Scenes from the Underground
Scenes from the Underground
Como Underground is a car club based in Columbia, Missouri. Each member has a regular day job – some have families and children – but when the weekend comes, more often than not you’ll find them behind the wheel burning through tires or hanging out the window of a friend’s car.
Street takeover culture isn’t new, but the scene has grown significantly over the past decade in major U.S. cities, especially with the advent of smartphones and social media. Documenting and broadcasting the action on platforms like Instagram and TikTok is just as important as the act itself. Those filming often get dangerously close to the action, and it’s no surprise when someone gets sideswiped by a sliding vehicle – but that’s all part of the game.
Street takeovers like the one depicted above, which occurred on June 23, 2024, on the streets of Kansas City, Mo., are illegal, but legal takeovers are becoming more common. Law enforcement across the country is cracking down on illegal takeovers with increased zeal and is pushing to outlaw the documentation and filming of these events.
Groups like CoMo Underground want a place to keep their culture alive without the threat of arrest, but suitable venues are limited and costly. The group doesn’t just stay local, either – they take their show on the road to other major cities to compete with rival clubs in a battle for street credibility.