by Chris Murphy
Modesto USA is the home of American Graffiti. People all over the world know this. Cruising is part of our history, part of our culture and part of our character. Since 1993, it has been illegal. It is pretty embarrassing to have people visit and see the “Cruising Prohibited” signs. Over the last 20 years, Modesto has rediscovered its Graffiti heritage and the cultural and tourism opportunity that goes along with it. One thing I know for sure, is our community is richer when we embrace all of our cultures and make our community inclusive.
Our Lowrider community is amazing and full of various cultures primarily Chicanos and if you are part of our Graffiti culture like I am, you know that this is where a big part of our Graffiti future lies. Modesto has a great mixed culture and heritage and our hot rods and lowriders are sharing the road now more than ever. There are over 20 local Lowrider and Custom clubs. They are family oriented and this culture is embraced and enhanced with amazing art, customs and traditions and have been here in our community since the 1970s.
There is a large-scale state wide move to have the cruising bans of the 80s and 90s rescinded in many areas. The State of California Legislature has authorized direction to respect the cruising traditions of many of our Lowrider and Chicano groups. Over the last year, Sacramento and San Jose have repealed their anti-cruising ordinances with great success and little negative impact. In fact, it has created a new cultural dialog in many of these communities. Additionally, the conditions of the early 80s & 90s no longer exist so we can start fresh. This is what makes the future so exciting.
Modesto Cruisers Council is lead by several cruising enthusiasts from different car clubs and solo-riders as well and it has over 20 active car clubs and independent drivers supporting and petitioning one way or another to repeal the no cruising ordinance. The Modesto Cruisers Council has been meeting with the City of Modesto committees, city council members and with the Modesto Police, and with other established community groups and community leaders. Lowriders have been featured on the cover of ModestoView, in the Graffiti USA Museum and these clubs delivered very successful pajama drives turkey drives and toy drives over the holidays. This cruising community is really active in making our community better, bridging cultures, and showing how we can all make this work together. To be clear, these are not the people doing speed shows and illegal racing. The Lowrider community has created wonderful art with their cars, they are low and slow and respect the road, the community and is family oriented, some families with three or four generations of cruisers and car builders. Everyone of them with a fervent desire to keep alive and renew one of the beloved traditions Modesto was built on. Cruising
Let’s learn from some of the Cruisers Council and see how we can all link up and make our cruising culture more important than ever.
Nasson Sanchez
Modesto Cruisers Council Representative
ModestoView: Why is bringing cruising back important ?
Nasson: Bringing back cruising is important to myself and other cruisers because it will help keep the traditions of cruising alive that have been around for decades but more importantly to help motivate and steer the younger generation from going down the wrong paths.
MV: What do you think people may not understand about the goal to bring cruising back ?
NS: People may not understand, for us in the cruising community, cruising is more then just driving but cruising is a sense of therapy, a hobby, it is a cultural tradition and a time with family and friends and by simply cruising they can express themselves and there culture history through their classic.
MV: How did the Modesto Cruisers Council get started?
NS: It was started after seeking the advice of our advisor (Maggie Mejia) and after several solo-riders and representatives from various carclubs had a meeting to discuss the best way to seek on how to get the no cruising ordinance repealed.
MV: What have you learned from other communities that have rescinded their cruising bans?
NS: I have learned that it has built a strong bridge amongst the community and the community leaders. And it has also given the cruising community a fresh welcoming perspective from the public.
MV: What obstacles do you think we have in Modesto to make this happen?
NS: I feel the main obstacle would be that people may think that legalized cruising will create crime and havoc amongst our community, but in reality it will be the complete opposite. The cruising community of this era are for the best of the community and nothing less.
MV: How has The Modesto Cruisers Council successfully built teamwork with the different organizations in Modesto?
NS: Due to the countless sit down meetings with the different organizations, The Modesto Cruisers Council has built a positive friendship amongst our community leaders, various city council members, business owners and the Modesto Police Department as well. We are more on a personal level than we were when we first started the journey on getting the no cruising ban repealed.
Tina Tateo-Perez
ModestoView: How long have you been involved in the custom Impala Community?
Tina Tateo Perez: I caught the bug early from my brother Frank. He was a lowrider in the early 70s. I’ve always had the passion for classic cars, I’ve been involved with a classic car community since 2000 when my husband Rico finished building our 1958 Chevy Impala. We are solo riders – meaning we don’t belong to any particular car club, but car clubs are so cool, they invite us to park with them if we choose – like West Coast Customs Car show.
