Tampa 2004

Lowriding is back in full effect in the Southeast and it shows!

By Dustin "Volo" Pedder

Many hardcore enthusiasts have contacted the staff at LRM with concerns about the state of lowriding in Florida. Within the last few years, they say, the traditional styles of lowriding seem to have come to a new low. The new age styles of 20-inch-plus rims and the growing custom compact import scene have been gaining in popularity. Well, it definitely didn't appear that way last April 4 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida.

On that weekend, Lowrider Magazine and Lowrider Events made their official Evolution Tour stop--thanks to sponsorship by Quaker State, Nitto Tire, U.S. Army, Exide Batteries, CCE Hydraulics, Player Wire Wheels and Limited Alloy Wheels--and ended up drawing in more than 400 lowriding cars, trucks and bicycles. Car show entrants came in from all over Florida, from Jacksonville and Orlando to Miami, as well as from elsewhere in the Southeast, including some car clubs and individuals from as far away as Kentucky!

The weather in Tampa was perfect, cloudless and in the mid to high 80s. When the general admission ticket gates opened to the general public at 11 a.m., there was already a long line as many show spectators eagerly awaited the sights and sounds of the day. A total of 8,000 people made their way into the show, most of whom were pleased to see more traditional lowriding customs sitting on the familiar 13- and 14-inch spoke rims. Admission was up 1,000 more people than last year and enthusiasm among both spectators and entrants seemed higher than ever.

For stage presence, an all-star regional lineup was on tap. The comic Chingo Bling got the crowd going and after his performance he let his fans get up close and personal with him at his booth. Fans lined up fast to get pictures and autographs with Chingo! Next up on stage was Florida's own duo Smilez and Southstar, who kept the people groovin'. To finish off the concert, the headlining Youngbloodz performed their song "Damn!" which is the hit single that has been getting crazy radio and video play all across the nation. Youngbloodz did a good job at getting everybody hyped up! But what hyped up the audience even more--particularly among the guys--was the bikini contest! This was the last event of the show and it definitely ended on an exciting note.

With the rise in number of cars and spectators present at this show, it can definitely be seen as a sign that lowriding is not dead in the Southeast. It's actually alive and growing, and Floridians are proving their dedication to the Lowrider Movement to the maximum.