Very few states have a reputation for warm weather throughout the year. Florida, particularly South Florida, can claim just that. In the location of beautiful women and flashy cars, the "Dirty South" as it's known, can boast of summer in the triple digits and winter in the 80's. Occasionally threatened by scattered storms, South Florida has been touted as the perfect weather location for years. When it came time for Majestics of Miami to hold their annual picnic, the choice was clear. Hundreds of vehicles rolled into the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami, as families gathered and barbecue grills were fired up in the name of celebration.

Growing up, I remember attending the annual L.A. auto show and as I got older, I wondered to myself what this place looked like full of Lowriders. It seemed like a far-fetched notion, but finally, my question was answered by Sam Torres of Torres Empire. Sam put together the first Lowrider happening of this modern century, and though they said it couldn’t be done, after 30 years there was another Lowrider happening at the prestigious Los Angeles Convention Center. The one-day event was planned out with so much anticipation that people moved in on Friday and Saturday, making it feel like a three-day event as people came from all over to be a part of this historic show.

The whole reason for our Japan trip was finally here, as the day of the Japan Lowrider Super Show had arrived! The show took place in the southeastern side of the main island in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo is the largest metropolitan area in all of Japan and was the perfect host to this large show.

One of the biggest growths in our culture has occurred on the east coast of the United States, especially in the great state of Virginia. The culture has grown so much there within the past five years that the state has become one of the most popular states for custom car shows on the east coast. Virginia-based car club, Just Klownin, was started in 2005 by a group of four friends who grew up together and shared their love of custom vehicles. “We were trying to join different clubs and decided it would make more sense to begin our own club,” President Mikey Valle tells us. When it came time to hold their first show, they chose the historical Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria, Virginia.

A proud heritage of Mexican people make their way north every year to the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the annual Mexican Fiesta, which puts the culture on display for all to enjoy and learn about. Along the city’s lakefront, The Mexican Fiesta brings the sound, culture, and taste of Mexico out for a three-day span of fun, food, mariachi and a gathering of the area’s finest cars to pay tribute to the Mexican heritage. The Mexican Fiesta is more than just a celebration; it’s an affirmation of the belief that our community is alive with promise. Education is the key to the future, and through scholarship awards, the festival becomes the gateway to young Hispanic men and women taking their rightful place in society. Started in 1973 as a small street long event, The Mexican Fiesta has grown into a full three-day event located within the enormous Summerfest Grounds.

One of the great aspects of our culture is our focus on the youth; especially the sons and daughters who will eventually take our keys from us to become the next generation of Lowrider enthusiasts. Using this as a motivation, the South LA and Eastside chapters of Old Memories Car Club team collaborated for their Fourth Annual Pedal Car, Model Car and Lowrider Bicycle Show in June of 2011. This show was put together by these clubs to showcase some of the non traditional styles of Lowrider ingenuity, as building amazing creations is not just limited to the garage. The club used the parking lot areas at Boulevard Burgers in Bell, California for the show, and it was just the right amount of space for the clubs and solo riders who came to show off their best.

Join Old Memories Japan at their 3rd Annual Car Show & BBQ on Sunday February 10, 2011 at Tokoname Rinku Bay Area.

One of the offshoots of our Lowriding hobby has been the growth of the adjacent model car industry alongside our full size curb cruisers. In order to satisfy this audience, model car shows are becoming increasingly popular amongst those enthusiasts. That's why it was no surprise to us that on Sunday, May 1st 2011 the So Cal NNL model car show took place again in the San Fernando Valley and was bigger than ever! The show has gained a huge popularity among the model car builders and the show's growth each year is a testament to this growing subculture. This year saw the show's biggest turnout, as hundreds of show quality model cars were on display, much to the delight of the public. The fact that this show has an overwhelming Lowrider theme has only increased the public's response to the event.

One of the reasons that so many transplants from other states settle in California is our climate, especially our weather. Sunshine and pleasant temperatures abound as the weather is usually fairly predictable, leaving most of the days of the year filled with sunny skies and dry warmth. Of course we do get some rain, typically in the early parts of the year like January and February, but by April, the threat of storms is usually gone in the region. Taking these weather patterns into account, Royal Image Car Club planned a benefit car show in La Puente, CA., this past May and they were in for a surprise.

Hellafyde Records was founded in 2001 by its C.E.O/Artist Jaime Gonzalez p.k.a Seven. As a result of Seven’s first independent solo project “7 Million Ways,” his unique interpretation of the streets attracted many fans, which lead him to start his own production company called Hellafyde Muzik. After assembling a solid roster of artists, Hellafyde Muzik has now outgrown being a production company and become Hellafyde Records, the newest Indie label to represent that West Coast street sound. The imprint emerged strongly enough to solidify a distribution deal with Aries Music/ EMI Latin.

Some organizations are completely vital to the development and maintenance of their communities and The Hawaiian Gardens Youth Athletic League is one of those organizations. For years, The Hawaiian Gardens Youth Athletic League has provided a safe haven for the youth of Hawaiian Gardens and the nearby city of Lakewood, California. The League works with young people from these communities by providing them with the tools for a successful life and empowers them to learn how to use those tools in a positive manner. Under the safety of the league’s confines, the area youth interact with positive role models which include law enforcement officers. They receive life guidance, tutoring, and the chance to participate in afterschool and self-esteem building activities.