MV: You have been one of Modesto’s brightest spokespeople for the custom community, how did you get involved to bring cruising back?
TTP: Number one – I just care, I have the passion, and I felt that the classic car, hot rod, and lowrider communities were being unjustifiably targeted for wanting to show their cars off. Also I believe there was some racial profiling going on and it just wasn’t right. Plus to look at it through the way it was 30 years ago isn’t right. Because of George Lucas and his movie American Graffiti, Modesto is considered the Graffiti capital and now we have the museum, so even more so.
As a woman I felt I needed to do something because of the women empowering women movement. I was very moved by the All-female lowrider clubs that have come out this year and I wanted to be a part of that in any way I can. My friend Betty Martinez Santos and I were some of the first women in the Modesto car show scene driving our own cars to car shows over 20 years ago. My involvement with the car community has brought such great experiences and friendships. I think it’s important for our mental health, to have something to look forward to, a reason to get out of the house and enjoy one another’s company.
MV: Why do you think it is so important that cruising be legal again in Modesto?
TTP: It will help support our local businesses. When we are cruising out there we need gas, food, and drink! All that money goes back into the economy and we’ve proved it with our two cruises we had this summer. One cruise was even for the American Cancer Society and we raised $375 for their cause. All the downtown businesses profited both times we cruised. Chief Gillespie said we had no issues or problems related to both cruises.
MV: What can the various car clubs do to help make this happen?
TTP: Car clubs should be supportive of the Modesto Cruisers Council and put their trust in us. We are working for everyone – all the car communities – classic, hot rod, lowrider clubs, and beyond. Everyone is going to cruise either way, but we can but we all can breathe a little easier if the cruising ban was lifted. We are not children anymore, as we were 30 years ago. We have kids, grandkids, and now we must leave our future generations with something or our car culture will die. We don’t want our car culture to die out. We have already lost a lot of trades like painters, pin stripers, mechanics, body men, upholsters etc. We need these trades, we need to keep the interest in these trades alive, and continue to foster the creativity and artistry put into our cars.
MV: What are the next steps?
TTP: Modesto City Council Meeting, 5:30PM January 10th, Public Comment at 1010 10th Street, Modesto, CA 95350, In the basement. We need everyone to come out in support to get the Cruising ban put on the agenda and lifted.
Till Andrade
ModestoView: Why do you think this culture is so special?
Till Andrade: It is a way to connect with others who share the same passion for cars and art and something we can do as a family. it is not just a hobby it is a lifestyle self expression when you see my car you remember me. We didn’t grow up with a lot of money, my mother taught me about electrical /interior and my dad showed me how to work on cars and make them work again . The culture is about no limits it is something you can look at an be proud of what you can accomplish with the help of friends and family and want to display for others to enjoy.
MV: When did you first start building your first custom?
TA: I started building my first custom when I was in high school. I started with 1953 Chevy that I paid $100 for. This was something that my friends and I did after school with my parents. I would pick up cheap cars and get them running so I could sell them to buy parts for my 1955 Chevy C10 truck that was my fathers daily driver that he traded me for a 1967 C10 truck. I have kept the 1955 Chevy though the years and have customized it several times. It’s been many different colors red, black, orange, blue and currently in process of rebuilding it and painting for the next Graffiti cruise. This is a hobby that has become part of our lifestyle.
MV: I hear that you have three generations that made lowriders?
TA: My parents are involved and have lead me on this path and I now have two boys that are following in my and my parents footsteps and have a passion for cars and bikes. They enjoy building model cars, lowrider bikes, pedal cars they have a vision as to what they want their bikes, cars to look like and put in the work to make it happen. My sons enjoy cruising and our outings to car shows to see all the different works of art that these car people build
MV: Do you feel you get a good response for the community for the lowrider culture?
TA: I feel the community enjoys seeing these old cars come back to life, when they see them it brings back all their childhood memories. I don’t know how many times I am driving around and random people just stop and begin to tell me a story of some great memory they have that was triggered by seeing these old classics. it puts a smile on my face that i can make someone happy reliving a special moment in their life.
MV: Rosemary has been featured at the Graffiti USA Museum, what did that mean to you?
TA: When i got the call from Tina Perez Tateo that they wanted to have Rosemary displayed at the Graffiti Museum, it was a great honor to be recognized I have spent a lot of time and money on her with the help of my friends and family and it was nice to be able to share it with everyone.
