The History of WIMA
WIMA was founded in the USA, way back in the early 1950s by Louise Scherbyn pictured above in her Motor Maids uniform on her famous white Indian Scout.
Above:
Circa 1940. Young Louise on one of her many well publicized tours. She
had her 1940 Indian Scout Thirty-Fifty custom painted white by her local
dealer.
This
bike has a unique claim as it is one of the most photographed motorcycles
in the Indian News, havig appeared several times over the years.
©
Indian Scouts by Jerry Hatfield
Below: © Hear me Roar by Ann Ferrar
Louise
Scherbyn, Founder, Member and first WIMA International President.
Her interest in motorcycling started in the early 1920s but went only
as far as sitting astride a 1921 Indian motorcycle belonging to her sister's
boyfriend and later, in 1924 experiencing her first ride in a sidecar.
Louise married a motorcyclist and became a pillion rider on a Harley Davidson.
This was followed by an INDIAN Chief with sidecar.
In 1932 her husband encouraged her to learn to ride herself. Initially
she was concerned about the effect riding would have on her reputation.
She held a good position in the Kodak company and wondered what the office
would think about her "putting about" the city on a motorcycle.
Luckily she was not put off and was soon the proud possessor of a 1932
Indian Scout.
Many miles of motorcycle travel all over the USA and Canada were to follow,
with Louise staying loyal to the INDIAN marque. She lays claim to being
the first American woman to reach the far north, Timagami Forest of Canada,
a trip which in 1937 was made on many dirt and gravel roads. She also
took part in Enduro and other events but her main love was touring. Louise
became active in many motoring clubs including the AMA, the Canadian Motorcycle
Association and the British Pathfinders Club, and was an associate editor
of one of America's leading motorcycle publications.
She became very interested in motorcycling activities for women in the
1940's as the number of women riders increased. She had been involved
with an organisation called the Motor Maids which seems to have been more
display team than motorcycle club. They would do formation rides around
the track at the start of race meetings, kitted out in smart blue uniforms
and on immaculately kept machines.
During the second world war Louise corresponded with women from other countries
and an idea began to grow. "I believed there should be a world wide
organisation for all women motorcyclists." She said in a magazine
interview in 1952. "Why not unite as a body in exchanging ideas and
opinions, problems and advice? And with this came the initial step of
the founding of the Women's International Motorcycle Association.
With the help of every member and some wonderful friends, the WIMA has
now grown today to be the largest women's international motorcycle organisation
in the world.
And that, girls, is how it all began.
Copyright ©2004-2005 WIMA USA. All rights reserved.