Bonelli Park in San Dimas, California is approximately 1, 975 acres of park land surrounded by the lake that was created by the Puddingstone Dam. The park is very popular with residents of the surrounding areas for boating, fishing and camping. The park is also very popular with many of the car clubs in the Southern California area too.inline_mediumwraptextright32420901/events/1005_lrmp_1st_annual_bomb_club_car_show_and_bbq1005_lrmp_03_o+1st_annual_bomb_club_car_show_and_bbq+chevy_impala.jpgTrue

Car Show Atlanta Georgia The Farmers' Almanac is an annual periodical published in North America, known primarily for its accurate long range weather predictions and astronomical data. People reference the data in the almanac to plan outdoor events such as wedding festivals, picnics, and even car shows! Perry Bunker of Obsession Car Club used the Farmers' Almanac to set the date for the 2009 Obsession Fest at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia. Weather in the Southeastern part of the United States can vary from day to day, so Perry was counting on the Almanac to find a date with no undesirable weather. In the days before the show, the Atlanta, Georgia area suffered severe weather, as rainstorms pounded the southern hamlet. Torrential downpours were bad enough to even cause flooding throughout the area, and things were not looking good for the show. After the rains stopped, there was the task of getting the city back in order. Thankfully, Commerce Georgia suffered minimal damage and the Atlanta Dragway was not affected. Since people from all over the South were interested in coming to Obsession Fest, the Internet forums were buzzing with updates on the weather conditions and status of the show. The show was a go, so the masses began making their way to Georgia from neighboring states like Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and other Southern states like Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia.inline_mediumwraptextright26727437/events/1004_lrmp_2009_obsession_fest1004_lrmp_01_o+2009_obsession_fest+impala_ss.jpgTrue

Contrary to popular assumption, the biggest west coast auto show is not the one held in Los Angeles. This honor actually goes to the annually held, Las Vegas-based, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show. The most recent SEMA show took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center this past November, and featured over 2,000 auto parts and equipment companies, and more than 125,000 attendees on hand during the four-day show.inline_mediumwraptextright27984640/events/1004_lrmp_las_vegas_sema_show_20091004_lrmp_02_o+las_vegas_sema_show_2009+lowrider_semi.jpgTrue

Running an annual car show can be very difficult for many reasons, thus very few annual car shows reach the ten-year plateau. There are a few exceptions however, such as "Scrape By The Lake," which is one of the longest running custom car shows in North America. The show was born out of necessity, in fact, it was created by a group of Lowrider enthusiasts who had no place to show their cars. The only local events near them catered to hot rods and muscle vehicles, so Joe Sud and his crew decided to create an event for all types of vehicles, with the main focus being the Lowrider culture.inline_mediumwraptextright26903537/events/1004_lrmp_2009_scrape_by_the_lake1004_lrmp_02_o+2009_scrape_by_the_lake+model.jpgTrue

New Style
35th Year Anniversary
In the early 70's, during the golden age of Lowriding, many Lowrider car clubs were formed. It was a common sight to witness most of these clubs cruising the boulevard Friday through Sunday, or to simply catch them just hanging out on the strip. One such club that would always make their presence felt within the streets of San Jose was New Style Car Club. Carrying custom paint jobs and Zenith wire wheels, the rides of New Style Car Club were easily identifiable as the cream of the crop on Story and King. The club's plaque became instantly recognizable from blocks away, as even though the actual plaque was small in size, the name it carried was big. Most of the clubs from that day have since ceased to exist, but New Style has been one of the few clubs that has been able to withstand the test of time.inline_mediumwraptextright26846765/events/1004_lrmp_new_style_lowrider_council_and_klique_anniversaries1004_lrmp_07_o+new_style_lowrider_council_and_klique_anniversaries+early_flyer.jpgTrue

Pueblo, Colorado played host to the most recent Midwest LRM-sanctioned event, presented by ODB productions and Robert Espinoza. In true Colorado fashion, the weather that welcomed our arrival into Denver's International Airport was stormy and cold, but by the time we had made the two-hour drive south to Pueblo, the weather embraced us with puffy clouds and sunshine. We hit the fairgrounds early the next morning, not surprised to see people lined up well before the 10:00 a.m. start time, eager to see the Midwest's finest go head-to-head. They would not be disappointed either, as the Pueblo Fairgrounds housed over 600 car entries!

