I drove my SV around the world

AROUND THE WORLD IN A LAMBORGHINI

My goal was to drive my Lamborghini Aventador SV around the world. It was my dream, my Mount Everest and I just did it.

 

Background

 

My 2016 Lamborghini SV is the fourth Aventador that I have purchased new. In May, 2018 it had 30,000 miles on it at the start of my trip.  I have driven in snow, andblistering heat, and I have hit 200 mph in my Aventador. I have more miles behind the wheel of an Aventador than any other person. I have completed Bullrun, Cannonball Run Rally, Goldrush, and Gumball. Going around the world was the apex, or summit, that I was setting as my life goal. Indeed, driving a Lamborghini around the world would certainly take an investment of time, all of my energy, and a huge financial undertaking. I was planning a luxury trip around the world, contingent upon an Italian sports car not breaking down, and I would have to travel over oceans with the car and pass through customs as I go from country to country and continent to continent. 

 

Preparing the Car

 

Preparing the car to go around the world was no easy task. Complete maintenance was done at Manhattan Motorcars, together with four new tires. A four layer vinyl wrap was placed on top of the car for aesthetics and rally spirit; as well as to protect the car. The windshield and the headlights were covered, the car was coated with a ceramic coat on top of the four layers of vinyl, the rims were coated four times with a ceramic coat, all factory updates were done, and calls were made to the Lamborghini representatives asking for contacts in Europe and Asia. 

 

Preparing the Team

 

The trip would be, without any support, in Europe and Asia. In the United States Goldrush Rally would provide us with a luggage truck. We were dividing the journey into two separate trips:

 

1. Goldrush Rally X, the 10th anniversary rally from Boston to Las Vegas (covering our cross-country USA portion); and 

 

2. Gumball 3000 20th anniversary from London to Tokyo(covering our Europe and Asia portion). 

 

Without support in Europe, we would be unable to pack any luggage in the SV. When the roof is taken off the SVand placed in the front boot, there is little to no space left for luggage. I would be attempting to achieve this around the world trip with a co-driver. I chose the love of my life, as my Navigator and Co-driver. The Co-driver must haveexpert navigation skills, texting skills for translations,GPS, messaging and driving skills to relieve me from having to drive around the world by my myself.  Divinadoes not drive men in cars so my idea of getting any relief behind the wheel was gone. Furthermore, I was aware that she lacked the navigational skills I was looking for. As always, she promised to make up for it in many other ways and this works for us. Driving around the entire world in a two seat Lamborghini with the person you love will either make or break a relationship. This was also the 10 year anniversary of Team Salamone and of my relationship with Divina. 

 

We entered the summer of 2018 as a team focused on one goal: drive around the world together in our Lamborghini. The Summer is over, and we did it. With the right car and the right attitude anything is possible. It was the time of our lives.  This was my 50th birthday year, Goldrush Rallies 10 year Anniversary and Gumball 3000’s 20th Anniversary.  This trip was my Belini, my quest, my goal.  This trip would make or break me; and us as a team.

 

In preparation of the trip, in general, we began to design our clothing.  As a team we express ourselves by designing and customizing anything we use.  For this trip, we used custom tailors, shoemaker, jewelers, and our dressmaker. We hired a personal assistant and we formed a media team. We placed 25 outfits (complete outfits) into 25 separate boxes to be shipped all over the world to different locations, so that we would not have to bring clothing with us or any luggage. We had an army of volunteers and friends through social media that would be meeting us at each location. Two weeks before the Europeportion of the trip, we were contacted by channel 8 in France with big news.  They were going to be following us for a documentary!

 

Just before we started this trip, we had just completed an original program on Netflix called "Fastest Car".   Incredibly, in the southern portions of the United States and in France…EVERYONE seems to have seen this show. It increased the enjoyment of my trip when I was spotted at every rest stop and hotel throughout the U.S.and Europe as a result of racing my Lamborghini on thisfun Netflix show that we starred in a few months earlier. *

 

The United States Portion of the Trip Around the World

 

My trip around the world started at my house. First thing in the morning I was met by several friends, my media team,and my personal assistant. We started our journey and in the first 5 miles, we were stopped by police. Was this a sign? Later, we would be stopped by NYPD throughout Europe and even in Japan! 

