Back in the 70's when the Blvd's were jam packed with custom cars and Lowrider Magazine's were being sold out of the trunk of a car, there was a kid in a San Jose high school by the name of David Gonzales, who had come up with a small comic strip. "It was called 'Adventures of Hollywood' and the character in the comic strip would go to parties to meet up with his Homies," explains David. The word spread out of the comic strip to the San Jose, CA. resident and founder of Lowrider Magazine, Sonny Madrid. "He brought me into Lowrider Magazine and I started doing small comic strips of what would later be known as the 'Homies.'"

Model: Angelique Peterson

Model: Darling Danika

Art is a complex passion and Tony Ramirez traces his infatuation with it back to his elementary school days. He describes his first sketch, done on an elementary yearbook, as a picture of a student leaving school. While the drawing was fun, Tony was slow and cautious in accepting art as his obsession. "I wasn't too much of an artist growing up," he admits. "It was just something that I dabbled in from time to time." Still, Tony found himself interested in it, and he studied other artists by collecting various art magazines that included Lowrider Arte.

Lowriders and car enthusiasts take inspiration from many things and for Aaron Pinal, that inspiration came from the car show scene. For as long as he can remember, pilgrimages to these exhibitions served as his introduction to the car-obsessed world he lives in now. "I knew that one day I would own one of those custom cars that I used to see in magazines and car shows," he explains. The vehicle that he had his eye on was an Escalade; a luxury SUV that he purchased in 2007 when he was only seventeen years old! He credits this achievement to the fact that he had been working in his family's restaurant from a very young age. "I began working on it immediately," says Aaron. He wasted no time in adding 26-inch wheels and a sound system with big bass to match. The black truck was later airbrushed with a purple mural, which served to guide the way it looks now. After Aaron joined the Escondido chapter of Nokturnal car club, he gained a greater insight as to what it takes to build a show car and he decided to redo the truck. "I really liked the way the purple stood out from the black, so I wanted to keep it purple," he explains. After talking to Mexico Collision Center and kicking around some ideas, the transformation started. "My truck has gone through a lot of transformations and I am really happy with how it is now," says a proud Aaron, though he insists that he is in no way, shape, or form done with customizing the Caddy.

Model: Krystal Solis

Model: Lisa S.

Model: Elizabeth Ruiz

Model: Shantel
Wardrobe: www.kandyshopbikinis.com

Lowriding is a family affair in the Loya family. Oscar Loya is a longtime member of Techniques car club of Los Angeles and his children, Adrian (age 6), and Azalea (age 9), are the youngest members of the Techniques Bike Club; the oldest Lowrider bike club in existence.

Model: Tammy Samaripa

Model: Gabriela Molina

Model: Trinity Angel
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Car clubs, for many of us, are like second families. For those of us dedicated to our crafts, sometimes the time we spend with our fellow members outweighs the time we spend with our actual families. When a member of our car club passes away, there is a void left within the club and it can be hard to keep the club going after the death; especially when it is the president of the club who passes away. Neu Exposure car club is all too familiar with this, and their resilience defines the passion that Lowriding is all about.

An heirloom is something antique that has been passed down through generations of family members. While most people consider a piece of jewelry an heirloom, some consider vehicles to be heirlooms. It is not uncommon for a vehicle to be passed down through generations of families.

Owner: Aaron Beacom

In the mid 80s, the Pedroza family took a trip to California to visit relatives and catch the sites. This Texas family was in awe seeing the golden state through the eyes of a tourist. But for brothers, Raul and Javier III, their intrigue was of the mini truck and VW craze. Being from El Paso, this duo was not new to the "slammed look", as lowriders had been cruising the Sun City boulevards for decades – but their fascination – was that this new era "look" was with imports, not the traditional American vehicles. This trend quickly spread throughout the Southwest, and it wasn't long before lowriding influences soon merged these imports into the lowrider culture; this border city was no exception. In the summer of 1987, the Pedroza brothers and father, Javier Jr, started Slow & Low car club. Initially made up of an impressive lineup of 45 customized VWs, the club quickly gained recognition throughout the Chihuahua desert region. By 1990, the club had gone through its growing pains and had transitioned into a lowrider-based club that continues to date.

