Almost everybody when driving, speeds to some extent going from one place to another. On the streets today, there are [usually] street legal Japanese cars that have been highly modified. Generally the modifications were at a considerable cost to the owner, although easy to install. Once completed these cars can complete a quarter mile at blazingly fast speeds. Of course American muscle-cars have never really gone away. Some are very fast right off the lot, others are modified by their owners. Drivers of both these types of cars sometimes compete in illegal races right in your home town, for big money, and for car titles. Racing for titles means the loser of the race also loses his or her car to the winner. The idea is nothing new, and has been going on for decades. Only the characters and the cars have changed.
There is another subgroup out there. Dollar wise they are in a heated spending war with the the very fast cars in how many thousands of dollars are spent per vehicle. For these cars however, the money is spent on their creation, and normally not on their horsepower. They compete in events too, but in a very different arena. These cars are owned by groups of people who compete for cash and prizes on a different level. These folks define themselves as Low Riders!
Lowriders trace their beginnings to New Mexico, Arizona, East Los Angeles, or Chicago depending on who you talk with. In their early days, they bought old cars cheap, built anywhere from the 1930’s forward. They loved nothing more than take an old classic car, strip it down to the frame, and spend every free penny they earn in making their own personal, one of a kind, luxury show machine! If you are fortunate to live in an area where Low Riders are popular, you have probably driven by or seen cars that would trade even money with many new cars on almost any car lot in your city. This shows how much importance some folks put into their cars.
Lowriders are now world wide, there are Lowrider clubs in over 30 countries, and claiming as many nationalities. LowRider Magazine has grown from a rag magazine to one of the most carried and sold car Magazines in the world! Now you know just about everything I know about Low Riders. I have never owned one, but I have seen a few I would be been proud to own - if money did not get in the way.
What I find special about Lowriders is not really their awesome cars, or tricked bicycles, but something different associated with driving them. I am impressed with the Lowrider’s view on driving down the street! In years past, and probably today on some streets, Lowriders were notorious for slowing traffic. Idling along at five or ten miles an hour to the frustration of other drivers behind them. Lowriders do drive considerably slower than the average driver, but for different reasons. Lowriders, love the cars they drive! They love sitting in their flashy creation, cruising down the street. They simply enjoy riding around in cars they essentially built from hand with love. For a Lowrider the drive is at least as important as the destination, maybe more so.
I think it is enjoyable, driving with a Lowrider perspective, slowing down and enjoying the drive! It is relaxing knowing I do not need to speed, and l will arrive at my destination in time. Of course over the years I have slowed down or stopped other areas of my life to have this time available to enjoy.
Let’s face it, most of us are not so important that the world will come to a halt if we were to be late. So leave a few minutes early and re-learn what it is like to enjoy the getting there! Be a Lowrider for a week, and see how your life changes for the better. At the very least you will find you have dropped out of the never ending get to the next stop light first competition. You will enjoy slowing down, and enjoying the ride!
Technorati Tags: attitude, driving, lowrider
No comments yet.