CA lowrider funeral procession honors Jesse Valadez, owner of "Gypsy Rose" Impala
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...ZmD9yw?docId=c38e9234155643068bb3ae8f4fe7cd25
LOS ANGELES (AP) — She was a cover girl, had a bit part in a popular '70s TV show and was an icon of car culture. "Gypsy Rose,"
an award-winning Chevy Impala admired for its elaborate floral paint job,
was known in the world of cruising lowriders as one of the most tricked-out muscle cars of a generation.
On Saturday, the pink, rose-covered ride will lead a funeral procession of lowriders through East L.A.,
behind the hearse that carries its owner to his final resting place.
Car clubs from across Southern California are expected to roll out to pay their respects to Jesse Valadez,
a founding member of the Imperial Car Club. Valadez died of colon cancer Jan. 29 at age 64.
"He loved that car. It was known as the legend of the lowriders," said his brother Armando,
63, who co-founded the Imperial Car Club with Jesse in 1964. "It was his pride and joy. It was his baby."
The first "Gypsy Rose," a 1963 Impala, was featured in the NBC sitcom "Chico and the Man,"
which brought customized cars into the national spotlight.
"'Chico and the Man' was the beginning of everything. That car opened the door for everything you see now,"
said Joe Ray, editor of Lowrider magazine. "I don't know how lowriding would be today without him, his car and that club.
He was a pioneer. The name of his car and his car club and East Los Angeles are all synonymous to me."
"We were serious competitors back in the day. But when you grow older and go back 30 years, you become friends," he said.
"You realize things have changed, and you appreciate those memories and sharing them, because some people aren't around anymore."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...ZmD9yw?docId=c38e9234155643068bb3ae8f4fe7cd25
LOS ANGELES (AP) — She was a cover girl, had a bit part in a popular '70s TV show and was an icon of car culture. "Gypsy Rose,"
an award-winning Chevy Impala admired for its elaborate floral paint job,
was known in the world of cruising lowriders as one of the most tricked-out muscle cars of a generation.
On Saturday, the pink, rose-covered ride will lead a funeral procession of lowriders through East L.A.,
behind the hearse that carries its owner to his final resting place.
Car clubs from across Southern California are expected to roll out to pay their respects to Jesse Valadez,
a founding member of the Imperial Car Club. Valadez died of colon cancer Jan. 29 at age 64.
"He loved that car. It was known as the legend of the lowriders," said his brother Armando,
63, who co-founded the Imperial Car Club with Jesse in 1964. "It was his pride and joy. It was his baby."
The first "Gypsy Rose," a 1963 Impala, was featured in the NBC sitcom "Chico and the Man,"
which brought customized cars into the national spotlight.
"'Chico and the Man' was the beginning of everything. That car opened the door for everything you see now,"
said Joe Ray, editor of Lowrider magazine. "I don't know how lowriding would be today without him, his car and that club.
He was a pioneer. The name of his car and his car club and East Los Angeles are all synonymous to me."
"We were serious competitors back in the day. But when you grow older and go back 30 years, you become friends," he said.
"You realize things have changed, and you appreciate those memories and sharing them, because some people aren't around anymore."
