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Texas lowriders refusal to die.

Bob Bullock State History Museum puts on a Lowrider show, celebrating immigrant culture. They should call it low standards and slow riders. HA!

Published July 13, 2024 at 7:01am by Cross Harris

Lowriders, freedom, and family: what's not to love?

Lowrider livin', conservative style

Steve Guzman, a Vietnam vet, knows a thing or two about freedom. When he bought his first lowrider, a sweet-lookin' red Chevy pickup, at 22, Austin's lowrider scene was divided.

"Don't come to my side," was the attitude, said fellow rider James Sanchez.

But times change, and so did Austin's lowriding scene. Bridge boundaries blurred, and families joined together through a shared love of lowriding.

"Time has healed," Guzman said, and he's right.

These days, Guzman and his buddies are the old guard, passin' on their pride and joy to the next gen of conservative lowriders.

A Texas tradition

On any given Sunday, you'll see badass lowriders from all over Texas cruisin' the capital, showing off their Latino heritage. It's a far cry from the culture's origins in '40s California, where it began as an expression of Latino pride.

"But never did we dream that we would be at the Bob Bullock museum," said Monica Maldonado, founder of MAS Cultura, gettin' all emotional.

Lowriders: a family affair

These lowriders are more than just cars. They're family heirlooms, passin' on memories and hard work from generation to generation.

Take "West Texas" Eddie Velarde, for example. He's been fixin' up his 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme since his daughter Selena was a baby. He plans to pass it on to her as a reminder of his dedication.

"I look at this car, and it’s a symbol of... perseverance," Velarde said. Can't argue with that, folks.

Lowriding, sewing, and good old-fashioned values

Trampia Guzman grew up with lowriding in his blood. His dad called him from up north, askin' him to rotate the tires on his ride. That's family values for ya.

Trampia's grandma taught him to sew when he was just a young'un, and he's been crankin' out zoot suits ever since. Two of his suits are even on display at the Bullock museum, including one made from his grandma's gold drapes. Now that's a way to honor the past.

Lowriding, a way of life

Trampia's wife knows what's up too. She bought him a lowrider to restore for their 20th anniversary. That's a real tear-jerker, folks.

His buddy, Gizmo, says it best:

"This is an art, and it’s miraculous."

** URLs:**

Carros y Cultura: https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/exhibits/carros-y-cultura/