Lowriders are coming to downtown Chula Vista.
Coauthors Alberto Lopez Pulido and Rigoberto “Rigo” Reyes will discuss their latest book, “San Diego Lowriders: A History of Cars and Cruising,” from 6 to 8 p.m. June 28 at the sports novelty store Eazy Toyz at 293 Third Ave.
The event will feature classic lowrider cars, various car clubs and a history lesson on lowriders and the car club culture in the South Bay.
“The event is basically to learn about the history of the area,” Reyes said. “Not only to learn about lowriders but also to learn a little bit about the whole development of the auto car club culture.”
Reyes is the cofounder of Amigos Car Club that was established in 1977 and cofounder of the San Diego Lowrider Council.
The book is based off their hour-long documentary film “Everything Comes from the Street,” which highlights San Diego’s historic lowriding community.
Released in April, “San Diego Lowriders: A History of Cars and Cruising” is not a complete history book but it documents the original 27 founding car clubs in San Diego, Lopez Pulido said.
Lopez Pulido said the lowrider scene in the South Bay has always been one of great creative expression, as lowriding should be.
“The bottom line of lowriding or any kind of lowriding experience is about car customization,” Lopez Pulido said. “It’s not like any other car that you drive.”
Lopez Pulido said typically lowriders are customized with stylish rims, a new sound system and lowering of the car.
He said South County used to be an attraction for lowriders until cruising was outlawed in the early 1990s.
“National City was the hub for cruising,” he said. “Highland (Avenue) was the cruising scene. Car clubs from San Diego came south to Highland and the cars in the South Bay would go north and they would all meet up on Highland Avenue to show off their Lowrider.”
He also said many of the original car clubs in San Diego have originated from the South Bay, from Imperial Beach to Del Sol to San Ysdiro and National City.
However, there is not any documentation of a car club in Chula Vista and Lopez Pulido said he hopes the event next week would inspire Chula Vista car enthusiasts to start their own club.
“We don’t think we know of any car clubs in Chula Vista,” he said. “We have a lot of car club members from Chula Vista but not car clubs.”
Lopez Pulido is a professor of ethnic studies at the University of San Diego.