 

In Boston, we were placed on the starting grid of the Goldrush Rally X. Goldrush Rally X was the 10th anniversary of Goldrush and it was known as "The Promised One". It was hard driving with the world's mosteccentric, eclectic, and interesting individuals in some of the greatest supercars ever made. We were positioned on the starting grid next to 

 

• *Fastest Car is a Netflix original series, Episode 4 “King of the World” its TeamSalamone and his Lamborghini against four sleeper cars in a drag race.

 

Team Loan Sharks. Team Loan Sharks drove a Mercedes 63 AMG squared, and they had a Lucite box on top of the vehicle with $3 million in cash in it. We were positioned next to this vehicle for our trip across the United States. 

 

The trip across the United States was brutal. It included "kissing the bricks" on the track of the Indy 500 and driving the track next to NASCAR legend Kurt Busch in his GT40. 

This trip across the United States was our 14th trip across the USA.  This trip was the most difficult.

 

That Moment in the United States

 

The moment happened in the United States when I was either in Arizona or New Mexico. It seemed as if it was 118°, and it seemed like the gauge in my car was reading 118 Celsius, while the temperature outside was 118 Fahrenheit. I was in the desert and I had been driving for at least five hours. The road started to look wavy in front of me and the noise coming from the engine compartment was deafening. The roof had been off for hours and I was unable to hydrate. I remember feeling the engine heatcome through the wall the firewall into my back and then eventually I was unable to catch my breath and continue breathing. The heat was so unbearable.  It felt like it was in the core of my body. When I stopped the car, I was in the middle of nowhere next to a field of black lava in the desert. I had no cell service, I didn't know how I would continue to drive. There was no shade for me to hide under, and I was next to a chrome Lamborghini in 118° heat on a black field of dried lava. I did not know there was such places in the United States, and a field of dried lava in a desert was my version of hell at that moment. Usually when it gets this bad in the middle of a rally, I would stop at a rest stop and wander the aisles of a convenience store looking at the bright colored packaging to focus my mind and my eyes before splashing water on my face and returning to the Lamborghini.  Here, I entered a point of dehydration and exhaustion from which I couldn't return. My Co-driver was unable to exit the vehicle when we stopped due to her own fatigue, and she was slipping in and out of consciousness, waking briefly to massage my arms one at a time, coordinate with our film crew,assistant, and other rally participants, each time we entered an area of cell service.

 

At the conclusion of the United States portion of my journey around the world, we had traveled over 3,000 miles, had faced exhaustion and dehydration, but we made it. We had crossed the United States without incident, breakdown, accident, or ticket. We found new friends. We met and faced personal challenges along the way, and our trip was one third completed. Looming large would be Europe and Asia. 

 

Europe

 

We arrived in London on August 3, 2018 to start the Gumball 3000 20th anniversary rally. We were fortunate enough to have our car staged in one of the top five positions in an area known as Coventry Gardens. We were able to have the car shipped by plane in less than three days’ time from New York to London, through customs, and straight to the starting grid in Coventry Gardens. We were met with thousands. We were fortunate enough to have volunteers ready to assist us. These volunteers quickly became great friends. 

 

This trip started with the NYPD pulling us over within 5 miles of our starting point. We were now in London, and we were pulled over by three NYPD cars! Apparently, a different team had purchased NYPD cars at auction and flew them to London for the start of Gumball 3000. While driving in London I saw the police cars behind me and they put their lights on. My natural reaction wat to pull to the side. It was at that point I realized they were NYPD cars and I was in the United Kingdom. My suspicions that this was a rally prank were confirmed when a shapely blonde Eastern European "officer" appeared at my side view asking me for my license and registration in a thick Russian accent. We were let off with a warning.

 

Driving in London is no small feat with the Lamborghini. I had tested the London  roads prior to this date in anticipation of my journey around the world. The roads of London have defined curbs, they are narrow, and they drive on the opposite side of the road, as opposed to the United States. It's actually much easier using a U.S. spec car than the complete disorientation Americans experience when they drive in the United Kingdom with a United Kingdom spec car. 

 

In the United Kingdom we went through the Chunnel. We arrived on the other side of the channel and move towards Chantilly.

