Skip to Content
Photo Essay

The Hundreds of Lowriders That Showed Up to Cruise and Bump Oldies By Dodger Stadium Is Proof That L.A. is Healing

[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. 

Lowriders jumping up in the air. GIF by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
GIF by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
Lowriders jumping up in the air. 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.

A red lowrider with 'Double Trouble' airbrushed.
35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
A pink lowrider.
A pink lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
A blue lowrider with one wheel up in the air.
A blue lowrider with one wheel up in the air. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
A red lowrider.
A red lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
A red lowrider and yellow lowrider cruise by each other.
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.
An orange lowrider with the engine hood open. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
A dark blue lowrider.
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.
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.
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.
Lowriders and palm trees. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
Spectators look at lowriders in the air.
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.
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.
A lowrider steering wheel with a face masks dangling. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
A man shows his "Echo Park" back tattoo.
Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
A woman smiles in her lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
A woman smiles in her lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
A man smiles and points at the camera.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A woman looks out from her lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
A French bulldog in a Dodger jersey.
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.
A Mexican flag draped over a car seat. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
A purple airbrushed truck.
A purple airbrushed truck. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
Two men looking for tools.
Two men looking for tools. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
Mini lowrider novelty toy on top of lowrider.
Mini lowrider novelty toy on top of lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
Felix the Cat antenna topper.
Felix the Cat antenna topper. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
Lowrider in air.
Lowrider in the air. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)
Man holds lowrider as it jumps up and down.
Man holds lowrider as it jumps up and down. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.
(Brian Feinzimer)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Tamal or Tamale? How to Correctly Pronounce the Singular Form of Tamales

The tamal vs. tamale debate has an almost emotional connection with people simply because it becomes a “how my family speaks the language vs. how it’s ‘supposed to be’ written” type of language conflict. In a culture like Mexico, where family always comes before anything, it makes sense that people will go with what feels familiar rather than what they are expected to say.

December 24, 2024

L.A.’s 13 Best Bars With Games and Activities

The best L.A. bars for axe-throwing, cumbia nights, playing pool, doing graffiti, smoking, playing pinball, and other fun, possibly delinquent activities.

December 23, 2024

Everything Wrong with Tesla’s $500 ‘Mezcal’

"Mezcal has become a commodity for many, without any regard for the earth, [or] for Indigenous people's land rights," says Odilia Romero, an Indigenous migrants rights advocate from Oaxaca and the executive director for CIELO. "Oaxaca is also having a water access issue.

December 20, 2024

This Weekend: Sonoran Caramelos, Brisket Tteokbokki, Mex-Italian Fusion, and Country-Fried Tofu

Plus, Malay-style wings, a collaboration pizza-topped with Philippe The Original's French-dipped beef and hot mustard, and more in this week's roundup.

December 20, 2024

More Than 70 People Reported Feeling Ill After Eating Oysters At L.A. Times ‘101 Restaurants’ Food Event

Ragusano is disappointed that the L.A. Times didn’t publicly disclose that there was an outbreak at their event. “Obviously they’re not going to print it in their paper,” Ragusano said. “But they‘re a newspaper and newspapers are supposed to share the news. This is how people usually find out about something like this,” she added. “It's ironic because it happened to them.”

December 19, 2024
See all posts