Honda Hoot draws 18,000 to beautiful Knoxville, TN

July 5, 2001


TORRANCE, CA -- The 8th Annual Honda Hoot motorcycle rally rolled into
Knoxville, Tennessee June 20-23 with nearly 18,000 attendees. When the four-day
event was over, the Hoot's first appearance in Knoxville went into the record
books as an unqualified success.


"We are extremely pleased with the results of our first Knoxville Honda Hoot,"
said an enthusiastic Charles Keller, manager of the Hoot's main sponsor, the
Honda Riders Club of America. "In particular, I want to let everyone know what a
warm welcome we received in East Tennessee. I can't tell you how many
compliments I heard from Hoot attendees and vendors. Considering this was our
first year and that we have even bigger plans with the city of Knoxville for
2002, the future of the Honda Hoot looks very bright."


The record gathering of motorcyclists - up 30% over last year - enjoyed many
daily activities. Chilhowee Park was the site of over 150 vendor displays and
demo rides offered by Honda, Aprilia, BMW, Buell, Ducati, Kawasaki, Suzuki,
Triumph and Yamaha. Each day self-guided rides took hundreds of riders to local
points of interest, including Oak Ridge, Dollywood, and Cumberland Gap. Even a
summer thunderstorm could not dampen the riders' enthusiasm as they explored
eastern Tennessee's past in the unique and pastoral setting of the Museum of
Appalachia.


Hoot riders also displayed the generosity for which motorcyclists are well
known. On Saturday, June 23, the inaugural Knoxville Ride for Kids saw more than
350 riders raise $62,724 to fund research for pediatric brain tumor cures. A
memorial Ride to Bushtec Industries, honoring fallen riders, raised $3,000 for
the National Motorcycle Safety Fund.


The city of Knoxville and the surrounding communities of eastern Tennessee were
the perfect hosts, displaying the region's legendary southern hospitality. A big
thanks goes out to the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Knoxville
Chamber of Commerce, the City of Knoxville Fire Department, the Knoxville Police
Department, the Knox County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
These agencies rolled out the welcome mat and the well-behaved Hoot attendees
responded, filling local business coffers with an estimated $8 million in
lodging, food and related purchases. Special thanks goes out to WIVK radio,
which provided tremendous support at each of the evening parties hosted in the
streets of beautiful downtown Knoxville.


American Honda congratulates all 2001 Honda Hoot sponsors, including: Aprilia,
Bridgestone, Bushtec, Cobra, Cycle World, Ducati, Dunlop, First USA, Kawasaki,
Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Motorcycle Cruiser, Motorcycle
Industry Council, Motorcyclist, Pepsi, Progressive Motorcycle Insurance,
Progressive Suspension, Ride for Kids, Rider, Suzuki, Yamaha and Yuasa.


Planning has already begun for the 9th Annual Honda Hoot, June 19-22 in
Knoxville, Tennessee where we will gather again with thousands of our best
friends!