Start of the Toledo Half-Mile National (1975)

I love the “moodiness” if you will of this @stusshots image of the start of the Toledo Half-Mile National back in 1975. A dimly lit, old horse racing track, a packed house, engines revving, and then the wave of the green flag is one of the truly spine-tingling moments in all of motorsports. About a half-century earlier I believe this track was the site of the very first AMA-sanctioned national in 1924. On this night it was Harley-Davidson’s Corky Keener (No. 62) coming through to score victory over Gary Scott (No. 64) and Billy Eves (No. 41). Other riders visible in the shot are Scott Rader (No. 89F), Jimmy Zeigler (No. 89), Dave Sehl (No. 16), Steve Freeman (No. 68C), Toledo’s own Jim Osborne (No. 36F) who gave the hometown fans something to cheer about by finishing fourth, Mike Kidd (No. 72), Steve Morehead (No. 42), Bubba Rush (No. 41N) and Rex Beauchamp (No. 31). Also in the race but hidden were Kenny Roberts and Chuck Palmgren. (@stusshots photo) 
#toledohalfmile #corkykeener #amagrandnational #flattrack #toledo #aft #americanflattrack #xr750 #greenflag