Ground Effects, Tint, Bass, and Other Aspects of the Low-Rider Subculture
             In researching data for this paper I spent one evening participating in the activities of the West Side Low-Rider club. Information was also gathered through my experience of living in the area where the group hangs out, West Asheville. My informant is a friend of mine who is also a member of the group. With his help I was able to move freely among club members. The focus of the paper is in the symbol which the automobile represents for the driver and how club members alter or customize the symbol to obtain status.
             The West Side Low-Rider club was established in 1991. The group was started by two brothers, Bobby and Sid. Together with five of their friends, the two men have created what is considered one of the largest low-rider club in North Carolina. Although originating in the southwest among Latinos, low-riding became popular in Asheville in the mid seventies, and now there are three well established groups in Buncombe county. All of the clubs are based in West Asheville, which lies across the French Broad River, from the business district of Asheville. Other than occasional cruises through downtown, most of the clubs activities are carried out in West Asheville. My friend Casper, who is a member of West Side, informed me that "West Asheville is where the true Ashevillians live" as "new age hippies" and "liberals" have taken over the rest of the city.
             The division between West Asheville and the rest of Asheville is an interesting one. As my informant stated above, there are apparent differences in the way the two sides of town view themselves. Asheville has always been a major tourist destination; fifteen years ago, however, the tourist began to stay year round. The city welcomed the mostly wealthy new residents, by catering to the needs of the many new housing developments which began springing up around the downtown area. In an exodus r...