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Honda Plaque Unveiling - 1959 -2009
Sunday 7th June 2009
On Sunday 7th June (Mad Sunday) a small ceremony took place immediately behind the Onchan Branch of Shoprite. The area had been tidied with the grass cut, a red carpet laid, a small dias placed in front of a pair of red curtains set onto a boundary wall. It was no ordinary wall however for it was all that was left of the original stables to Birch Hill House (later to become The Nursery Hotel). In 1959 that former stable was used by the Honda TT Team as their garage for their first ever attempt to win the TT.
The company was formed in 1954 by Soichiro Honda and he set his sights on the TT, the most difficult race to win. In the 1959 race their riders in the 125cc race gained 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th places. Their first TT win came in 1961 when they had Mike Hailwood in their team.
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary, Honda had a plaque erected on the last remains of the former stables and this was unveiled by Shigeru Takagi, Senior Managing Director of Honda motor Company Limited and President of Honda Motor Europe.
After the event the plaque was taken down and presented to the Manx Museum. It is hoped that a blue plaque similar to that erected by the Commissioners for Manx Radio's 45th Anniversary will be put up as a permanent reminder.
Mr Shigeru Takagi, Senior Managing Director of Honda Motor Company Limited and President of Honda Motor Europe pulls the cord to unveil the plaque assisted by Mr Nichihiko Aiko the former World Team Race Manager: On the left with the microphone is Steve Martindale, General Manager Motorcycles (UK). Either side of the platform were two high powered Honda bikes (photo: Honda). |
The Honda Team line up: (left to right) Harvier Beltran (Race Team Manager); in baseball cap John McGuiness, 15 times TT winner; hidden behind him Steve Plater, 2009 Senior TT winner; in the dark blue suit Neil Tuxworth, Head of Honda (UK) Racing; in the grey suit Steve Martindale, General Manager Honda motorcycles (UK); in the red jacket Mark Davies, General Manager Honda Motors (Europe); in the dark suit Simon Gardiner Manager - Marketing Operations Honda (UK); in the black jacket Richard Schofield, Motorcycle parts and accessories; hidden behind him Ken Kier, Managing Director Honda (UK)/Vice President Honda (Europe); with the shaved head Andy Mineyko, Regional Operations manager; partially behind him Duncan Johnston, Manager - Network Development; finally in the row Steve Tordoss Area Manager - Retail Operation. With his head in the centre front of the picture is Shigeru Takagi, Senior Managing Director Honda motor Company Limited and President of Honda Motor Europe. In the right hand corner of the picture is Nichihiko Aika the former World Team Race Manager. |
Nichihiko Aika former World Team Race Manager poses with Dave Hancock, Head of Sales and Customer Service, Honda UK Motorcycles in front of the plaque which had just been unveiled. . |
Onchan MHK David Quirk follows the tradition of many a schoolboy who would hound TT riders to get their autograph. Here he asks Nichihiko Aika, the former World Team Race Manager to sign for him. |
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