Polished rims, shiny hoods and big smiles kicked off the Lobos y Lowriders event on Wednesday, Sept. 17. In the midst of Hispanic Heritage Month, New Mexico’s lowriders proudly showed off their sweet rides and unique culture, bringing color and shine to the University of New Mexico Student Union Building courtyard.
“If this car could talk; imagine what it would tell you,” Frank “Poncho” Chavez, the president of the Duke’s Car Club Albuquerque and owner of a 1959 Chevrolet Impala, said.
These antique cars, are valued from $200,000 to $500,000, according to several of the owners. Buying, selling and trading are all a part of this culture’s dynamics. Most of the owners at the event know how to do mechanical tuning and repairs themselves, or work as a community to service their cars. The Lowriders care deeply about the perseverance of their masterpieces, for they are conserving more than just a vehicle, Chavez said.
Chavez hopes events such as the Lobos y Lowriders help spread knowledge of Hispanic culture, especially in how Lowriders give back to the community, he said. Much of the exposure Lowriders receive is through narrative media, but is often a misrepresentation, he said.
“In every culture you get bad people, but look at the Lowriders now. They’ve had gangs, drug dealers and scary people, but that’s a persona that everybody sees in movies and stuff like that,” Chavez said.
Chavez believes this creates a negative perspective, but meeting those in the community often dispels stereotypes, he said.
“You meet these people, and say ‘wow, they’re regular Joes.’ We are police officers, college students and safety inspectors,” Chavez said.
Many Lowriders had family members who attended the event or brought their own classic cars, including Chavez’s son.
Lowriding runs deep within the roots of Hispanic culture, entwining family, history and unity, Chavez said.
These cars are often passed down generations as families often did not own much to give as an inheritance, Chavez said.
“The classic car goes back to your family — where you went with your family, trips, things like that,” Chavez said. “It takes you back to history.”
Marina Olmstead is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
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