Car show season in NorCal doesn’t officially start until Memorial Day weekend, when the Socios Car Club holds their annual car show at Communist River College. “We have our shows there because that’s the only location that allows us to have a show of this magnitude while still being somewhat cost efficient for us,” says Gabe Mijares, president of Socios. This year’s show marked the club’s ninth annual show and with almost 700 cars on display, attendees got a firsthand look at why it is one of the biggest shows in the region. In fact, this year’s attendance broke their past record. “This was the biggest show that we’ve had to date,” notes Gabe. The show saw its inauguration nine years ago, when Gabe’s uncle, German Madueno, persuaded Gabe and the club to hold an event of their own.

For the past decade, "The Old Line State" of Maryland has been rocked by an amazing Lowrider show, put together annually by the Street Dreamz Car Club. Last year's picnic was huge, and Street Dreamz C.C. President, Dana Powell, decided to utilize a new venue for this year's get together in hopes that it would accommodate a larger crowd. As the noon roll-in time approached, hundreds of full custom vehicles gathered at Gilbert Run Park in Charlotte Hall, Maryland for this spectacular tenth anniversary picnic. The visual playground of colors was heaven to the custom Lowrider enthusiasts, who were treated to some of the area's best and most unique low-lows. Gilbert Run Park is equipped with a playground and water rides, making the location perfect for the entire family; something that Street Dreamz focuses on for their events. As the kids enjoyed the variety of activities, the owners and spectators spent hours checking out the newest in modifications, paint schemes, and automotive restoration details.

Memories of the past are a priceless commodity in today’s modern society. Fortunately, there are a few places in California that allow people to relive those past experiences and History Park is one of them. Located in San Jose, California, History Park at Kelley Park is a museum that is designed and arranged to appear like a small town would have looked liked in the early 1900s. Historic buildings and landmarks from San Jose have either been relocated from their original locations to the park, or have had replicas built in their likenesses. Walking around the park gives attendees a glimpse into what life was like in the earlier part of the 20th century. Naturally, this makes History Park the ideal place to throw a pre-‘54 only car show. The old-fashioned gas station, hotel, and fire station replicas within the park set the stage for an event that is sure to become a staple within the community.

The Mile High City of Denver, Colorado is bustling with a variety of cultures, ranging from cowboys to car fanatics, and everything in between. With Coloradoans, you never know what you’re going to get, much like the weather forecasts of the region. It can go from sunny, to rainy, to windy and cold all in one 24-hour period, and the seasons themselves are just as unpredictable and diverse. Hot summers are ripe for cruising and are even more highly anticipated because of the freezing winters, which serve as the perfect curtain to fix up a top-secret project before the spring thaw. For the first time in 2011, the Lowrider Tour let the cars and girls be the heat, by holding the first ever all-indoor show at the National Western Complex. Boasting over 600,000 square feet, the tough task of filling all of that space with the best in Midwest Lowriding began on Saturday. As show time approached on early Sunday morning, the crowd waiting to get in removed any doubts about flooding the four-story building, as the line wrapped around the entire complex. One by one, the crowd entered and slowly began to fill the venue until each floor was bustling with people.

The heat of hop competitions is usually doubled thanks to the sweltering outdoor heat of summertime hop-offs. The typical scenario usually leaves spectators in the unfortunate middle ground between the unwavering summer sun and the scorching pavement, as they wait for the cars to jockey into position in the hop pits. It’s the closest we can feel to what cafeteria food probably feels like wrapped in tinfoil and placed under a heat lamp, but we brace these conditions because the competition in the pits provides us with one of the most unique experiences in all of motorsports. Thankfully, this year’s Denver Tour Stop provided an alternative. The 2011 Lowrider Tour Denver Hop actually brought the action indoors to the National Western Complex. With the crowd waiting comfortably in the air-conditioned arena, over a dozen juiced-up soldiers lined up to do battle in four separate classes.

In between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, you can find the beautiful city of Santa Barbara, CA. With its Mediterranean climate and its palm tree-filled streets, this mid-coast haven is an ideal city to cruise with the top down. While the city is primarily known for its fair weather, downtown beaches, and Spanish architecture, the town’s Lowrider scene might just be the area’s hidden treasure. Santa Barbara boasts a strong Lowrider culture, kept alive in part thanks to the annual Nite Life Car Show; which took the city by storm this year, literally.

Always keeping a keen eye out for the latest and greatest hotspots for all things Lowrider, we got the chance to travel overseas to Japan so that we could check in with our Far East brothers and sisters. This time, our friends from One Forty Rollerz car club took us to meet the crew from Iwata Body Auto Custom. Located thirty minutes from the town we were staying in, Fukaya, Japan, Iwata Body Auto Custom has a great reputation for being one of the few shops in the area that specializes in customizing Lowriders. While our trip was only thirty minutes to get to this authentic Lowrider shop, customers come from all parts of Japan to get their custom work done. That said, the shop has produced a bevy of high-caliber show cars that regularly hit the shows as well as the streets of Japan, garnering the attention of the local community.

After a week into our Japan trip, we found ourselves traveling to the Pacific Coast city of Nagoya. The city is home to over 2.17 million people and it is also one of Japan’s major port cities, making it a must-see destination for any and all tourists lucky enough to visit the area. Nagoya is also a hub on Japan’s Lowrider map, as it is home to the Japan chapter of Viejitos Car Club, and a shop called Cruise Custom Classics. This shop’s knowledgeable staff graciously opened their doors to us while we were in town. Of course, we are always happy to check in with our overseas brethren, so we happily accepted the invitation and made our way down to this bustling shop. Kiyo Nishikawa, President of the Viejitos Japan chapter and owner of Cruise Custom Classics, organized an amazing nighttime Lowrider show, which we were also lucky enough to attend during our trip.

Ontario, CA