From: | colawnguy | Electronic: | colawnguy -A- gmail.com |
Subject: | RE: RE: National 1st Prize Winner | Date: | Sun Mar 27 02:59:19 2011 |
Response to: | 15552 |
Dave Hennessey: Thanks so much for your condensed version of the AMCA judging process. I have read the AMCA standards on their website, but your eloquent condensed version of the rules (which cover several pages on the website) is very helpful. It was because I had read the judging standards that I asked my original question about Dave Schlenoff's 54ST and the "National 1st Prize Winner" description. I was also wondering in which category ("original" or "restored") the bike had been judged. Thanks also to Dave Schlenoff for providing additional information in your subsequent postings, as it did answer some specific questions about your bike. I found it especially interesting that the bike received an apparently erroneous point deduction for having an "incorrect" seat that actually was a "correct" one. I think these few postings exhibit just exactly what the Hummer Club is all about. Even though I own three Harley Lightweights, (only one of which is a True Hummer - a 56B), I still consider myself a novice. But, by visiting the Hummer Club website regularly and digesting much of the valuable information here, as well as reading the Hummer Exchange almost daily, I think I become a little less of a "novice" each day. One day, when time permits, I hope to make it to meets at Eustis, Oley, Wauseon, or even Davenport. ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS ----- 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. |