Lowriding
Ground Effects, Tint, Bass, and Other Aspects of the Low-Rider SubcultureIn 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
Implying that drag racing is often used initially in order to settle disputes or initiate. This phenomenon is found throughout the world and is most widely expressed clothing styles. Casper ran inside to buy a drink, as loitering is not permitted, and we all sat on the hood. Complaining about the traffic created by the influx of cars in weekend, many feel the police should end the practice all together. The separation between the sexually experienced and those considered "cherries" is symbolically represented in name calling and jokes which bring to light the sexual naivete of the boys in the club. The symbol, automobile, becomes something with which members use to assume their identity. Many low-riders add switches and buttons to the dashboard to create whatever effect they desire. Colored window tinting on some of the cars creates a colored hue throughout the interior of the car. My informant told me that many boys will lie about their sexual conquest in order to raise their status in the group. The top speed and rate of acceleration are two mechanical aspects which take precedence among low-riders, as drag racing is the primary form of competition among the group. Members of West Side showed me cars with oriental carpet interiors, inside neon lighting, and even a covered pick-up trucks made to resemble a limousine. Probing the issue further I found that most of the members thought that women do not need to get dirty, and that the work is mechanically oriented which happens not to suit women. The exclusion of women from the club, allows it's male members to interact without competing for the affection of female members. " Maintaining a car's engine and other parts requires a knowledge of mechanics which is coveted by many members of the group.
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