[ad_1]
Ten quick days in the past, our Powersports business misplaced a invaluable soul to the ravages of time.
Yoji “George” Hamawaki – a former Kawasaki govt – handed away Tuesday of final week, forsaking an admirable legacy that features “establishing the Kawasaki model in the USA [and] bringing Kawasaki manufacturing to America.”
For reference, there wasn’t a lot in the best way of overseas producer manufacturing roots again in Hamawaki’s prime profession years; the long-lasting man might need established American Kawasaki Motors Corp. again in 1966, however even in 1974, a New York Instances article sourced from AutoWeek was quoted with the next:
“Though overseas producers have made sturdy inroads in the USA car and bike market, manufacturing and meeting listed here are a novelty.”
Because of Hamawaki, the “novelty” of overseas producer manufacturing within the U.S. turned a actuality; along with one Alan Masek, Hamawaki helped construct and develop Kawi vendor networks “throughout America with complete insurance policies, promoting supplies, and repair coaching.”
“Whereas constructing the dealership and gross sales community, Hamawaki and Masek additionally studied the buyer wants and mannequin options and communicated that info again to Japan,” continues the report from Roadracing World.
“That suggestions was instrumental in Kawasaki launching the 1969 Kawasaki H1 and, later, the long-lasting “New York Steak” 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900, which solidified Kawasaki as a superbike model not solely in America however throughout the globe.”
See additionally
After leaving Kawasaki in 1978, Hamawaki’s experience traveled to BMW, the place he purportedly turned the President of BMW Japan, in addition to the “President of Japan’s Digital Tools Firm and was inducted into the Japan Automotive Corridor of Fame.”
Maybe the deepest mark Hamawaki will depart on our current (and future) riders is the truth that he was the driving drive behind the ‘Let the Good Instances Roll’ marketing campaign – an advert collection so efficient that the multi-conglomerate bike marque trademarked the factor into Staff Inexperienced genetics.
In case you’re studying this and Kawasaki’s ‘Let the Good Instances Roll’ marketing campaign was instrumental in your two-wheeled journey, we ask for a second of remembrance for Yoji “George” Hamawaki throughout this time.
*Media sourced from Roadracing World, AutoWeek, Wikipedia and Hagerty Dealer*
[ad_2]