Longtime American Honda employees Ben Cheatwood, Chuck Miller, and Brian Uchida have recently retired from the company.

Uchida, who most recently held the title Coordinator, joined the company in March 1980 and served vital roles in Honda’s in-house racing efforts for more than 20 years of his career.

Miller, who most recently held the position of Senior Manager, joined the company in December 1982. A Championship-winning off-road racer and ISDE Gold Medalist, Miller led American Honda’s Motorcycle Motorsports Department for many years.

Cheatwood also held many different positions with American Honda and Acura during his 48-year tenure, worked with Honda’s Supercross and motocross race teams, and moonlighted as a track announcer at some races, like the Daytona Supercross and Daytona 200. Below is Cheatwood’s “goodbye email,” as shared by his daughter Kristin on her Facebook page.

It has been a great adventure at American Honda over the past 48 plus years.

On March 20, 1972, I drove my 1968 Ford Ranchero to the national office at 100 W. Alondra in Gardena, California to start my career at American Honda.

Less than a year later I relocated to Georgia as a District Sales manager for the next 13 years with a move to parts in 1986.

Near to the end of my tenure in the motorcycle division, I was able to organize the dealers in the Atlanta market to help promote a local charity, The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, that went on to a national event for the motorcycle division shortly after our start in 1986. Of all the activities I have had this is the one that gives me the greatest joy.

Along the adventure I had the opportunity to work in the Acura division as a national level sales and marketing person for the NSX from November 93 to May 95. I was announcing at Laguna Seca during a 500 Grand Prix event when Acura VP, Rich Thomas, asked me to sell NSX’s for a while. I asked if it was retail or wholesale and he just said ‘yes’.

Later in 1995, I was asked to assist with the Honda Supercross and Motocross race team for two seasons hitting the race circuit with the team as an assistant to the team manager.

During both of these projects I kept my ‘day’ job as a regional parts administrator for motorcycle parts.

During my tenure I have had the opportunity to work with 1000’s of Honda dealerships as well as hundreds of Honda associates across the USA. This is what I will remember as highlights of my Honda ‘time’.

On October 1, 2020 I am driving my 1968 Ford Ranchero to the Alpharetta Honda office for my final day at American Honda.

Ben Cheatwood

Updated: After this story was originally posted, we learned that Jon Seidel, a 30-year veteran at American Honda, had also retired recently. Seidel worked primarily in public and media relations and most recently held the position of Assistant Manager, Motorcycle Public Relations.