2009 Honda Hoot cancelled
Honda seems to be canceling events left and right amidst the gloomy economic conditions, first announcing it was leaving Formula 1 and following that shocker up by dropping from AMA road racing competition. The latest event chopped from Honda's 2009 calendar is the Honda Hoot, a large motorcycle rally that's normally scheduled to take place late in June. Honda blames the cancellation on "economic uncertainty." Each year, thousands of riders flocked to Knoxville, TN, with last year marking the fifteenth annual running. Obviously, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam is disappointed that the 16,000 tourists who crashed his town in '08 won't be dropping by next year, but the reality is that both the city and Honda may have expected a smaller turnout next year anyway, and the the motorcycle maker just doesn't have the funds available to put on a good show. The full statement has been pasted after the break.
[Source: Honda]
OFFICIAL STATEMENT:
Honda Hoot 2009 Canceled Due to Economic Uncertainty
12/19/08
Torrance, CA: American Honda announced today that the 2008 Honda Hoot will bring to a close 15 years of what has been one of the most successful motorcycle rallies in history. Over the years, almost a quarter of a million guests attended the Honda Hoot which was born in the hills of Ashville North Carolina and eventually moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. At the first event, a little over 3000 attendees enjoyed what would grow to become one of the largest rallies in North America
The Hoot set new precedence for what a motorcycle rally should be, offering not only a wonderful opportunity to test ride new products but also focusing on family fun and growing the industry from the ground up. Based on the current economic crunch which may have significant impact on our customers during 2009, American Honda will take this time to seek out new and innovative ways to engage with our customers so that we can continue to ride together.
American Honda extends our deepest gratitude to the more than 1,300 volunteers who helped make the Honda Hoot a success and to all our event sponsors, to our two host cities, Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina, and especially to all the good people who helped make the Hoot such a great event.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tankd0g 3:03PM (12/21/2008)
This seems a little ridiculous. These rallys cost the manufacturer very little while bringing massive amounts of business into the host city. If they were coming up short they could easily have asked for help from the various Knoxville tourist and commerce associations that benefit from the event.
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Andy 5:52PM (12/21/2008)
Um, You have no idea what he's talking about. Event insurance alone is ridiculously expensive.
US sales on the auto side are what keep Honda afloat (MC included) and they are way off, so cuts are all around. Pretty simple.
tankd0g 10:09PM (12/21/2008)
Umm, I do know what I'm talking about, I've been putting these together for Harley Davidson for going on 10 years. The manufacturer doesn't buy insurance for anything. They do little more than lend their name.
Berto 3:25PM (12/21/2008)
Two Possibilities:
1. Honda is in a worse situation than it would like to let us know at the moment, thus the non-stop cutbacks and withdrawals.
2. Honda is being smart and actually "tightening their belts" in this economic downturn by cutting all unnecessary spending.
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JDMlover 3:42PM (12/21/2008)
Choice 1.
Beastage 3:56PM (12/21/2008)
Yea I'm going with 1, they're taking some drastic actions that don't fit the practice a business should do if the case was actually 2.
What I mean is, the kind of measures they taking would do more damage if it was only 2 and not 1.
So 1 is the answer.
mark 7:58PM (12/21/2008)
I'll go with #2. I think Honda is pretty smart, and pulling out of F1 was probably the smartest move of all. Pouring money into an embarrassment is doubly damaging to the company. As for the AMA and the Hoot, I think they are just taking their least effective forms of promotion down for the moment. Ideally, they would also get rid of real losers like the Pilot and Ridgeline. I can't imaging any money being made off of those. As for their future, should be pretty solid, though my household is without at least on Honda for the first time in 21 years. VW and Scion now.
tankd0g 10:15PM (12/21/2008)
Since Honda is still jaming MC dealers with product I think there must be an option 3.
Carlos 3:25PM (12/21/2008)
This craziness is why Honda is not begging for money to stave off bankruptcy.
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JF 4:14PM (12/21/2008)
Not really
1: I'm sure this rally doesn't cost Honda much
2: I wouldn't be surprised if the Japanese government has given Honda/Toyota/Nissan money before.
steve 4:47PM (12/21/2008)
You don't know the half of it!I could tell you stories.
AZMike 5:38PM (12/21/2008)
you're wrong. they've already received their money from the Japanese Government, just like Toyota, Nissan, and Subaru.
no need for bankrupcy.
the canceling of all these events should be an indicator, however, that this financial crisis is affecting all automakers equally. this is a worldwide problem, and does not only affect products made by the Big 3.
AZMike
Carlos 7:36PM (12/21/2008)
None the less it still costs them money and every little they can save the better.
tankd0g 10:15PM (12/21/2008)
Companies that are still turning a profit don't need a bailout or bankruptcy.
2007RC46SP2 6:13PM (12/21/2008)
whats next?
motogp?
7th gen VFR development?
Acura?
Next Gen RL?
Red Rider Magazine?
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tankd0g 10:16PM (12/21/2008)
NSX? Oh, nevermind. I hope this new insight does some amazing sales numbers.
Sid 4:33PM (12/21/2008)
I think it's a mix of Options 1 & 2. They are tightening their belts but also finally admitting that today's Honda is more or less Toyota: a company which builds mass-market vehicles that caters aout 97% to the Joe Shmo and the remaining to the NSX/S2000 crowd. They don't bring in much revenue so instead of having racing programs which filter down new handling/performance upgrades, they will simply focus on 35 air-bags, 20 cup-holders and any number of MPG-raising tricks.
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P.V. 5:50PM (12/21/2008)
It's a sign of the times, people.
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noz 9:35PM (12/21/2008)
Stop whining like little children.
Instead of taking money out of your pocketbook, Honda is at least ACTIVELY trying to reduce costs so it can stay alive and come back tomorrow and continue to make the reliable, superb products everyone who appreciates them has come to know.
Compare this to the Big 3...who even until just NOW....still think that building SUVs as their bread and butter is the right thing to do.
If cutting events and costs for Honda means that they will continue to make new hybrids, do research in alternative energy products, come out with cars like a Honda Fit, then be damned with the stupid events and magazines...these are irrelevant.
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tankd0g 10:16PM (12/21/2008)
Hey, GM canceled all their Saturn jamborees or whatever the hell they were called a long time ago. Of course that was back when Saturn was making money and it actually had a following or loyal fans who loved those things, but their heart was in the right place right? :)