DALLAS — You can spend hours editing your resume because you want to be seen in a certain way, or spend a long time trying on different clothes so you can prove your worth to people. 

Perception and stereotypes not only stick with people, but cars too.

Mark Mata gets a lot of stares when sitting at a red light in a lowrider with a hydraulic system that makes the car bounce. 

"Seeing the flashy paint, gold rims... it kind of grabs attention a lot,” said Mata. 

Mata is never on the streets alone. His family is either beside, behind or in front of him with their own customized cars that are also close to the road. Together, this group is officially known as the Dallas Lowriders. 

Mata says his love for lowriders is a cultural thing. He grew up with an older brother who obsessed over the cars and had many neighbors who had something special to show off in their garages. Lowriders have a history of being associated with a life of crime, but Mata and his buddies get in the driver seat simply for the cruise and the comradery. 

“Of course, we’re stereotyped as gang members or being someone who is up to no good,” said Mata. 

The bad reputation led to getting stopped by police officers every now and then. But, now more people are reimagining what it means to ride in a lowrider, because of what Mata and the rest of Dallas Lowriders are offering the community. 

“It’s different. Police officers see us now and they’ll give us a thumbs up,” Mata explained. 

They don’t just cruise for style, there is also a purpose. These guys host family events and mentor kids in between working on the cars. 

“We do a lot of 'trunk or treats', toy drives, and crusies for birthdays," said Mata. 

You can’t help but stare when the speakers are rattling and the shine from one of Mata’s cars catches your eye. Proving that some car clubs, especially lowriders, are committed to the community and not crime.