The United States saw its fair share of historic events in 1973, including the completion of Chicago's Sears Tower, the Supreme Court's controversial overturning of Roe vs. Wade, and the end of the Vietnam War. In the Lowrider movement, the year 1973 is also significant, as it was in this year that one of the culture's most elite car clubs, Majestics Car Club, was formed. Majestics Car Club was created in California, and has since created chapters in other parts of the U.S., spreading the club's reach and influence to places as far away as Miami, Florida. This Florida chapter was honored with an inaugural welcoming event this past year in the hot and humid CB Smith Park, located in South Florida. The size of this large, popular park was actually too small for the thousands of people who came out to show their support for this event. With heavy rain looming all day, the event plowed ahead as scheduled, with the determined club eager to welcome this new Miami chapter into the Majestics family. The supporting chapters included the Majestics' North Carolina chapter, as well as the Central Florida and Daytona Beach chapters. Club spokesman Danny Rodriguez told us the "the support was overwhelming," adding that he was "proud to be a part of this amazing event."inline_mediumwraptextright28089148/events/1004_lrmp_majestics_car_club_first_annual_miami_picnic1004_lrmp_08_o+majestics_car_club_cb_smith_park_picnic+hopping.jpgTrue

Hosting an inaugural picnic can be a difficult task for a car club. It really sets the tone for the identity of the club, while also establishing a yearly tradition that showcases the club's unity, progress, and respect for the Lowrider Culture. This pressure didn't faze Hampton, Virginia's own Street Dreamz Car Club, as they put together a wonderful event for their first picnic. The setting was Rosaryville Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Promoter and Maryland chapter president Dana Powell tells me, "I was up until 4am the night before, making sure the show was perfect." He adds, "I couldn't let this fail at any cost." Cost was certainly on his mind, and Dana certainly paid the price for the perfect club picnic himself; he funded the entire day on his own.

Oldies San Gabriel Valley Chapter The Big 20th Anniversary Celebration In 1989, Noah Hipolito showcased his 1948 Chevy Fleetline, "Gumby 48," at a Lowrider Tour show in Pomona, California for the first time. Oldies Car Club veteran Ricardo Alvarado was at the show, and took notice of the car as well as its owner, Noah. Taken by his craftsmanship, as well as his enthusiastic demeanor, Ricardo approached Noah about starting a chapter in the San Gabriel Valley. The rest, as they say, is history. Fast-forward to 2009, and the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Oldies Car Club is celebrating their 20th year anniversary!

The Crowne Plaza in Louisville, Kentucky played host to the 17th anniversary of UCE Car Club. UCE Car Club was originally founded as "Uso Car Club" in 1992. The word "Uso" means blood brother in the Samoan language, and is a reflection of the club's mentality and family-like support system.inline_mediumwraptextright26708123/events/1003_lrmp_uce_car_club_17th_anniversary1003_lrmp_18_o+uce_car_club_17th_anniversary+group_picture.jpgTrue

San Fernando High School
As one of the oldest high schools in the Los Angeles area, San Fernando High School is full of history, and can boast of some notable alumni including comedian Cheech Marin and musician Ritchie Valens. The school has had much success over the years in both the classroom and on the playing fields, and it can now add the success of a summer time car show to its history books.inline_mediumwraptextrightBombs for all ages31788696/events/1002_lrmp_san_fernando_valley_oldies_car_show1002_lrmp_01_o+san_fernando_valley_oldies_car_show+old_lowrider.jpgTrue

2009 Event Coverage
Best of Friends and Kings of Kings returned to the city of Bell, California this past May, to hold their second annual Bell Car Show. Gage Avenue was shut down between Atlantic and California Ave. for this amazing show, and the available space filled up quickly with car show entrants and vendors, who offered everything from toy cars to delicious food. The first show was such a success for the clubs and the city, that the show areas were doubled in size for this year's event, to allow enough room for the expected entries. The increased show area was at capacity with over 600 enthusiasts, comprised of solo riders and club members from Westside, Strictly Family, Traffic, Dukes, Viejitos, Delegation, Homies, Reality, and Uniques. There were show entrants and spectators from all over California, since this show had something special for every type of car enthusiast. Everything from Bombs to Lowrider Bikes, were displayed, as were fully restored original rides. The weather was typical for a Sunday in May here in Southern California, so a hat and sunscreen were needed, along with a good pair of shoes for the long walk down Gage Avenue. The successful partnership between the clubs and the city for a second year, ensures that there will another great show in 2010. If you missed it this year, plan on attending next year, and make sure you bring your camera and a good pair of shoes for all the walking you'll be doing while witnessing this breathtaking event.

