November 18^th, 1999                                    

An Australian `first’ as Honda opens HART

Honda Australia Roadcraft Training (HART) at St Ives, Sydney, opened today following a $1.4 million redevelopment and the installation of Australia’s first motorcycle rider training simulator.

The $250,000 Honda Riding Simulator takes motorcycle training into a new era of "virtual reality" – clients can even view playback of their sessions, gaining crucial insight into their abilities.

The simulator incorporates the latest Honda technology, complementing HART’s training philosophy of safe driving and riding, and survival skills, rather than speed or performance.

HART was jointly opened today by Mr Tsutomu Umeno, general manager of Honda Motor Co’s East Asia and Oceania Division, and Barry O’Farrell, MP for Ku-ring-gai.

Over the last year, the HART site has been extensively upgraded including additional training rooms, vehicle and motorcycle preparation areas, office space, additional parking and renovation of the 1.6km road system, skid pan and motorcycle rider training range.

Mr Neal Robertson, senior director of Honda Australia, said: "Since taking over the site last year, we have won contracts with the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, Australia Post and have introduced driver and rider training programs, which are already well subscribed.

"Completion of redevelopment means we can now enter the next phase of marketing this tremendous resource to the wider community.

"We already have fantastic interest from schools and corporate clients and we look forward to building on this in the near future."

HART has remained operational throughout the redevelopment and staff numbers will soon reach 20 with the increase in training.

HART, St Ives, is the latest in a long line of Honda driver and rider training facilities worldwide, including Japan, Singapore, Mexico and the United States.