BMX started in the early 1970s when children began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks in southern California, drawing inspiration from the motocross superstars of the time.
The size and availability of the Schwinn Sting-Ray made it the natural bike of choice, since they were easily customized for better handling and performance.
BMX racing was a phenomenon by the mid-1970s. Children were racing standard road bikes off-road, around purpose-built tracks in California. By the middle of that decade the sport achieved critical mass, and manufacturers began creating bicycles designed especially for the sport.