In his adolescence, Roberto Nerey says he was misguided into becoming a gang member because he believed that’s just what Chicanos did.
However, he decided to leave that lifestyle behind after he started questioning why his uncle never went to jail or why he didn’t even fight. Nerey’s uncle showed him a different side of Chicano life, lowriding.
“It gave me hope that someday I could be free from that bondage of loyalty to the barrio,” he said.
Nerey, originally from Highland, California, has been in Reno, Nevada, since 1976. He started the Reno/ Sparks NV/ Lowrider Council in 2016 to give lowriders a voice. Similarly, Miguel and Arlien Casillas, originally from Southern California, founded Wicked Wayz Car Club in 2013 to give back to the community and build long-lasting relationships.
“I reverted back to my childhood and did something I loved with my wife. We’ve done it together,” Miguel Casillas said.
Both the lowrider council and car club want to leave a positive impact and help those in need. Nerey’s lowrider council leads by example. One of their goals is to influence the younger generation and direct them down the right path. They volunteer with kids and families around the community.
“Ex-gang members, ex-addicts, ex-convicts, they can become whoever they want. Regardless if they’re 45 years old,” he said of the importance of turning people around in his work.
Arlien Casillas also brought up their car club’s desire to make a difference.
“The whole being in our platform is being able to give back and have everybody fulfill a sense of purpose,” she said.
The lowriding community has expanded a significant amount in Reno over time. Nerey said that the visibility of the culture wasn’t prominent in the late 80s, but that’s when he remembers there being lowriders around.
When Miguel Casillas first arrived in Reno in 2001, he knew lowriders were here, but he didn’t see much of them. When he did come across them, they were seen downtown. Some struggles came along with a small lowriding community.
“It was difficult because back then, we had to go to Sacramento or San Jose, [the] closest communities to us to be able to do hydraulics, do the paint jobs, upholstery, just to even get wire wheels, 13-inch wire wheels,” Nerey said. “We didn’t have none of that then as we do now.”
As the lowrider community continues to grow, Arlien Casillas said that it’s gaining more respect. However, the community has struggled with discrimination and racism for a long time.
“Lowriders have gotten historically a bad name,” Arlien Casillas said. “They’ve banned cruising, and they’ve outlawed it… we’re breaking that stereotype of what most people think of lowriders. I don’t even want to repeat what they think of us because I don’t believe it.”
Nerey said that many stereotypes had pinned them as the bad guys. Local police would arrest people and issue citations during lowrider cruises.
“I could never understand why driving a vehicle or cruising was a crime… we felt like second-class citizens because of the way we were treated,” Nerey said.
Despite these hardships, the lowriding community has stuck together.
“It’s a lifestyle,” Arlien Casillas said. “We’re all brotherhood.”
She mentioned that their club members are their families. They celebrate holidays, wins, losses, and more together. Family and community are a big part of this way of life.
This lifestyle was passed down to them through family and friends. It was a culture they grew up seeing as a child.
“I remember as a kid getting inside the car with my uncle, listening to oldies… I’ll never forget when he would take me in his car, and all I ever wanted to do was grow up and have my own,” Nerey said.
He remembers seeing others look at and admire his uncle’s car. Now, Nerey has lowriders of his own. He rides a ’78 Lincoln Thunderbird as well as a ’78 Eldorado Cadillac.
As for the Casillas’, you can find them riding in their ’84 Regal or ’63 Chevrolet Impala. In addition, their son has a ’99 Lincoln.
Arlien Casillas said that building the cars is a never-ending process. Miguel Casillas added that it depends on the modifications one wishes to make to their car. Many aspects go into lowriding, such as using hydraulics, riding low, being quiet, painting murals, and more.
“Art is lowriding, and lowriding is art,” Arlien Casillas said. “Every car is individual, and every car has its own touch, its own look, its own build, its own bill. Every car is a work of art.”
Casillas said that the lowriders represent individuals, their roots, the Latino community, and one’s heritage through artwork.
“To me, lowriders symbolize a way you can represent yourself,” Nerey said, “The car you build, is who you are on the inside… in terms of your pain, struggles, to your love.”
Looking forward, Miguel and Arlien Casillas want to help wherever they can and assist the community on a larger scale. They hope to expand their car club and get more people involved.
“Bigger, badder, [and] better,” Arlien Casillas said.
If someone wants to get involved or build their own lowrider, they can reach out and message the Reno/ Sparks NV/ Lowrider Council or Wicked Wayz Car Club.
“We’re willing to share our knowledge and passions with you,” Arlien Casillas said.
Arlien Casillas mentioned that you don’t need to be a part of the Latino community to take part. Nerey also said that you don’t need to be Chicano or Latino to be involved, as long as you love the culture, are positive and respectful.
Reporting by Stephanie Navarro Rocha shared with Our Town Reno