The BrickYard for Tamiya Racers Opens in Glorietta, Makati
You’ve probably heard of Tamiya during your childhood– those racing model cars which are sold in kits and require assembly.
If you’re a hobbyist who is fond of creating and designing your own models by mixing and painting their own cars, here’s a good news for you! Lil’s Hobby Center, the exclusive distributor of Tamiya in the Philippines, has opened The BrickYard in Glorietta, Makati: where you can buy, assemble, and race Tamiya cars with family, friends, and fellow hobbyists.
Strato Ventor Lil’s Hobby Center Special, Abilista Japan Cup 2018, and The Brickyard Night Hunter Limited Edition Tamiya Cars
Tamiya Incorporated, founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya, is a Japanese manufacturer of plastic model kits, radio controlled (RC) cars, and various models, tools, and supplies.
In 1982, 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) Mini Racer was produced as a powered variant of their plastic automobile model kits. Since the 90s racing and tuning up Mini 4WD cars have become a hobby for people across the world.
The crowd gathered for the opening of The Brickyard, excited to meet the man himself, Mr. Tamiya.
The BrickYard is the destination of Mini4WD racing toys that Japanese company, Tamiya, popularized back in the late 90s. The first racetrack venue used to be in Glorietta 5 but now, The Brickyard is reopened as a hobby space in Glorietta 3 beside Lil’s Hobby Center.
Lil’s Hobby Center is the foremost distributor of scale plastic models in the Philippines and is also the owner of The BrickYard. Lil’s owner Ferdie Khan created The BrickYard to feature both a beginner and an intermediate track, tables and chairs for Mini4WD building, and a shop area for those who need new cars or extra parts.
Shunsaku Tamiya signing cars for the first 50 customers of The Brickyard
As a Guest of Honor, Master Modeller, President, and Chairman of Tamiya, Mr. Shunsaku Tamiya graced the celebration of the opening of Brickyard. Mr. Tamiya spoke during the event about the start of the Tamiya-Philippines relationship and the manufacturing plant in Cebu.
“I have a very reliable and great distributor here in Manila that’s why I decided to build the manufacturing in Cebu 23 years ago,” he said. “Tamiya is now recognized to produce the highest quality models in the world. 98% of the products today are manufactured by Filipinos in Cebu.”
The event also unveiled the Limited Edition model exclusively for The Brickyard
Kahn hopes that the new and bigger location would further stoke the Mini4WD, model kit, and RC car fans to bring their families, share their hobby, and widen the community here in the Philippines.
“We love seeing older fans, most of them now parents themselves, bringing their children to The Brickyard,” he says. “There’s something wonderful about watching parents teach and show their kids about Mini4WDs and RCs.”
Elaine Kahn, Lil of Lil’s Hobby Center, Shunsaku Tamiya, Ferdie Kahn officially opens The BrickYard
The Brickyard is located on the 3rd floor of Glorietta 2 in Makati beside Lil’s Hobby Center open from 10 AM–9 PM.
