Women's International Motorcycle Association Explained
| WIMA |
| Founded: | 1950 |
| Founding Location: | United States |
| Founder: | Louise Scherbyn |
| Leader Name: | Zara Strange (2020) |
| Leader Title: | International President |
| Key People: | Louise Scherbyn - Founder |
| Type: | Association |
| Region: | Worldwide |
| Website: | www.wimaworld.com |
| Abbreviation: | WIMA |
The Women's International Motorcycle Association (WIMA) is a motorcycle club established by Louise Scherbyn[1] in 1950 in the United States.[2] Branches began in many countries, including Great Britain (Theresa Wallach was the first international vice president)[3] and Australia[4] where the branch was started by Hazel Mayes.[5] It was the first organization to recognize all women in the sport,[6] and the first ever stand-alone women-led motorcycle association.[7] Currently spanning 39 countries,[8] it is purportedly the largest motorcycle association for women in the world.[9] The group is known for organising annual "Pink Ribbon Rides" to raise awareness for breast cancer.[10]
National divisions
The national divisions in October 2020:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bangladesh
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Curaçao
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Malaysia
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Romania
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
Bibliography
- Easy Motorcycle Riding. Wallach, Theresa. New York, Sterling, 1970.
- Iron Horse Cowgirls: Louise Scherbyn and the Women Motorcyclists of the 1930s and 1940s. Linda Back McKay and Kate St. Vincent Vogl. McFarland Books.
- The Rugged Road. Theresa Wallach, Panther Publications, 2010
Notes and References
- http://www.wimaworld.com/wima/index.php some history at wimaworld.com
- http://www.wimagb.co.uk/aboutus/heritage/ some more history at wimagb.co.uk
- http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=309 Theresa Wallach page at motorcyclemuseum.org
- True Pioneers, American Motorcyclist Jun 2006 (Vol 60 No 6, P52)
- http://www.wimaworld.com/wima/history/pioneer_women/Hazel_Mayes.php Hazel Mayes page at wimaworld.com
- Making Her Mark: Firsts and Milestones in Women's Sports. Ernestine G. Miller. McGraw-Hill Professional, 29 May 2002
- Book: McKay, Linda Back . Iron horse cowgirls: Louise Scherbyn and the women motorcyclists of the 1930s and 1940s . Vogl . Kate St Vincent . 2023 . McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers . 978-1-4766-6946-5 . Jefferson, North Carolina.
- http://www.wimaworld.com/wima/national-groups/ List of international groups at wimaworld.com
- Motorcycle. Steven E. Alford, Suzanne Ferriss. Reaktion Books, 3 Jan 2008
- Web site: 'Pinked out' motorbike convoy raises breast cancer awareness . Stuff . en . 15 October 2017.
