Exotic Car Show Parks in Melville

It was a bit tougher than usual to find parking at in Melville Thursday night. In this case, it had nothing to do with a porterhouse. More like a Porsche.

The restaurant teamed with Exotics Rally for the 4th annual Exotic Car Show Thursday night. Over 100 cars, from Fords and Chevys from the 1930s, to the latest high-end models were on display.

Exotics Rally is a membership-based community of exotic car owners. Cars are their passion, be it racing them, restoring them, or simply displaying them at shows such as these.

"I believe you spend that kind of money ... either you buy a piece of artwork and stare at it on your wall, or you can take your car out and drive it; we don't believe in parking them in garages," said Exotics Rally president Seth Rose.

A few years back, Seth hooked up with Joseph Bruton, one of the managing partners of Blackstone in Melville, asking if he can display a few cars in the parking lot. Ten cars became 50, and soon, a yearly car show.

"The great thing about the event is not only do we have the car group come down, but it gives the opportunity for the guests that patron our restaurant to bring their cars as well," Bruton said.

Exotics Rally puts on events all over the region, often for charity. In this case, a part of the food and drink proceeds raised at the restaurant during the show will go towards breast cancer research.

At the show was a 1998 Corvette, used as the official pace car of the '98 Indianapolis 500. There was a Spyker C8 from Holland, and your 'run of the mill' collection of Camaros and Jaguars.

The crown jewel on display? A 2012 Lamborghini Aventador, one of only 75 in the world. It reaches speeds of 200 mph. It's worth an estimated $500,000.

Melville-based attorney Bryan Salamone is the proud owner, and he recently became the first person ever to drive such a car from New York to California. Cars have been his passion since he bought his first 'lower-end' Lamborghini years ago for $180,000.

"When I say it was a life's dream to go [cross-country] in this car and to be the first person in the world to do it - I succeeded, and I did it this year, it's phenomenal," Salamone said.

Of course, that's a feat most won't get the chance to attempt. No problem: the auto show is geared to all who love cars, or just want to get a glimpse of the more exotic models in person.

"Not everybody is fortunate enough to own [an exotic car] in their lifetime, this gets them out in the public, brings more public awareness to the brands and for people to actually get to see them up close and personal instead of in magazines and on TV," Rose said.