[dropcap size=big]L[/dropcap]owriders started lining up on Stadium Way on Saturday in Elysian Park, a couple of hours after sunset the night before, perhaps the largest organized cruises in Los Angeles after the pandemic. By the time Fernando Carillo pulled his 1948 Chevy Fleetline into a spot at around 3:45 AM, just south of Scott Avenue on Stadium Way, most of the prime parking spots had already been claimed.
By noon on Sunday, the palm tree-lined section of Stadium Way down the street from the entrance of Dodgers Stadium was packed with hundreds of classic cars, motorcycles, trucks, and bikes, along with the vehicles prideful owners and their families.
Monday through Friday, Carillo works his day job. Sometimes, on Saturdays, he slings his L.A. Times-approved smoked brisket and ribs out of his apartment, but Sunday is fun day. “Today was probably the most packed I've ever seen it in a very long time,” Carillo told L.A. TACO Sunday evening. Carillo has been coming to car shows in Elysian Park for decades. “Before, you'd just show up like at 3 AM or 4 AM but not fucking camp the way they did this time!”
While meetups never entirely stopped during the pandemic, some enthusiasts like Carillo took a step back from the scene when the coronavirus hit. Following a year of tremendous loss, for many people, the sight of hundreds of lowriders teeming through the Elysian Valley evoked pleasant memories of the past. The convivial vibe of everyone also gave a glimmer of hope of L.A. life returning back to normal.
GIF by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.GIF by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A pink lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A blue lowrider with one wheel up in the air. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A red lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A red lowrider and yellow lowrider cruise by each other. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.An orange lowrider with the engine hood open. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A dark blue lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.Fernando Carrillo's 1948 Chevy Fleetline.A yellow lowrider parked next to a dark blue one. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A blue lowrider parked next to an orange one, both hitting switches. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.Lowriders and palm trees. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.Spectators look at lowriders in the air. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A man looks at the line of lowriders as far as the eye can see. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
Photos by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO
A lowrider steering wheel with a face masks dangling. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A woman smiles in her lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A man smiles and points at the camera. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A couple wearing Dodger attire and sunglasses. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)An illustration of men playing cards displayed on a lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A car with "Pineapple Gold" and weed leaf illustrated on it. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A woman looks out from her lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A French bulldog in a Dodger jersey. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A Mexican flag draped over a car seat. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A purple airbrushed truck. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Two men looking for tools. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Mini lowrider novelty toy on top of lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Felix the Cat antenna topper. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Lowrider in the air. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Man holds lowrider as it jumps up and down. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)
L.A. will also have to reimburse the street vendors for their past fines relating to this controversial sign. However, this does not include any other fines related to equipment restrictions or lack of permits. This also means that while a vendor can’t be cited for vending in areas like the Hollywood Walk of Fame anymore, they can still get cited for other city regulations.
One of the taqueros who organizes the weekly pop-ups used to be homeless himself and broke out of poverty by selling breakfast burritos in front of a courthouse in Van Nuys. Now, he is sober and pays it forward every week. The group uses TikTok to raise funds and donate up to 1,500 tacos and more a week.
Was your life changed by a Circle Jerks show at Blackie's? Chaka Khan dropping in on Snoop and Too Short at the Palladium? Dudamel with a special guest at Disney Hall? Chime in!