 

Chantilly, France was a high point in our journey. In France, we were blessed with the celebrity that came with our Netflix program. It appears that Netflix is huge in France, or maybe it's just the Netflix program "Fastest Car". I was spotted everywhere and there were hundreds and hundreds of people coming up to me to discuss the Fastest Car episode. In France, we did not see any Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, very few Mercedes, and no supercars outside of the cars in the rally. London was littered with Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, and supercars. So is New York, Miami. Los Angeles. and many other areas. France, at least where we were traveling, seemed to not have an abundance of luxury cars or sports cars. The roads were lined with people. Each overpass there were 30-40 people waving to us as we went through. We thought this would die out as the miles got longer and the hours got late. It did not. Throughout the entire day, every single overpass was filled with fans waving to us, or the French police pointing laser and radar guns at us. We were stopped in France doing XXX miles an hour (no idea how many kilometers per hour that is) and the officer shook his head, give me my international driving permit back, and stated: "Bon Vivant".  He returned to his car and sped away. I took that to mean that he was laughing off the incident as I was just one of those people who "enjoys the good life". This was a very fortunate blessing. The seizure of the car for high-speed driving would've ended my life's goal of driving around the world in my Lamborghini.

 

After Chantilly, we enter Bologna. We arrive in Bologna and we are parked in the exact same spot that we parked our 2012 Aventador in 2013. We were there for the 50th Anniversary Giro. The next morning, it was blistering hot nearly 100 degrees. I remember that in 2013 I purchased gelato in a small store and the Concubine ate it just before the Grand Giro kicked off at that exact spot. I got up early and purchased gelato, same flavor, and the Concubine sat on the rear of the car, placed the gelato on the wing of the SV and began to eat breakfast. That day we were off to the airport. That day would end almost 40 hours after it started. It would end with us driving our car out of the airport in Japan! 

 

Lost in Translation:  Japan

 

After an extended wait, a grueling plane ride, and no actual sleep, we had arrived in Japan. During the plane ride over, a wedding was performed in the plane, the guests were charged with wearing unicorn horns and participating, and a man named Brock sang Despasito to his bride, and it was so surreal. We were on a plane with Usher, Adrian Brody, David Hasselhoff, and many celebrities. I was wearing unicorn hat, we were following a plane that contained our Lamborghini, and we would be arriving in Japan with no sleep and, once again, driving on the other side of the road. 

 

Thirty-five (35) cars did not make it to Japan. The shipping company seems to have lost one third of the rally. We waited for confirmation and, we were in luck. Our car was on plane one (as it should be) and it was in Japan. It was hotter in Japan than anywhere I have ever been. We got out of the airplane into the most grueling humidenvironment that I have ever been in. We ran to our car and jumped in. It had absolutely no gas. It had to be drained of gas for the flight. I left the airport, not knowing that I should be driving on the left side of the road, not knowing how to read any of the street signs (they were all in Japanese), and all of the navigation devices in my car were only reading Japanese characters and nothing would translate to English. The Concubine was of no help at that time, however through the grueling plane ride, and in theevening to come, she was a very valuable asset. In fact, the team does not function without her. Team is two people. Therefore, if, and when, we have fights, it becomes a very small team very quickly. As a divorce lawyer by trade, the irony is not lost on me. It is with great personal experience that I can relate the following: driving around the world in a Lamborghini with your significant other will either make or break your relationship. After 10 years of being with the same woman every day, day in and day out, and spending 24 hours a day in a noisy, hot Italian cars, traveling around the world through time zones,elevations and cultural barriers, there is no one I would want to spend time with other than Divina. For us, the Lamborghini has given us the ability to have adventures and meet people we never thought possible. Before we bought our first Lamborghini, we jumped out of airplanes,drove fighter jets across the desert, swam with great white sharks, conducted big-game safaris, produced films and music and art in our spare time, but nothing incrementally increased our bond together and our enjoyment of life like our first Lamborghini. We are loyal to the end. We have three on order. 

 

Japan

 

Upon entering Japan, we were being followed. There are police in unmarked cars. Incredibly, the police in unmarked cars wear helmets. They're easy to spot when the windows are not tinted. We had met the leader of a specific and unique leader car culture the leader of a specific car culture in 2013. His name is synergy more Moshe (John correct spelling). They label themselves "the mightiest family" and then on, the most interesting and expressive Lamborghini owners I've ever met. They have been reported as being "famous" in Japan and "infamous". There are many articles that liken Mr. Moore host to a gangster or otherwise paint him as a person who plays by his own rules. Plus, it would be a great honor to be met by our friend. The day we met soon to know sheets note she more a hoe she was the most difficult driving day of my life.

