Model: Bella Geisha

Model: Barbie Rodriguez
Makeup: Chris Anthony Alvarez
Hairstylist: Alejandro Romero

Model: Genevive Velente

Model: Bunnie Barreras
Makeup: Shanella Genice
Wardrobe: Kandy Shop Bikinis

Like many car clubs out there, this one got started by a group of friends that all shared a common love; a love for Lowriding and its lifestyle. The group established the car club in 1993 in Pasadena, CA., but they have been together as a family since 1985. Way of Life car club was founded to be just that―a way of life. For years members had belonged to other car clubs and were fed up with the politics and lack of commitment they found in other clubs, so they banded together to form a club of their own. The goal was to not only promote their “way of life” which is of course Lowriding, but to also leave a positive legacy behind for their community and to demonstrate that you can have a good time with your club without breaking the law.

Brotherly love is one of the strongest bonds a man can have, especially when you only have one brother. 32-year-old Augustine Romero can look back with pride and love at his little brother, Benito. The two were inseparable as children and were building bicycles and model cars as early as thirteen years old. At sixteen, Benito purchased a rare 1977 Buick Regal, and the brothers worked feverously, building the Buick to show status. In early 2004, Benito was out with friends and the unthinkable happened; a gun went off and Benito was struck and killed. Augustine was devastated that his best friend and brother could be taken away from him and his family. The Regal remained at the house, a painful reminder to the brother he had lost. Finally, Augustine summoned up the courage and chose to use the Buick to carry on his brother’s legacy.

Model: Meagan De La Torre
MUA: Shannella Genice
Bikini: Pinkini Swimwear.com

In California, the police code “5150” refers to a lunatic on the loose. It is often called out when someone has lost their mind and needs to be captured. 21-year-old Micheal Cano of Denver, Colorado and the rest of his crew have been told they were crazy or lunatics for spending the time and money on the culture they so passionately embrace. “They never understand why we spend so much money on this hobby,” Micheal explains. “To us, this is more than a hobby; it’s a way of life.” This mindset has allowed this incredible bicycle club to make a mark on their Colorado scene and bike clubs nationwide have taken notice as well. While some might label them crazy, they insist that to raise the bar of bicycle design, an outside-the-box mentality, coupled with a determined resolve is absolutely necessary.

Model: Amber Tiederman

Once again, it’s time for a little time-travelling – Lowrider style! This month’s throwback section spotlights the Lowrider culture during the glorious years of 1989 and 1990. Who could forget this era, the Mini Trucks began multiplying like rabbits, and our Lowrider Magazine 10th anniversary Tri-City Tour was the place to be. Of course things were changing as the globalization of our culture was becoming more apparent. Mellow Man Ace’s hit single “Mentirosa” crushed the air waves in 1989, and his album “Escape From Havana” ushered in the beginning of the mainstream’s acceptance of Chicano hip-hop, providing a thumping soundtrack for many cruisers for years to come. G-Bodies continued to rule and the Four Corner states flourished, spreading the culture’s West Coast roots further eastward in the country. Take a moment and soak in these pages, which will open a floodgate of memories for some, and be a history lesson for others.

Model: Monique Minor (Twitter@moniqueminorfx)

Often times, our first brush with Lowriding comes from our family and friends, as these two groups of people obviously influence us a great deal. Such is the case with Anthony “El Vago” Heredia. As a child, Anthony would always see his uncle “Lazy Bear” cruising Chester Avenue and Niles Street in Bakersfield, CA. “I was hooked, I was completely addicted to custom cars,” says Anthony with a laugh. “I was twenty-years-old when I was ready to get into the custom car scene and by then, there was a whole new scene. People around here weren’t using hydraulics as much; they had switched to airbags and they were putting bigger wheels on trucks and SUVs.” The new influence forced Anthony to make a decision, and he decided to evolve as well.

Model: Carmela Silva
Makeup: Shannella Genice
Wardrobe: Kandy Shop Bikinis

It takes a true Lowrider enthusiast to notice undeniable potential. Some of the most amazing lowriders were once nearly scrap metal; sitting and waiting for the inevitable fate of rotting away in a junkyard. This is the case for 28-year old Kelvin Reynolds’ latest project. Introduced into the culture by his friends Jerry and Sammy, Kelvin would often cruise through the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma with the Individuals car club. Out with a friend one weekend at a junkyard looking for parts, he came across a beaten-down ‘84 Chevy El Camino. He immediately saw the possibilities of what he could create and made the offer of a mere $500.00 for the Chevy!

