MIKI KELLER RECEIVES
2007 WIMA USA IMAGE AWARD
The WIMA USA Image Award is presented to women who are dedicated to the sport of motorcycling, and pave the way for future generations with their positive attitudes. The 2007 award was presented in Las Vegas, NV at the banquet dinner for Femmoto, an annual “all women” demo track day, street demo and dirt school event this year co-sponsored by Aprilia, Buell, Discover Today’s Motorcycling, Ducati, Harley-Davidison, Honda, Hyosung, Kawasaki, Kymco, MSF, Pat Clark Motorsports, and WIMA USA.
"Miki Keller was chosen to receive the 2007 WIMA USA Image Award for her tireless efforts and significant success in promoting women’s motocross events,” said Alice Sexton, President of WIMA USA. “No other woman rider has shown the ongoing commitment and dedication to women’s motocross as has Miki. She has broken new ground by creating opportunities in every area of the sport for women and girl riders and racers of all ages, from 4 to 60 years old.”
For the full press release,
please read
here.
WIMA FOUNDER'S COLLECTION MOVED TO SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM
WIMA USA has learned that the Indian Motocycle Museum in Springfield, MA, which housed WIMA founder Louise Scherbyn's collection, has closed its doors. Museum curator, Ms Esta Manthos, has donated her entire collection to the Museum of Springfield History. The Museum is currently constructing a new, exciting facility which will feature the Motocycle collection. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2008 (photo and more information here).We will try to visit the museum early in the new year to tour the construction and the "preview" collection. Expect to hear more about exciting collaboration between WIMA USA and the Museum of Springfield History in the future!
We wish Ms Manthos the very best for the future, and have profound gratitude for the many years she shared her knowledge, expertise and insights, and cared for Louise Scherbyn's motorcycle and collection.
WIMA FILES AMENDMENT FOR 2007 AMA HALL OF FAME
WIMA USA has filed an amendment to our nomination of Louise Scherbyn to the AMA Hall of Fame, which highlighted Louise's correspondence with the FIM
regarding sanctioning and licensing of female racers.
View the nomination here.
Unfortunately, in 2007 AMA once again decided not to honor ANY women in motorcycling among their Hall of Fame. With the current "class" of 2007 included, there are only 17 women in the Hall of Fame out of a total 384 inductees. Note that nine of those women were inducted by default with the 2002 merger of the "National Motorcycle Hall of Fame" in Iowa, so the AMA has actually inducted only nine women. With women being a mere 4% of the total inductees, and estimated to be between 12 and 18% of the general riding population, one would expect a few more of women's significant contributions to motorcycling to be recognized by the AMA. We give the AMA a big thumbs-down.
