I was born in summer of '66. In second grade my parents bought 5 acres of woods and my grandpa built us a house there. Had only one neighbor and his kids were a couple years younger. They had horses and we all had minibikes/dirtbikes. School was about 12 miles away in a small town so we rode the bus unitl I got my driver's license and bought my first $50 POS car a rusty 1972 super beetle.
I would say at the time we were lower to mid middle class in the late 70's and early 80's. Living out in a rural area, over the years I had various old used honda minibikes then beat up old dirt bikes that I used to ride all summer long with my friends. We would be out all day riding to each others houses and to various fun off road places. Never wore helmets. Broke down many times and towed each other home. Shot birds with bb guns then later .22's. Played with firecrackers and later homemade boomers. Had old junk snowmobiles and three wheelers for winter transportation and fun.
My parents never knew where I was once I motored off our property. Once in highschool there was always parties and beer to be had on the weekends. Joined the Army Reserves out of highschool and had part time jobs (truck driver, heavy equipment operator and ski shop technician) to help get through college in the mid to late 80's. Had a blast while in college in a small fraternity and spread it out over 6 years due to part time working. Daytona for spring breaks and Boyne for frat/sorority ski trips. Drank lots of cheap beer and ate lots of Ramen noodles living with buddies in cheap rented houses.
First real fulltime job (special machine shop guy which led to mechanical engineering soon after starting there) was in '91 when jobs were scarce. Started at $5.00 an hour which sucked but at least it was a job.
Me on dad's brand new Honda Z50 in about 1970 or 1971. A year or two later I began the total destruction of that poor little Honda. (broken frame, broken handlebars, broken shifter, bald tires and rounded off sprockets) After that and I only had old junk bikes that I bought with paper route money.
