I was more into motocross than cars. Still remember my first YZ Monoshock 250 Yamaha.
That thing was a Beast.
Yeah, I was into dirt bikes as well. But, we didn't have much money and I had to make do with what I had.
Here is a picture of my first and only motocross race in ~ 1977.
I had a 1972 Yamaha 175, with oil injection and about 1 1/2" travel at each end, definitely NOT monoshock, it was just before those came out.
Since it was a 175, I had to ride open class, with the 250's and 400's.
At the starting gate I was next to a guy on a brand new YZ 400. He looked at me, took off his protective vest and handed it to me. He said, "you're going to need this, I'm going to shower you with dirt clods and rocks." And he did!
Hey, it was fun!
Why no other bikes in the picture? They were a half-lap ahead of me.
Work boots, leather work gloves, denim shirt. All the other guys were tricked out in cool riding gear that cost more than my bike.
But hey, I get to say I was a "motocross racer."