From:Dave Hennessey Electronic:dave -A- toyhouse.org
Subject:RE: National 1st Prize Winner Date:Sat Mar 26 18:58:07 2011
Response to:15548
colawnguy,

"National 1st Prize Winner" is ambiguous. It doesn't tell us who awarded the bike 1st Prize, nor what that 1st prize was for (authenticity, people's choice, best-looking).

If it said "AMCA Senior First", we'd know exactly what that meant.

The AMCA judges a bike on authenticity - how close it is to when it came out of the factory. There are basically two classes - original and restored. Original bikes are given allowance for wear and tear over the years. Restored bikes are expected to be nearly perfect.

There are 4 AMCA awards:
Junior Second (85 points)
Junior First (90 points)
Senior First (95 points)
Winner's Circle

Check out the AMCA Handbook of Judging for details.
http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/uploads/images/amca_images/Events/Judging%20Info/AMCA%20handbook%202010.pdf

Judging occurs at a number of AMCA National meets (not the road runs) held across the country each year. A list is available at
http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/index.php?page=nat-l-meets-road-runs

When you get your bike judged, you receive a copy of the judging sheet showing exactly what the judges found wrong with it.

Judges are fallible humans, and no judge knows everything about all makes, models and years of motorcycles. Judges don't have reference books or laptop computers on the judging field. And we can't call Mutt on the phone to ask questions!

Judges are volunteers. At some meets, there are lots of Harley experts, but few Indian experts. And vice versa. Judging teams - usually 3 or 4 people - look at each bike using a very structured approach.

The first time you get your bike judged, you can only get a Junior award. You have to have it judged a second time before you can earn a Senior.

When you get your judging sheet at the end of the meet, don't immediately start fixing everything. Do your homework and prove to yourself that the judges are right. Judges are fallible humans! When the judge is examining your bike, it's really hard for him to remember whether the Hummer muffler clamp changed from circle to u-bolt in 1957 or 1959!

I've seen AMCA judging from both sides - I've had bikes judged, and I have been a judge. Nothing in this world is perfect, but the AMCA judging is pretty darn good.

See you at Oley?

Dave


----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
I read with interest the posting (#15541)about the 54ST Golden
Anniversary Model bike that "might" be for sale at Oley, PA.
I am obviously a novice Hummer enthusiast, and am just now
learning about AMCA judging, etc. When Travis Scott sold this
bike some time ago, he apparently represented it as a
"National 1st Prize Winner." I am wondering exactly what that
means. Is there a National AMCA meet where the bike could be
awarded this honor? Maybe Travis or some other Hummer Club
member could explain this.