Welcome to 2025! As at all times, January kicks off velocity chase 12 months with a powerful give attention to Japanese automotive tradition, particularly with the Tokyo Auto Salon simply days away. And we’re going huge this 12 months.

However earlier than we get caught into Japan’s greatest aftermarket tuning present and all of the automotive gatherings surrounding it, let’s begin with a practice that has been firmly established over the previous decade: the unofficial New 12 months’s Gathering at Daikoku Parking Space.

Whereas fans flock to Yokohama’s most iconic motoring occasions from the primary day of the 12 months, January 3 often has the most important turnout. When you plan to attend, attending to Daikoku early is a should.

I rolled in earlier than 8am, and the place was already packed.

The range was merely outrageous – an ideal instance of what makes Japan’s automotive tradition so distinctive. Take the photograph above, for instance: a Nineteen Sixties Prince Skyline parked subsequent to an 80s Ford van, with a Lancia Delta Integrale finishing the trio. That is one thing you’ll solely see in Japan.

You may at all times be assured a fantastic mixture of automobiles at Daikoku PA, however additional particular stuff seems for the New 12 months occasion, just like the white McLaren P1 parked simply behind a Ferrari 575 Superamerica.

We noticed this Strosek 964 a couple of years again, but it surely’s at all times a pleasure to see these uncommon examples of automotive awesomeness.

I will not interrupt the circulation of the photographs right here; they actually converse for themselves.

Moments like these drive house the significance of preserving gathering locations like Daikoku.

The place else are you able to witness such an natural celebration of pure automotive ardour?

It is humorous I point out this as a result of simply as I used to be soaking all of it in, the police arrived, blaring by means of the PA system and telling everybody it was time to depart.

I am undecided what brought on this early morning cleanup – perhaps the truckers weren’t too thrilled about their parking spots being taken – but it surely caught lots of people abruptly.

I heard many feedback like, “What, already?” and “Significantly, at present?”

Regardless of the bulletins, most individuals have been in no rush to pack up and go.

There have been one other hundred or so vehicles I hadn’t seen but, and some latecomers managed to sneak in earlier than the police blocked off Daikoku PA’s spiral ramp from the freeway above.

I made my approach to the highest of the parking space – the standard bother zone – and positive sufficient the truck areas have been totally taken over.

The Lamborghini crew, revving their engines continuous for a great 10 minutes, parked in dramatic fashion. Amongst them was even a Reventón – nonetheless fully inventory, and by far the quietest of the bunch.

With the fixed barrage of police bulletins, screeching engines and exhaust blasts, the entire scene felt chaotic, however in the very best means. It made for an unforgettable begin to the 12 months.

By this level, the entry roads out and in of Daikoku have been jammed. Departing vehicles have been pressured to hitch an impromptu rollout parade through which many house owners made introductions as they left.

The layoff was really a blessing in disguise – it gave me extra time to find vehicles I might missed, like this stunning De Tomaso Pantera.

And even a Daihatsu Charade De Tomaso (Bianca variant). How cool is that?

By 10:00 the place was nearly empty – a brand new file for the Daikoku PA New 12 months’s Gathering!

A police officer approached and instructed me to cease taking photos and go away, however as I did, I noticed one final automotive that I could not resist grabbing a couple of photographs of.

I imply, how typically do you see a real Lancia 037 Stradale – in Martini Racing livery, no much less? Nuts!

The cherry on prime? On the way in which house I had some enjoyable enjoying with it on the freeway from behind the wheel of my newly bought BMW M4 Cabrio. Weighing in at simply over a ton, the Lancia nonetheless held its personal when the Abarth supercharger went full throttle.

And that concludes my first automotive journey of 2025! I can solely hope the remainder of the 12 months is nearly as good as this though it was a brief morning at Daikoku Parking Space.

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com