Our History/ The Real Story: Bombs & Lowriding History in the San Francisco Bay Area

We are keeping our History alive and telling the stories from the Vet's in our industry who lived and built it. Let the truth be known, if you have history with anyone mentioned in this doc, or have history in this area, share it with us, and lets keep the truth alive. Contact us and visit my site at : http://www.tootsiestattooparlor.com/
or Come by and visit the shop! This is about our Lifestyle and Our History! There is more stories coming soon!

The Real Story: Bombs & Lowriding History in the San Francisco Bay Area

Introduction
1978 on A Street in South San Francisco California, a 14 year old boy bought his first Bomb, a 1949 4-door Chevy Fleet line, after saving up years of working the paper-route. This little boy had grew up in two very different genres of building and cruising cars, in two very different parts of the Country. One being the Hot Rod scene by his older brothers, which was huge in South San Francisco in the 50's and 60's, as well as living in Baja Mexico. Idealizing these Lowered cars called Bombs, which cruised down passed the border from LA and San Diego. He fell in love, and would then some day have his fair share of cars in both Industries. This young boy is Rick, my Pop.

At age 12 Rick and his best friend Raymond Gutierrez, used to sit in an old 1964 Cadillac Convertible with Suicide doors. This Cadillac was parked in an old junk yard that used to be on East Grand Ave. in SSF. They used to dream of cruising in it. Playing with the switches on the Convertible top, they studied how the pumps and cylinders worked. Taking these mechanisms, the two youngsters first started out with Hydraulics by putting these devises on there Schwinn Sting Rays. Raising the seats up and down. Keep in mind that this was in 1976......this is where it all began. Later on (within a few years), they went on to putting these Hydraulics into actual cars.

These two partners in crime had idealized the "older generation" of men with Bombs. Such as the late Nick Dallas from Low Creations . Nick had a 1937 yellow Chevy Coupe with Yosemite Sam Painted on it. Nick was from the Mission and later moved to "the Village" off of Orange Ave. in South San Francisco. Rick met him at age 13, and he and the other neighborhood boys would go to his house and hang out with him. All The real OG's know who he is.....and you all know who you are.
These two boys had respect for the older men in the industry, admiring how they dressed and presented themselves "with Class". Rick and Ray used to go to Thrift stores and buy Vintage Men's suits, pants, shirts, hats and shoes all shined up. These clothes were from the 1920's-1940's. Combing their hair back slick with a Pomp a dore. Creasing their pants firm, and pleating there shirts military style, these two young boys were "Sharp Dressed Men".
These boys were real.... "True Cholos". In Middle School they used to be made fun of by all the other kids yelling things such as " Are you wearing your dads clothes?" The funny thing is now it seems like everyone wants to look like these Cholos, from the 70's. They were one of the first, and they wore it with pride...most of all Class. Not like the kids today.

These Cholo's gathered and grew by the numbers here in South San Francisco. They all dressed sharp, they all had respect, and they all united as one. VSS. Varrio South Side. These boys were all one unit. One team. A group of friends, who still remain friends to this day.

Little did this 14 year old boy (Rick) know that he would go on to be one of the most Respected Veterans in the Bomb and Low riding industry later on in life. Having brought with him from LA and Mexico to the Bay Area, a "new" sense and style in Cars. He hasn't owned 1,2,or even 3 Bombs and Classics, but numbers ranging in the 100's.
Owning and cruising over 50 Chevy Bombs, Impalas, Monte Carlos, Rivieras, Suburbans, Panel Wagons, Apaches, Pick-ups,
Cutlass s, Sedan Deliveries, Blazers and more, and all before the age of 30. He by no means is a "rookie". In the mid-1980's, he also met the legendary Mike Pickel who was at the time working at his friends shop the late (Derrick Ward) of Low Creations, at 550 Mission Ave. in the San Francisco Mission. Mike was painting a mural on Derrick's (Rivera Diamond Back). 1989 Low Rider Magazine had it's first and last show ...the only Low Rider show at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Rick entered his Mild Custom Mazda Truck Low Rider. He was there. He would go on to cruise all over California, from South San Francisco, San Francisco, with Homeboys in San Jose, LA, San Diego and of course in Mexico.

Back to that day in 1978 fate was about to bloom. While working on his 49 in front of his house, my Pop was approached by a Gentleman in his 30's, Cruising in his 1973 Monte Carlo. After the two made eye contact the man stopped, parked, got out of his car and walked toward this young boy.