When you build a car and you enter it in car show competitions you don't ever think that you will even place. When you get your first it's a boost of confidence and you start setting goals, but for Jesus Contreras of Tijuana, Mexico, the thought of 100 trophies with his '52 Chevy truck "La Morena" was not even a goal when he started competing. Living south of the border there hasn't been enough local events to rack up the trophies, so most of his awards have been won in the USA, throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. This past summer Jesus accomplished his goal of 100 trophies with his custom truck that has earned the respect on both sides of the Mexican border.

Model: Barbie Rodrigues

Model: Stephanie Tiradot
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Throughout the vast history of Lowriding, there have been many great men and women who have contributed to the movement in various ways, helping to progress the culture along the way. These legendary contributors comprise a wide spectrum of mechanics, painters, upholsterers, hydraulic installers, or simply car builders and enthusiasts who have helped to build some of the most memorable rides ever featured in the pages of Lowrider Magazine. One of these notable greats would have to be Angelo J. Maisano; the mobile pinstriper whose slogan was simply, "Have brush, will travel." The tools of his trade were his paint brushes and those who knew Angelo can attest to the fact that he did not go anywhere without them in his car. In traveling from state to state, Angelo left his mark on many Lowriding vehicles, accenting their body lines with his elegant pinstriping and eye-catching leafing. Sadly, on September 6, 2012, Mr. Maisano left this world bound for a better place after losing his battle to cancer.

As one gets older, one begins to think introspectively to gain a proper perspective of their life. Our experiences, our achievements, our impact on others; all these things serve to remind us that we all have a purpose. Realizing that where we've been doesn't have to dictate where we're going is important, but it is equally important to be grateful for the environment you came from and the circumstances you came from. For Fabian "Candyman" Villarreal, growing up in the rough neighborhood of Oak Cliff in 1980s Dallas was a daily challenge. "To keep me off the streets, my parents kept me busy," remembers Fabian. "My mother, Irma, saw my artistic potential and urged me to express my talent through artwork; which led me to winning numerous art competitions while in school." As for his father, Reynaldo, he took a different approach, with the young boy. That approach falling under the "if you want to go play with your friends, first you have to sand that car" school of thought. At age 12, the young apprentice began to work at his father's body shop on West Davis St. "I was a body man, long before I was a painter," recalls Villarreal. Although the trade helped to put Fabian through school, more significantly, his father's work ethic taught him that making a living meant to give the best possible presentation by finishing the job to the best of his ability – a philosophy that continues today for Candyman. Most of our LRM readers and features can attest that our parents tried their best to keep us off the streets, and like the majority of us, Fabian discovered the same culture we did; the Lowrider scene. This future club leader soon joined Los Bajitos de Grand Prairie. This car club, led by Beto Salazar, was among the Lone Star State's elite clubs in the 1980s. "Beto is a Lowrider legend, who taught me the ins-and-outs of running a club and promoting car shows; lessons that I continue to use nearly thirty years later," explains Fabian.

Celebrating 40 years of Lowriding excellence is no easy task. That achievement certainly speaks volumes about the resilience, dedication, and passion that Techniques car club brings to the Lowrider table. It's safe to say this four-decade mark could not have been met without the club's willingness to grow and adapt by passing the torch to younger members who maintain the club's initial traditions and foundation. Founding members of the original jacket club from Schurr High School in Montebello, California in 1972 laid the groundwork for this legendary club and in 2012, Techniques car club is still here – celebrating the well-earned milestone of 40 years of service to the Lowrider Community. I was humbly honored in receiving an invitation from Arizona Chapter President Ruben Salazar to their commemorative anniversary on what will forever be known as a very special night in Lowrider History. It was only appropriate that the Radisson Hotel Ballroom in Whittier, California serve as the site that Peter Cruz and company host a night of tribute and recognition for those who followed their initial dream.

Model: Erin Micklow
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Determination is the key ingredient in conquering any obstacle. With it, not many things can hold you back. For thirty-year-old Juan Carlos Boizo Salazars', determination set in at a very young age. Born in Mexico City, Juan struggled with the poor surroundings and constant depression in his home country of Mexico. At the age of fourteen, his parents decided to make their way to the United States to give their children a better life with the potential for greatness. With the strict policies of legalized citizenship and the extremely long waiting period, his parents decided to bring Juan and his two brothers through Texas. Juan Carlos and his father were the only ones to make it through, with his father returning to care for the family until they were able to try again. Juan Carlos stayed with his family until he eventually reunited with his brothers and parents, who decided to relocate to Athens, Georgia.