The 9th annual installment of the legendary Imperials Car Show saw a few necessary changes this year. For 2009, the Imperials enlisted the help of J.R. Entertainment to assist in securing a new location for the show, since the usual venue in Hawaiian Gardens was not available, due to some renovations. After considering a few locations, J.R. Entertainment decided on the grounds of Cerritos College in Norwalk, California.inline_mediumwraptextright27593755/events/1002_lrmp_9th_annual_imperials_car_show1002_lrmp_01_o+9th_annual_imperials_car_show+oldschool_lowrider.jpgTrue

Santa Barbara, California, best known for its incredible ocean swept views and laid back culture, breeds another lifestyle within its palm tree-lined streets; the historical culture of Lowriding. The area's city-by-the-beach feel is perfect for cruising around in a quality Lowrider, and even more perfect for hosting a car club anniversary celebration.inline_mediumwraptextright27855094/events/1003_lrmp_nite_life_17th_santa_barbara_show1003_lrmp_01_o+nite_life_17th_santa_barbara_show+front_driver_side.jpgTrue

One of the greatest aspects of our culture is that it speaks to car enthusiasts the world over, and manifests itself in many different countries and communities. Although Southern California is widely considered the mecca of the culture, the Pacific Coast Highway has bridged the sport to our neighbors to the north, in both Washington and Oregon. This is nothing new either, the northwest has been riding low for years, as evidenced by the recent car show put on by Lowcos Car Club. On June 14th, 2009, Lowcos Car Club held their 3rd annual Moses Lake Lowrider show at the Grant County fairgrounds in Moses Lake, WA. While this show marked the 3rd year of this event, the Lowcos Car Club has held over 19 different car shows throughout the northwest, helping to spread the Lowrider movement throughout the territory.inline_mediumwraptextright32083965/events/1003_lrmp_lowcos_3rd_moses_lake_car_show1003_lrmp_01_o+lowcos_3rd_moses_lake_car_show+bounce.jpgTrue

One of the most anticipated parts of the Vegas Super Show is the high-octane Hop Competition. Every year, Lowriding's best-of-the-best duke it out in a fierce competition that literally pushes the expectations for this event to new heights. Under the newest guidelines, the competition has become even more grueling, as the contestants in this aerial display compete under invite-only circumstances. This makes it harder for would-be competitors to enter, and makes the event even more exciting for the spectators, as they get to watch only the finest hoppers in the country show off their skills.inline_mediumwraptextright26658266/events/1003_lrmp_las_vegas_super_show_lowrider_hop1003_lrmp_01_o+las_vegas_super_show_lowrider_hop+bounce.jpgTrue

The Las Vegas Super Show is considered by many to be the "Super Bowl" of the Lowrider Culture. This year's show was a prime example of the level of competition found at this annual custom throwdown, with over 700 of the world's most elite Lowriders registered to compete in front of nearly 20,000 spectators, enthusiasts, and fans. Simply put, the Vegas Super Show is the stage that separates the men from the boys, and the ultimate proving ground for all competition-minded builders. If your car wins awards here, you are truly at the top of the class among the Lowrider elite, and your car will become an instant legend. It takes years of dedication to make it to this level, so the respect among competitors is as serious as the competition between them. In order to become eligible to participate in the Las Vegas Super Show, builders must qualify through one of the five other Lowrider Magazine-sanctioned shows throughout the year, leaving many hopeful competitors scrambling to attend this year's Pueblo, CO show, which took place just one week prior to the Vegas show. Anticipation was high, and the cars were low, as many different contenders from all over the nation invaded this year's battleground, Cashman Field in Las Vegas, NV. Lowrider enthusiasts lined up early Friday morning for the move-in, while the staff at Lowrider Entertainment worked hard to swiftly move the show cars into their designated showcase areas.inline_mediumwraptextrightA Rollerz Only Bomb Truck of the Year on display32134188/events/1003_lrmp_2009_lowrider_las_vegas_super_show1003_lrmp_02_o+2009_lowrider_las_vegas_super_show+rollerz_only_bomb_truck.jpgTrue

When the Individuals Car Club was born in the streets of Los Angeles back in 1976, nobody ever expected it to be as strong as it is today, boasting an amazing twenty six chapters nationwide. In the club's early days, founder John "Cudda" Patrick created the name "Individuals Car Club," and the definition behind the name speaks for itself. He envisioned the club members expressing themselves as an individual, while still coming together as a group of "Individuals." These ethos allowed the members to be who they were, while they contributed to the group's identity and goals, making the Individuals Car Club one of the most unique, and enduring car clubs in Lowrider history.inline_mediumwraptextright27555088/events/1002_lrmp_individuals_car_club_john_patrick1002_lrmp_02_o+individuals_car_club_john_patrick+standing_in_group.jpgTrue