 

We left the airport in Japan and traveled immediately towards the evening’s hotel. We were immediately stopped at a toll. The tolls don't take American credit cards. We had not changed any money as we traveled in a private plane with our car in a second private plane. There was no real "airport" for us and we jumped in our car and left without having any real preparation other than "get to the hotel". At the first toll I had to run out of my car into cars asking for money, so that I could get through the toll. Incredibly, nobody spoke English. I was able to get enough yen to get through the toll thanks to the beneficence of the Japanese drivers.

 

On the second night in Japan, the hotel did not cater to Westerners, nor did it permit Western clothing and attire. This was the Gumball 3000 owner, Maximilian Cooper's, way of keeping us out of our comfort zone. It worked. We laid on a bamboo mat on the floor, drank tea, and ate sea urchin, and I wore what appeared to be a robe for the entirety of my stay in the hotel, including dinner and evenings activities. Concubine mentioned to me that "other teams seem to have underwear under their kimono". Live and learn.

 

I woke up at 4:00 in the morning in the hotel where I was sleeping on the floor wearing a kimono. I went to the top of the mountain and entered the hot spring. I sat on the log naked and dumped water over myself. It was still dark out. There were dozens of Japanese men doing this to the sunrise. I left the bathhouse and approached my car on the grid. The owner of the chiron greeted me, and then I met a Japanese man who was intent on assisting me in detailing my car for over an hour and a half in the hot morning sun. When we were done, I thanked him in every way I could, understanding the language barrier. He seemed to convey to me that he also was a supercar owner. He may have been an actor. I didn't know who he was, but I was very nice to him and that sort of kindness never goes unnoticed. I went into the hotel to get my car,the Concubine, and to get a jump on today's ride. It was now 5:30 a.m. The man who had helped me clean my car for over an hour and a half was next to our car in his black Ferrari. Apparently, he is a supercar owner and quite important in Japan. He gave me a care package including specialties. low sugar candy, and fruits and nuts, so that I could survive the days grueling journey. He made sure to call people in Japan to meet us at each stop. From this point on we were met with people who came up to us in broken English and tried to describe that their friend, with a black Ferrari who had given us a care package, had told them to meet us and asked us if we were okay. That was amazing.

 

On the way to meet our great friend, Sanoshi Morahoshe,for what is a unscheduled and impromptu stop during ourrally.  We got stuck on our way temple in the hottest weather I've ever owned endured. The car was redlining throughout. It was choking on its own fumes. We were going 5 miles an hour for more than 2 1/2 hours in traffic. It was triple digit heat. It was at this time that I was so dehydrated, so sunburned, exhausted, and emotionally beaten down, that I truly believed that I would not ever make it to Tokyo. This was the last day, and all I had to do was meet my great friend, Sanoshi Morahoshe, and I had to cross the finish line into Tokyo. I didn't think it was happening and it was getting dark. It was over a hundred degrees and I was stopped on the side of the road in traffic. 

 

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the headquarters of the Sanoshi Morahoshe family. When I saw him I saw his bright blonde hair from a far distance. As I approached I noticed a crowd of people. When I stopped the car in front of his headquarters, I realized to myself that I started the journey at my house and had ended at his home in Japan. The journey was over.

 

Mr. Morahoshe is a very well respected man. He is quite important in his country and worldwide. The Japanese have a culture of honor and tradition. As I exited the Lamborghini at the end of the trip I wondered how I would greet my friend. Would be a bow or a handshake? I exited the Lamborghini and my emotions got the better of me. I was overcome with a overwhelming feeling of magnificent achievement and gratitude. I lunged towards Sanoshi Morahoshe and fast gave him a bear hug. He erupted with laughter as well did his entire family. There were 14 Lamborghinis waiting for me and the entire Morahoshe family was out in full effect. His car was modified and customized as only this Japanese car club family seems to do: Swarovski crystals, gold chrome, and lights. Lights everywhere. Like many Lamborghini owners, Mr.Morahoshe expresses himself and enjoys a rugged individuality like no one else, save for myself. Both him and I have a common bond not just through the cars, but through our understanding of what it means to be an individual, and to be on our own path. I had flown in Steve Feldman from Steve POV. He is the premier contact between this crew of Lamborghini owners and the rest of the world. Mr. Feldman is a prolific car enthusiast with great knowledge (superior to none) of the Japanese car culture and language. He is the translator and he is a YouTube star. His videos of this evening are legendary. Also, there to document this was Shmee 150. His videos of this meeting are more than entertaining, their energetic, positive, and informative. He is very good at what he does. 