This Gentleman was not just anyone, This Gentleman is the one and only, a legend, Having started on his Bomb Career in his Teens in the Early 1960's, when San Francisco was heavy in the Hippie Scene. This Man has built and Owned more then 100's of Bombs himself. An Original Native in his neighborhood, the San Francisco Mission. A Chicano's Pride Car Club Member ( An old San Jose Car Club, originally out of Visalia), The First Car Club to appear on the Cover of the very first Low Rider Magazine ever.
This Gentleman is one of the very First to create Low riding in the San Francisco Bay/ Northern California, when he began in the 1960's. This Gentleman is James Tuoto .... aka Old Man James.

James evendrove the famed Zoot Suit actor Daniel Valdez and his wife in his ( James's) 1951 Chevy Convertible during 1981's Cinco de Mayo Parade in San Jose. When James asked a fellow Chicano's Pride Club Member how his car looked, he replied " Man it looked like a float....you couldn't even see the back tires". James recalls stories of cruising back in the day down Broadway in San Francisco, "all you could see was cars stopped for miles and miles. Bombs, Low riders....everywhere. The cops called it "Obstructing Traffic"......We called it Cruising Together!"

James never having a son, and Rick's father moving back to Mexico, while he (Rick) was still a young boy. Little did these two men ever know that they would start a lifelong Father and Son type relationship. Owning, building, cruising and of course "lowering" more then a 1,000 Bombs and Classics together, since that first day they met.
Yet for both men, this industry was the back bone of supporting the family. Both having hard times and struggles. These men have founded the Bomb and Low rider industry here in Northern California, the history, the cruise and the hustle. Never being able to afford to "pay to have a car built" they did it all themselves from the bottom up. 100's of times. Without a doubt (I've seen it with my own eyes) they can build a Bomb with there eyes closed .

This industry has been going strong since Old Man James generation in the 1960's to my Pops generation in the mid 70's-80's .
Yet recently Bombs and Low Riding has been becoming more of a image and hype for many peeps within the last 6-7 years, younger crowds coming in, bringing disrespectful attitudes into this precious Subculture (and yes we can tell who you all are). Many are branding this Bomb and Low Riding scene phony and weak, and all with bad attitudes. The true meaning of what This industry means is becoming lost. People are too quick to forget that there is an underling Love, Passion, Respect, Dedication and History that has always been present to the veterans of this industry and is nothing new. This is way more deep then your " first Pink Slip". Do not associate these 'new Peeps' with men like Old Man James, My Pops, along with many other veterans here in San Francisco and all around the Bay Area. They are by far more Respectful and knowledgeable then many could ever try to be. This biography is meant to bring the True History back to life, where it started, who started it and how.

I feel truly blessed to have Old Man James apart of my life, he is my mentor, my greatest friend, and the "Wise Man' who always puts a smile on my face. I'am truly Lucky to have my Pop, who has always taught me since I was a little girl, how to work on my own ride, not just cruise one.
I am proud to say that this Subculture is the foundation of Tootsie's Tattoo Parlor. Bringing together all of our History and Passion for this Lifestyle and this Genre of a Car Culture.
I am so privileged to have been born into this industry. It was inevitable for me not to have love and passion for these cars on my own. I have had my own fair share of cars myself, my first car at age 12, being my 1951 Chevy Sedan Deluxe (2 door of course),Galaxies, Catalina s, 54 Chevy, etc. I've had even a few Volkswagen s Bugs including a 1958 Rag top at age 14, which I completely stripped and built myself throughout high school, saving babysitting money for buying parts at Donsco in Belmont.
I have always been a very mechanically incline woman who has always built my own cars as well. Thanks to my Pop. Since childhood, my brother and I have helping out my Pops with changing out parts, motors, transmissions and body work. All while laying on an ice cold cement garage floor. I've worked on and cruised 100's of Bombs and classics myself since I was 11. Yes I've done it all. Yes I learn from the Best! My brother having his fair of cars as well from Bombs to Monte Carlos, Regals, Bugs, Blazers and more. Even my Mom Cruises....you could say Cruising has always been apart of the Family!

Though most of these cars are no longer with us, we have many pictures and sentimental items to remember them by.

Yet the most important thing of all is the knowing, the experiences and the Memories of all the cruises in each and every one of those cars. You keep it in your heart....after all whats in your heart is the only thing you take with you in the End.

This story in Truth is being told by those who lived it, in their words and with more Pictures! More Soon!
Coming Soon: Stories from and about More Gentleman who Built this Sub Culture, in their words.
TM of -TTP

James's 54 Wagon named " Ease on Down" after Michel Jackon's song in the movie "The Wiz" at TTP

Original Car Club Jacket at TTP

Original Flyer "Low Creations" Tribute to Nick Dallas after his Death
at TTP

Rick at age 19 with one of his Bombs, in "The Village" circa 1980's
at TTP

Pop's 36

Old Man James at Mclaren Park San Francisco
With his car named "Lower Class"
James said " I was with 2 of my woman...one was from Honduras...the "other" one was from Detroit!"
Circa late 1970's
at TTP