life. Looking forward for the French Alps ride in about 5 months.

Dealing with Parked Motorcycle Syndrome

What’s your way of dealing with the Parked Motorcycle Syndrome (PMS)? Here is mine: an nice glass of Chivas Regal aged 12 years, a Turkish nargilea, cozy leather chair and plenty Youtube. It almost makes PMS bearable.