For the better part of the last three decades, on Friday nights from May to October, an unassuming train station parking lot in Bellmore NY has been the meeting place for the hottest rides Long Island and the five boroughs has to offer.

Unofficially commencing in the early ‘90s, most Long Island and “New Yawk” car guys/gals have embraced Bellmore as the place to display their cars and take-in the sights, sounds and smells of hundreds of awesome machines.

Like planning for an upcoming party, for many, the anticipation builds all week, as a regular life schedule of work and family is adjusted to fit-in a mini-detail in preparation for Bellmore.

Mechanical and tuning adjustments are also ironed-out, so the cars run as good as they look and a strong launch upon exiting provides oohs and ahhs with no surprises.

The automotive festivities get rolling around 5:00 pm just as the first LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) commuters limp from their Manhattan-fleeing trains and begin to move their daily drivers from the lot. Early comers usually include the older crowd-experienced and savvy, they grab their favorite spots next to each other, set up their beach chairs, or go for dinner in one of the many surrounding neighborhood chow joints.

As 6:00 pm approaches, the town officials and some Nassau County police, set-up a barricade and start collecting a $3 entrance fee. As the flow of vehicles slowly but surely builds to a torrent, the whole surrounding area for more than a mile in each direction and on Sunrise Highway from the east and west becomes a hot-rodder’s heaven and a musclecar lover’s utopia.

Innocent motorists in their nondescript cars can’t help but be captivated by the overwhelming sight and thunderous rumble, enveloping the roadways.

The participants include everything under the sun, from ‘50s American classics to scores of late model and vintage musclecars and C1-to C7 Corvettes in every color and configuration.

Germany’s best by Benz AMG, BMW-M and Porsche arrive with military precision, while Japan’s road rockets with badges reading WRX-STI, GTR AND 300Z, all lead a Banzai charge to the venue.

Exotics, mostly of Italian descent, wail like angry cats as they park and maneuver through the lot and British greats from Bentley, Rolls and Aston Martin, jockey for position like divine right royalty.

Rare super cars frequent Bellmore, with Ford GTs and more than a few McLarens gracing the asphalt with their awesome presence.

Prewar classics from the 1920s/’30s glide-in, their big beautiful bodies, festooned with chrome and real deal holy-grail cars like actual 289-cid/427-cid AC Cobras, Jaguar E-Types and a Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing have all made appearances, with Rat rods, customs and even movie cars, rounding-out the attendees.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 7th August 2015. A white 1980 Pontiac Turbo-Trans Am, with large eagle decal sticker on hood, is displayed at the Friday Night Car Show held at the Bellmore Long Island Railroad Station Parking Lot. On side of car a decal states ‘Official Pace Car, Torbo-Trans Am, 64th Annual Indianapolis 500 Mile Car Race on May 25, 1980.’ Hundreds of classic, antique, and custom cars were on view at the free weekly show, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores.

For several hours, usually till about 10:00 pm, Bellmore is transformed into a car lover’s dream and a tire roasting, turbo and supercharged feast for the senses. More often than not, spots fill-up and the surrounding streets take on the look of a car show as late arrivals park on the outskirts and walk through the automotive menagerie well into the night.

The fun and excitement extends to everyone, including children, who strut passed the colorful machines with eyes wide and jaws agape, leering at the cool cars.

In the recent past, Friday car nights at Bellmore have been cancelled by town officials, sighting noise and in response to unfortunate and unrelated traffic incidents, involving members of the uninvited tuner gang.

Thankfully, petitions to the contrary and the realization that car gatherings are great for business and more importantly-the American way, have restored Friday nights at Bellmore-hopefully forever.

As your author looks forward to the next upcoming weekend on Long Island, and a chance to fire-up my two Pontiac’s, please excuse me, while I get them ready for Bellmore.