In his public relations and planning role at Osaka brake parts manufacturer DIXEL, Daisuke Kanaya manages media relations at exhibitions all over Japan. He is a brake specialist on the job, but in his down time he is an avid collector of minicars with a special focus on Formula 1. Why the fascination with F1 minicars? We visited his just-completed hobby room to discuss.
F1 model collection built up over 30 years.Presented in large display cases.
“It has always been my dream to have a hobby room where I can spend time surrounded by my favorite things. Somewhere that I can display and look at the F1 miniature cars I’ve collected over 30 years. This vision came to reality when I bought my new home.”
Mr. Kanaya finished the room in his choice of color to create a special space that would be the envy of any collector. With over 250 F1 miniature cars in two large display cases, Mr. Kanaya arranged the collection chronologically into constructor and driver themes, with a Japanese driver corner.
“Until now, I stacked these models in a vertical arrangement in their packaging, similar to displays at specialist model shops. Models out of packaging have been kept on desktops or stored in closets. However this time I decided to arrange them by category and year model. I had to do some research as I couldn’t tell which year it was just by looking at the model and I’m not sure if they’ve been shuffled. This arrangement highlighted the evolution of F1 aerodynamics through the years and was both fascinating and addictive.
F1 innovates aero parts It made me want to buy every year to follow the evolution.
From mid-1990’s to late 2000’s, revised regulations sparked innovation in aerodynamics and parts were developed and adopted in rapid succession to transform the shape of Formula 1. Mr. Kanaya was fascinated not only by the performance but also the appearance of Tyrell’s Dolphin Nose and X-Wing, BMW Sauber’s Twin Tower Wing and Ferrari’s Rim Shields. Miniature car models allowed Mr. Kanaya to observe the evolution of F1 aerodynamics over time as he compared differences between racing teams. Through this process his collection has gradually been built and provides an insight into the evolution of Formula 1 aerodynamics.
“The first model that caught my interest was the McLaren Honda MP4/6. With the prince of speed of sound Ayrton Senna as the starting point, it was natural to collect models of his rivals Prost, Mansell and then Schumacher. After Senna’s death, Schumacher became the focal point for acquisitions of Vettel and Alonso models. If you buy one year, you will want to keep the succession going with next year’s model and then the year after and so on. My interest continued unabated, and one season I purchased six to seven units. Most of the models I purchased are Minichamps. If I have other brands its because I couldn’t find that model anywhere else, but for me miniature F-1 cars are synonymous with Minichamps. "
Livery also has a history.Building a collection showcases this evolution.
Livery and color schemes are additional detail. Special models such as Lucky Strike, Benetton together with new millennium generation models of mid-2000’s such as the chrome McLaren are readily available.
"Looking back about 30 years ago, sponsorships in F1 have changed dramatically from cigarette brands to mobile phones, and you can feel the transition of time through the changing livery. Looking at it now, the Benetton designs in 1990’s were exceptional. The design aspect is also very interesting. "
Mr. Kanaya said he was so absorbed in F1 that he avoided finding out the race results just so he could look forward to watching a replay of the broadcast. Recently he enjoys looking at his minicar collection more than watching races on TV.
"I like watching the cars racing on TV and listening to the sound, but miniature cars are closer to the actual car than the TV and easier to appreciate and understand the real thing. Miniature cars allow you to see more details than the TV, and I think that the color is closer to the real thing. For me, I think seeing what is directly in front of me provides a stronger connection to reality than what is on a screen. "
A long-term enthusiastic collector of F1 miniature cars, Mr. Kanaya has recently lost his appetite for growing his collection.
"Currently, there are no Japanese drivers, and there is almost no underdog from the lower ranks that can upset the leading teams. To be honest, there is little difference between each team and my interest has diminished. So I have stopped adding to my collection.
Finding a model you missed.Is like reuniting with old memories.
Recently, even if you go to a miniature car store, you notice the special sale corner instead of looking for the latest models. It's not about buying cheaper models, but finding models that you missed getting in the past.
“The purchase of a miniature car is once in a lifetime. Especially popular models are difficult to obtain unless you purchase them immediately after their release. Finding a model that I missed at that time is like reliving old memories and the feeling of finding treasure is still exciting. If it's reasonably priced, I just pick it up (laughs). "
It seems that it is difficult to get out of the minicar collector mindset that has been ingrained in the body for many years.
"The fun of a miniature car is that you can hold a piece of history in your own hands. It is impossible to own an original of the car, but you can have them all as miniature cars. Also, I bought them based on my feelings for each model. So, if I hold it, the events of that time come to mind. "
When I get home and open the door to my hobby room, the auto sensor detects it and the LED light illuminates the collection display cases. This little production effect fills my heart with joy every time and on my days off I drink and get absorbed in the collection. For Mr. Kanaya, the miniature car is like an important photo album.
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