Suzuki X6 Hustler Wins Award from AMCA : Wauseon Ohio

Suzuki X6 Hustler Wins Award from AMCA : Wauseon Ohio
After being fortunate
to win 1st place at the
Gilmore Museum
Vintage Bike weekend
two years in a row
and then winning at
the A.M.A. National
Invitational Concours
in October 2006, there
was still an untried
challenge for VJMC
member Roger Smith
and his 1966 Suzuki
X-6 Hustler. How
would this Japanese
speedster stand up to the rigorous judging of an
A.M.C.A. National event?
On July 22 in Wauseon Ohio , the Suzuki was
brought to the Fulton Fairgrounds in Wauseon and placed in contention to be judged by
A.M.C.A. experts. The bike was parked in the
center of the field and on the seat a booklet
showing the bike’s restoration stages. Over the
next few hours an A.M.C.A. Judge with specific
knowledge of Japanese bikes looked at every part
of the bike; even lying on the ground with a small
flashlight checking undercarriage restoration.
From bike registration to judging, the A.M.C.A.
club members made all participants feel right
at home as the Suzuki sat amongst magnificent
Harleys, Indians and Vince nts. The A.M.C.A.
requires that bikes be 35 years old to participate in
their events and they proudly hold firm to that
rule. That means that Japanese bikes imported
before 1972 are totally “legal” to participate in
one of the most rigorous and professional judging
events in America.
Each motorcycle is considered on its own merits
and not in relation to others. The classifications
are Class 1 - all motorcycles manufactured through
1919, Class 2 - 1920 through 1929, Class 3 - 1930
through 1939, Class 4 - 1940 through 1949, Class
5 - 1950 through 1959, Class 6 - 1960 though 1969,
Class 7 - 1970 through 1979.
The National Awards are: Junior Level 2nd
Place, requiring the bike to receive 85 points (out
of 100 possible) during judging, Junior Level
First - 90 points required, Senior Level - 95 points
and then one is eligible for the AMCA Winners
Circle Preservation Award.
At the end of the Sunday judging, Chief Judge
Kevin Valentine called all participants together.
Awards were handed out to class after class …
then it was the Suzuki’s turn! Happily, Kevin
announced that the bike had scored 99¼ points in
its first AMCA National event, receiving the First
Written by: Rodger Smith
Place Junior award, (the highest possible award for
a first time entrant).
If you have a Japanese bike that perhaps you have
restored or is a nice original, and which is at least
35 years of age; consider the challenge of attending an A.M.C.A. event. The folks at Wauseon invited all the participants in with open arms. They
even complimented the Suzuki as it sat proudly
among the other motorcycles with their historic
name plates.
For more information about AMCA and their
activities; go to - www.antiquemotorcycle.org.
Written by: Rodger Smith