The last Sunday of July in 2009 was the perfect day for the 17th annual Pharaohs South Bay car show at the Wilmington Athletic Complex. Even with a heat wave submerging the Greater Los Angeles area, the show grounds filled up quickly with participants and spectators. Classic Lowriders had both their Los Angeles and Utah chapters at the show and their lineup looked great! Bridge Town Oldies cruised down from the San Gabriel Valley and brought an equally impressive group of cars to the show. Rare Class from the Inland Empire had their bikes on display, and Delinquentz from the South Bay were showcasing some of their best two and four wheel creations. The show also brought out the legendary Imperials Car Club as well as Best of Friends, Street Style, Bomb Connection, and the heavy hitters from Los Angeles Car Club.inline_mediumwraptextright31750332/events/1002_lrmp_17th_annual_pharaohs_car_show1002_lrmp_01_o+17th_annual_pharaohs_car_show+old_car.jpgTrue

The lack of funding for our schools continues to plague just about every school and school district in the United States, especially in California. Schools are constantly struggling to find ways to raise funds in the hope of operating and providing much needed resources for their students. The Lowrider community has stepped up to this challenge, helping to produce car shows and fundraisers by partnering up with local PTAs and schools. This growing trend has earned hundreds of much needed dollars for impoverished schools and school districts, which are struggling more than ever, thanks to the tragic state of the U.S. economy.inline_mediumwraptextright26264027/events/1001_lrmp_royal_image_car_showlrmp_1001_31_o+royal_image_car_show+son.jpgTrue

inline_mediumwraptextright31576404/events/1001_lrmp_el_paso_car_show_kentucky_individuals_picnic1001_lrmp_02_o+el_paso_car_show_kentucky_individuals_picnic+event.jpgTrue

The state of Colorado is notorious for its unpredictable weather patterns, but it is always consistent when it comes to successful Lowrider Tour events; this year's summer show was no different. As we landed on the runway at Denver International Airport, our pilot said the forecast for the weekend was set to include rain and inclement weather, but luckily, that forecast proved to be completely wrong. We did survive one Tornado Warning on Friday, but that didn't stop the dedicated attendees from bringing out over 400 of Denver's finest rides to the Saturday set up. In fact, other than the tornado scare, the weather was perfect all day on Saturday for the move-in and remained that way on Sunday for the show.inline_mediumwraptextright25490555/events/0912_lrmp_2009_lowrider_tour_denver_coloradolrmp_0912_03+2009_lowrider_tour_denver_colorado+denver_car_club.jpgTrue

A blazing summer day in Houston, Texas served as the perfect backdrop for the local community's 2nd annual Grill & Chill Lowrider Show. Adair Park, a beautiful area located on the outskirts of the city, played host to this wonderful event, which was put together by Latin Kustoms Car Club based out of Pasadena, Texas, and Houston's own Last Minute Customs. Latin Kustoms held a pre-show party in one of Houston's hottest nightclubs the night before the show, drumming up anticipation for this amazing event to a near fever pitch. Everybody in H-Town was anxious to attend this summer show, and over 400 cars packed the Adair Park parking lot the next day to prove it.inline_mediumwraptextright26702596/events/0912_lrmp_latin_kustoms_car_club_lowrider_showlrmp_0912_12+latin_kustoms_car_club_grill_and_chill_lowrider_show+black_impala.jpgTrue

It was show time on May 17th when LG Productions presented their 11th annual Que Onda Car Show & Concert, at the big Fresno Fairgrounds. There were six acres of some of the best custom Lowrider's from Sacramento to Los Angeles. These cars included the Oldies member Chris Roarks car, which won Lowrider of the Year, "Perfect Score", "Black Beauty", and Elites Car Club's, LRM's past cover ride, "Southern Blues", and the awesome 38' Chevy "El Padrote". Also representing was Uce, Traffic, VIP's, Sangre Latina, Aztec Image, Majestics, Nokturnal, and 559 Kustoms just to mention a few.

The Mile High City of Denver, Colorado played host to the last hop of the '09 tour year. The invitational competition featured cars from all over the United States, as they all attempted to qualify for the Lowrider Tour main event, the upcoming Vegas Supershow to be held this October.inline_mediumwraptextright25493087/events/0912_lrmp_2009_lowrider_denver_colorado_tour_hoplrmp_0912_01+2009_lowrider_denver_colorado_tour_hop+shortys_ranger.jpgTrue