Model cars take centrestage

DON’T be surprised if someone asks for your receipt at the petrol station the next time you pump petrol.

Chances are the person is after the Shell Ferrari limited edition model cars and that is what Hot Wheels Cars Malaysia (HWCM) Club co-founder Desmond Raja Lakshmana, 22, paid his brother to do — wait at petrol stations to pounce on customers for receipts.

This sometimes spurs other customers, who may initially have no interest in collecting model cars, to keep the receipts and buy the cars themselves after seeing the hype.

This frenzy is due to Shell’s annual Shell Ferrari limited edition model cars, in conjunction with the upcoming Ferrari F1 fever for the third time.

Proud owners: Model car owners admiring their collection at their weekly meeting at the SS15 McDonald’s.

Customers are able to buy the cars for RM6.90 when they purchase a minimum of RM40 worth of Shell V-Power Racing or at RM8.90 for other regular petrol.

At a recent interview at their weekly meeting at a fast-food restaurant in SS15, HWCM members revealed their enthusiasm for model cars and the length they went to obtain the limited edition Ferrari model cars.

Telco engineer Shakz Faizal, 29, was the proud owner of three sets (one set has seven pieces, hence 21 pieces in total) of the Shell Ferrari collection the day it was launched.

“There’s a sense of satisfaction. I had the help of my friend who owns a bus company to fill three buses worth of petrol,” he said, adding that his aim is to collect five sets.

The members meet there every Friday at 10pm to exchange the latest news about model cars and trade collections.

While the club was only founded by Desmond and Yeo Chin Pang, 31, on Jan 11 this year, Hot Wheels fans have long existed and formed small groups to share their passion.

“Previously, the members were scattered, with websites linking them to each other. The HWCM brings everyone together and strengthens the hot wheels community in Malaysia.

“For some, the Shell Ferrari collection is a stepping stone (that introduces them to the world of model cars),” said Desmond, an apprentice with Mercedes Benz.

The club now has over 160 members, who come from diverse backgrounds, occupation,

race, age (10 to 56-years-old) and even has an international network of members,

from as far away as America.

The youngest member Joshua Lim, 10, nicknamed “The Encyclopedia” has an impressive collection of over 900 car models.

“I can remember the models once I see it on the poster. I can also remember the range of colours that a design has,” said Lim who gets his information from books and magazines. According to Jo Huang, the senior accounts manager of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, which handles the Shell account, Malaysia is the first country in the world to see the 2009 Shell Ferrari car models.

This is because of the massive sales in Malaysia and the HWCM members are one of Shell Ferrari model cars most avid group of supporters.

“Members not only collect a single set of the Shell Ferrari cars but multiple sets for future value and trading,” she said.

The members also voiced out their suggestions for functions they’d like to see in future Shell Ferrari collections such as die cast (metal), lights and doors that can be opened.

To know more about the club, log on to www.hwcmalaysia.com, which is updated three to five times a week.

Taken from StarMetro Friday 3 April 2009, Thanks to Jo Huang, ING YEEN and HWCM Members .