Thousands poured into midtown Farmington Saturday as chrome gleamed, engines hummed and woofers bumped in a gathering that blended artistry, community pride and the pulse of New Mexico’s lowrider cruising tradition.
Organized by a volunteer committee led by Dion Montoya and sparked by the vision of Cultural Affairs Assistant Director Christa Chapman, the event drew more than 5,000 visitors to view the crafted lowriders, enjoy live music and Fiesta dancers and hear an uplifting message from U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-Santa Fe.
“We were able to build a committee in order to bring all of the events today,” Montoya said. Committee members include Monicalynn Begay, Felicia Begay, Drew Ericson, Karla Wheeler, Michelle Zupan, Montoya, Chapman and Nathan Augustine, director of the Farmington Museum and Visitors Center.
Montoya arrived around 8 a.m. to set up the sound system for the noon kickoff and said he cranked up the music early to set the vibe.
“Music heals the soul. Music will take you to the next level,” Montoya said. “If you’re feeling down, music will bring you out of it.”
Marisol Medina of Chimayo took the stage about 1:20 p.m., singing a variety of styles including Spanish, Christian, country and disco.
Medina had a top-five hit on KNMX radio this month with “Linda Chicana,” recorded with Pepe G. The duo was nominated for vocal duo of the year at the New Mexico Hispano Awards announced in January.
“This event is very, very beautiful,” Medina said. “This is my first time coming to Farmington, and man, this community is just beautiful … everybody’s so respectful and nice here.”
Montoya said he was inspired by the turnout, which showed people could come together in peace.
“Farmington is alive. Farmington is beautiful and celebrating it,” he said.
As crowds moved through the park and museum, spectators and car owners alike shared stories, admiration and pride in the vehicles and culture on display.
“I think it’s great for Farmington. I think we need more of it,” said attendee Jy Jasmine. “It’s fantastic, see the turnout is perfect.”
“Oh, it’s awesome, yeah, and the biggest we’ve had in Farmington,” said Gerry Stuckum.
Timothy Gurule of Aztec has been involved in lowriders for about 40 years. His 1994 Lincoln Town Car, powered by a stock 4.6-liter engine, features a custom paint job he completed himself and specialized hydraulics that move up and down and side to side, lifting the front off the ground and posing the car on three wheels.
A member of Dreamz Car Club, Gurule has attended hundreds of car shows over the years, including the One Crazy Weekend lowrider show in Las Vegas, Nevada, which he described as the Holy Grail of car shows.
Local lowrider car clubs include Dreamz, Goodtimes and LowClassics.
Moses Ruiz of Bloomfield owns a 2013 Hyundai with a stock engine enhanced by a spoiler and custom wheels. The trunk houses an elaborate sound system with a 215 Redline Series Digital Designs amplifier, 15-inch woofers, an M-4000 Pioneer amplifier and 21 capacitors.
Jeremy Vigil of Farmington and a member of LowClassics Car Club, said the turnout was amazing. His lowrider, “Senor Atros,” which in slang means “Bad Boy,” is a 1947 Oldsmobile Series 78 Deluxe with extensive modifications.
Vigil bought the car about five years ago. It has undergone a full restoration and has been featured in Lowrider magazine, earning Best of Show and first place honors in Las Vegas.
The car is powered by a Chevy 350 engine with a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, a 1996 Caprice rear end and a full air-ride system. It features an iPad displaying the build process, a stereo with a video screen and a television in the trunk that showcases the car’s transformation.
“I designed everything, every single thing on this car,” Vigil said, adding that all of the engraving was handcrafted.
Inside the Farmington Museum and Visitors Center, Gurule showcased the fully customized “Golden Ram,” a 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 with full hydraulics, suicide doors, a suicide hood, a tilt bed, a tilt front end and a chrome undercarriage.
The truck, built around 2000, has been featured in Lowrider magazine and has won top honors at the Lowrider Super Show, Gurule said.
Leger Fernandez highlighted the cultural significance of lowriders, tying their history and artistry to broader themes of community, identity and recognition.
“And you know what I love is that Chicano culture, core culture, and American culture all come together with lowriders,” she said.
Recalling a time when cruising was outlawed, she said the practice was discriminatory and “anti-Chicano.” She noted those laws are no longer in place and that the Smithsonian is now honoring lowrider culture in Farmington.
“Art, culture and our highways connect people and communities,” Leger Fernandez said, asking the crowd whether they would support a National Lowrider Day. “Oh da ley,” which means “Wow, OK, come on,” she shouted.
Leger Fernandez said she introduced legislation to establish a National Lowrider Day to mark the culture’s path from discrimination to celebration.
