Our Stories
Bajito Y Suavecito En Tijuana, Mexico In 1974, Guillermo “Willie” Estrada from La Colonia Cortines in Tijuana, Mexico, decided to change his cruising style from high rider to lowrider. Hence, the first lowrider car club was born there. United Browns would be the first exclusive lowrider car club in Tijuana. Other prominent Tijuana Car Clubs came on the scene such as Los Dukes, Los Knights, and Los Yoguis. They included both lowriders and hot rods. As noted above, the relationship between San Diego and Tijuana lowrider car clubs is critical in lowrider history because the United Browns car club played a compadrazgo role by validating and affirming the San Diego lowrider movement. This was key because Chicano lowrider car clubs in San Diego were not always accepted. They were constantly under the surveillance of law enforcement to the point that lowrider cruising would be outlawed in the region by 1992. In turn, United Browns, among other Tijuana car clubs, would welcome San Diego lowrider clubs to cruise Tijuana and Playas. It was common for San Diego lowrider car clubs to attend dances at El Club Campestre and El Salón Nicte-Ha, sponsored by Tijuana lowrider car clubs such as United Browns. Low-N-Slow Goes International What began as a unique Mexican and Chicano cultural expression out of the barrios of San Diego would transform into an international phenomena. Today, the lowrider car explosion can be found throughout the world. Germany, Brazil and Japan are now home to lowrider culture and unique car clubs. In fact, one of the largest lowrider car shows in the history of lowriding was held in 2015 in Port Messe, Nagoya, Japan. Thirty delegates representing San Diego Lowrider culture were present proving that “low-n-slow” has captured the imagination and heart of lowriders throughout the world, with its early roots in San Diego Chicano lowrider history.
Latin Lowriders and United Browns Car Clubs 1976 Dance event (Photo courtesy Willie Estrada, USD San Diego Lowrider Archival Project)
Los Dukes de Tijuana Car Club Community volunteer project (Photo courtesy Alberto L. Pulido)
Amigos Car Club Rigo Reyes (Photo courtesy Alberto L. Pulido)
1955 Mercury by Robert Martinez (Photo courtesy Alberto L. Pulido)
1969 Chevy Impala by Ben Osorio (Photo courtesy USD San Diego Lowrider Archival Project)
Bombas Car Club Glorita Cota (Photo courtesy Alberto L. Pulido)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 5 – The Chicano Cultural Renaissance
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