Model: Maddi Ortega

Model: Rebeca Meza

They say that idle time is the devil’s playground. Often, kids with too much time on their hands end up watching TV, playing video games, or getting into trouble. Interest in positive and creative activities is not only key to a child’s growth; it can breed a lifetime of self-confidence. For nine-year old David Vargas, any and all free time is used for wrenching and showing, thanks to his custom bike and support of his family. While other kids maybe interested in their Playstations and Wii’s, it’s safe to say that David would rather be in the garage, learning the ins and outs of Lowrider bike building and competing with the best of the best.

Model: Maritza Orozco

When it comes to true North American pride and dedication, our United States neighbors to the north are often overlooked. In 2004, David Gravelle of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was discouraged by the absence of custom Lowrider vehicles and shops that worked on them in his area. After owning a couple of Impalas, he set his sights on a ‘96 Cadillac Fleetwood. The big body was previously used as a taxicab in Canada and was sold at a price that Dave simply couldn’t pass up. Having always had a sweet spot for the ‘93-‘96 Cadillacs, he began this six-year project, which he calls “Starburst.”

The first generation Buick Rivera was introduced in 1962 as a 1963 model. The one-of-a-kind Rivera shared its body shell with no other model, unusual for a GM product at the time. Naturally, this first generation of the Buick was and still is considered a styling landmark, and the car has remained very popular and very collectable over the years with many car builders and collectors. With its aggressive look and coupe styling, the first generation of the Rivera has also remained very popular with Lowrider car builders. The highly sought after model has remained a mainstay of our pages, and continues to be with this very feature.

Model: Faiola Amor
Makeup: Kim Bui

Model Photo: Beto Mendoza
Model: Angela Breitenbach
Makeup/Hair: Sona Gaeta
Wardrobe: Kandy Shop Bikinis

Many Lowrider Car Clubs are bound together by a tight-knit group of friends looking to collectively work towards establishing a legacy. Padrinos Car Club is one of these clubs, and they continue to push for excellence in everything they do. Padrinos Car Club started with a group of childhood friends who were looking to ride and cruise in and around the Bay area. David Gomez and a group of friends got together and set the guidelines for a small, but active car club; one they hoped would be void of all the drama that is so often found in many of the larger clubs. “Back in 1994 in Concord, a couple of buddies and I were talking about having our own club because a few of us were in different car clubs and wanted to start our own thing locally,” explains David. “Eric Guerrero came up with the name “Padrinos” and we all agreed that we should use it. We already knew we wanted Fermin Munoz as President, since he was the oldest and the guy we all looked up to. Through the years, we had established ourselves as a small, five-car car club, only because we didn’t want all the hassles of a full car club,” he says. While some would think that the club would be too small to make noise, this was far from the case, and the Padrinos were quite content with their membership size. “We were satisfied to have three to seven cars at any given time,” explains David.

Nick Pineda of Atwater, CA remembers being introduced to Lowrider Magazine in the early 1990’s. “I remember that I was immediately hooked by all the beautiful models who posed by the even more beautiful cars. Needless to say, I have never put Lowrider Magazine down since,” says Nick with a chuckle. Given his long-term readership, Nick’s certainly been exposed to everything under the sun, which pushed him to be creative with his latest project, a 1996 Tahoe/Escalade conversion, and the task was not for the faint of heart.

Buckle up in those time machines − it’s time for us to celebrate our 35 years in the game with a flashback to an era of Lowrider magazine that represented a creative time in the culture that was all about fun and creativity! We’re dedicating this month’s throwback section to the memories created during the mid-eighties, specifically 1985-1988. It was in ’85 that the world saw many changes; the Mexico City earthquake occurred, “We Are the World” debuted, as did the movie “Back to The Future.” We weren’t rolling in a DeLorean though; our streets were alive with the hum of G-Bodies, like the Regal, Monte Carlo, and the infamous Cutlass Supreme, giving our look a modern edge that leaves those particular models as popular now as they were back then. Yes, the G-Bodies were in full swing during this time period, and they also dominated the market share among new consumer vehicles as well. The first Hispanic-American went into space in 1986, and the explosion of Freestyle music also took our style out of this world! In fact, style and music played a big role in our lives back then; the combination of “the Aquanet era” and Freestyle music turned the Boulevard into a full scale party. Lisa Lisa, Stevie B., The Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation, and many others provided a cruising soundtrack during these years that is still popular today. Mike Tyson won his first belt in ’86, Michael Jackson released “Bad” in 1987, and we elected a new president in 1988, as George Bush took over, ending the Reagan era. Paint schemes continued to evolve during this time period, and the box-style Caddy also began to be a popular choice for cruisers of the era. It was a great time to be a Lowrider, too, as car shows began to grow in size and attendance from the previous eras. As we look back on this time period, we are grateful to have these archival images for some of you to live vicariously through. We are humbled to have been around for 35 years, and while Lowriding has seen many changes and spread all across the map since our humble beginnings three and a half decades ago, we’ve enjoyed every minute of it!