 

I met Mr. Morahoshe and the entire family. I received balloons, gifts, hugs, and kisses. They asked me if I wanted to go for a short ride. I had just driven the most difficult day of my life. I had been in heat that reminded me of lava beds in Arizona. I had come to a place of exhaustion and mental fatigue that I felt I could not return. Now, the most important supercar family in all of Japan is asking me if I want to ride with them through a country filled with narrow streets, police, and driving on the other side of the road, and after traveling around the entire world and getting up at four on several mornings, after sleeping on the floor, and on my way to the actual finish line…do I want to drive with the more Morahoshe family? Absolutely.

 

We left Morahoshe headquarters and I was shocked beyond belief. I have driven 200 miles an hour against jet planes, helicopters, Bugattis, other supercars, in major rallies, on television, and throughout the world, but this was different. I have never seen any car club move like this. It was an absolute ballet. 

 

The Lamborghinis interweave one into another able to communicate with each other with simple gestures and through navigators. They went into the tunnels under Japan at breakneck speeds passing columns underground and poles switching back and forth in front, beside, and in back of me in a dizzying, synchronized driving lesson where I was feeling like a victim more than a participant. I have driven with NASCAR drivers and with professional Lamborghini drivers in Giro. I have driven against some of the best public roads against some of the best drivers. Nothing could prepare me for the Morahoshe family. Their cars are far more flamboyant and personal than anything I ever saw, and their skill behind the wheel far exceeded anything I have ever seen in the United States or Europe. They were able to showboat and perform maneuvers that I still, to this day, do not know how they do. I don't know how they were able to get the entire city on lockdown with some sort of grid system, whereby the police at one point were telling us where to go; and at another point, my GPS translator stated, "we run from police now…Okay?". This was the wildest ride I have had with the nicest and most colorful people. We ended up at the hotel just before midnight. I had just done the most exciting drive of my life through Tokyo and through the tunnels of Tokyo at kill shot speeds, in what seemed to be synchronized swimming with Lamborghinis. At some point, I was less than 4 feet behind Morahoshe. He always made sure I was second online and would bully or otherwise coordinate it so that I was second and he was first. He then did whatever it took to shake me, and we played games throughout the city. At all times this required 110% of my concentration and profound focus. I obtained a second when I didn't know I had. After going around the world, sleeping on the floor,being losing 20 pounds, and being dehydrated during this trip alone…I was now fearing for my life in the tunnels of Japan battling fatigue and following a great friend. 

 

Upon arriving at the hotel my team was joined. There was Joshua King, my assistant, John Lewis, and Syd Mondo from UhDope. We had been followed for 3 1/2 weeks by Channel 8, French television. We had French cameramen with us 24/7 and we traveled in an entourage. We had completed our journey around the world in a Lamborghini. There is no way to describe what it feels like when you achieve your life’s goal, or at least, I can't find a way. It all seems like a blur, and in retrospect, it was far greater and more exciting than anything I had imagined. 

 

Driving around the world in a Lamborghini was my goal. This was, a pie-in-the-sky goal. As the Italians call it, Bellini, the wish of wishes which can be hung on a crescent moon. We arrived in New York after traveling the entire world in a Lamborghini. It was a realization of all the dreams and goals I've set for myself. As a couple we pulled through far closer and more in love than ever. As for the car, there is no other vehicle for me. I have not traveled around the world in a Lamborghini, and I have received the Lamborghini Uris, and I have a Lamborghini SV-J on order. I have two specific goals for the next rally season that are so amazing and epic I have not shared them. 

 

What could possibly be more epic and amazing than going around the world in a Lamborghini? Time will tell, but I assure you…it will involve me driving a Lamborghini and it will be awesome. Divina will be with me, and the team will go on, stronger than ever. I don't know if we are the only people who have traveled the entire world in their Lamborghini, I don't know if I have more miles under my belt than any other Aventador owner, and I don't know if there are other Lamborghini owners who have personally traveled more than 150,000 miles in Aventadors. I don't care. My fifth Aventador is on order and there will be a sixth after that. I cannot believe that we have achieved the goals we set and we are in the process of setting more. 

 

Bryan, I edited this to make it visually readable and a few formatting issues.

I'll remove the other thread that doesn't have the photo with it, as it appears it's a duplicate post.