SANTA ANA &ndash Thousands are expected to attend a lowrider car show tonight benefiting Roosevelt Elementary School.
About 3,000 spectators and exhibitors flocked to the campus last year, and even more are slated to show this year, said Erik Rossman, the teacher who organized the event. Donations are being accepted upon admission, and food is being sold to help raise money for Roosevelt, which like many schools is experiencing financial hardships. Participants range from those flipping the switches on classic Impalas, to those putting a last-minute shine on chrome bikes. As of 4:30 p.m., a steady stream of participants had already begun pulling into the school parking lot.
Many said they were compelled to enter the show as a way to give back to the community, while at the same time challenging the public perception that many lowrider owners are gang members and trouble makers.