Our Stories
The Regents Car Club came out of Sherman Heights and the Classic Car Club was from Otay. Additional car clubs such as the Casinos, New Wave, Klique, and Custom, Oldies, Korner, City, Amigos, and Domestic Rides Car Club also established themselves during this decade. The end of the 1970s marked a watershed moment as Ladies Pride represented the first women-only lowrider car club in San Diego lowrider history. Soon after, the Specials Car Club emerged as the second exclusive all women’s car club in San Diego.
San Diego Jacket Clubs and Lowriding During this period, jacket clubs were an important part of youth culture throughout San Diego. They instilled great pride and leadership skills in Mexican American male youth. Many jacket clubs emerged during this era with names such as Los Gallos, Los Chicanos and Los Lobos. Women were also active in the jacket club movement with names like the Blue Velvets and Shebas. Unfortunately, they have not received the same recognition or attention as the men’s clubs.
Specials Car Club, Jo Anna Williams (Photo courtesy Nonie Samano, USD San Diego Lowrider Archival Project)
Ladies Pride Car Club, Elsa Castillo Founder (Photo courtesy Alberto L. Pulido)
Los Gallos Jacket Club (Photo courtesy UCSB Chicano Collection)
Jacket clubs represent the roots of lowrider culture because central to their organizing efforts was a vision to build community. They believed strongly in the value of reciprocity. Giving back to the community helped sustain their work and support their communities. The Logan Heights jacket clubs were born in the Neighborhood House and were guided and structured with key mentorship from individuals such as Al “Pelón” Johnson, Coach Merlin Pinkerton and Frank Galindo. All three were committed to working with and mentoring young men from the neighborhood. First Independent Lowrider Clubs The Latin Lowriders were the first independent and organized lowrider car clubs in San Diego, emerging in the late 1960s. Many Latin Lowrider members were formerly associated with the Nosotros Car Club organized by Rudy Cervantes from the Barrio Station. The characteristics of the Latin Lowriders are notable because they emerged during a period of transition when both lowriders and hot rods—racers and cruisers—comprised their membership. Soon after, the Chicano Brothers from National City would come onto the lowrider scene along with Brown Image from Logan Heights. Chicano Brothers were distinct because they were able to rescue a clubhouse in South San Diego. Brown Image set the foundation for organized lowrider car clubs with established car club rules and regulations, meeting minutes and dues paying membership. Several other car clubs would follow.
Ladies Pride Car Club (Photo courtesy USD San Diego Lowrider Archival Project)
Special Women’s Car Club (Photo courtesy Nonie Samano, USD San Diego Lowrider Archival Project)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 5 – The Chicano Cultural Renaissance
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