soundslide by: Carmen Daneshmandi

Back in the early days in Mexico, the young men and women would gather in the plaza, dressed in their best.  They would walk toward each other and when their eyes met, that meant they would become romantic partners.  That is the story Abraham Rodriguez, junior and co-chair of El Movimiento Estudantíl Chicano/a de Aztián (M.E.Ch.A.), told to illustrate how lowriders are an adaptation of that culture.

“It’s changed a bit, but the idea is the same, the tricked-out cars are meant to catch the eyes of all,” Rodgriguez said.

And catch people’s eyes they did. Brightly colored custom paint jobs and chrome rims glimmered in the sun, while dual amp bass systems thumped Spanish-language hip-hop.  A hydraulic hop contest in which cars bounced off the pavement as high as five feet, topped off the day at the ninth annual lowrider show, "Ridin’ Low in the 3-6-0."

Rodriguez estimated more than 1,500 people attended the event Sunday, May 17, in Red Square. M.E.Ch.A. sponsored the event, which showcased more than 90 vintage and modern cars, trucks and motorcycles.  

Students and Bellingham residents were offered a variety of events to participate in, such as the watermelon eating contest, a jalapeno eating contest, a dunk tank, salsa dance lessons and street vendors.  A mix of modern and historic music and dance performances kept the crowd entertained as well.

A Mexican folk-dancing group from Friday Harbor, Wash., called Ballet Folklorico Mexico de los Hermanos Avila performed to mariachi music in traditional dress, followed by rap and hip-hop artists Joaquin, and the group Truth, Loyalty and Sacrifice, both from Seattle.

Ridin’ Low in the 3-6-0 is a family and community event, and an important one because it helps deconstruct stereotypes about lowriders, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the show empowers all ethnic students because it brings cultural awareness to the Whatcom County community.  Rodriguez said he believes Western admissions depends on the event because it is a way for the University to prove that it doesn’t use the word ‘diversity’ lightly.

“It actually brings in people of different cultures and doesn’t associate diversity just with race,” Rodriguez said.  

Rodriguez said the Black Student Union, Latin Student Union, Student Outreach Services, the African Caribbean Club and the Filipino-American Students Association all participated in the event and had set up booths during the show.

Rodriguez said when he saw the lowrider show this year it was like a childhood fantasy fulfilled.  

“I had never seen so many lowriders in one place,” Rodriguez said.  

Rodriguez said lowrider entrees were from California, Oregon, Idaho and Canada.

Western junior Andrea Tafoya, one of the Ministers of Education for M.E.Ch.A. at Western, co-chaired the event with junior Laura Bohorquez, the Internal Affairs representative for M.E.Ch.A. at Western.  Tafoya said the show represents the opportunity for community members, especially high schoolers, to see that there is not only a chance for them to participate in higher education, but there is support for them as well.

“The stereotypes are out there, but they don’t have to be fulfilled,” Tafoya said.  “People may come to see a show, but we want them to be reached out to.”

Tafoya said she experienced first hand a darker side of the lowrider community, when gunshots were fired during a fiesta in her hometown, Quincy, Wash.  

Bohorquez said she wanted people to see the amazing work done on the cars.

Bohorquez said the craft and skill it takes to design and build the low riders often goes unnoticed because of the gang association, but she wants teenagers to see the owners of the lowriders need to be educated.

Western senior Mar Moller, the budget authority for M.E.Ch.A., headed the budget committee for show.  This year’s budget was about $9,200, he said. Half of it comes from the Ethnic Student Center and the rest comes from fundraisers and sending out donation letters to almost every education department at Western.   

Tafoya said Western’s history department, American cultural studies department and Student Outreach Services all donated. Prize donations came from Starbucks, Sehome Diner and Hairmasters in Sehome Village, she said.

“It’s a great way to meet people and network,” Moller said.  “The show is about lowriders, but the community is like a family.”

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