WIMA USA's Louise Scherbyn

LOUISE MENZER SCHERBYN

Nomination to the AMA Hall of Fame
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LOUISE MENZER SCHERBYN

WIMA FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

MOTORCYCLE PIONEER

LOUISE MENZER SCHERBYN was born on November 9, 1903, in Waterloo, New York, to William F. and Margaretha Saltzman Menzer. She was the youngest in a family of two girls and four boys.

By the early 1930’s, Louise Menzer was married to George Scherbyn of Waterloo, and held a “good position” at Eastman Kodak Company, in Rochester, New York. It was George who taught Louise to ride in 1933, on his Indian Motocycle. George gave up riding shortly thereafter, but Louise took a firm hold on the bars and was an influential figure in motorcycling for the next 45 years.

Louise Scherbyn was a genuine motorcyclist. She logged nearly a quarter million miles in her numerous adventure rides throughout North America. In 1937, Louise was the first American woman to brave dirt and gravel roadways to reach Canada's Temagami forest. One of the early sport riders, Louise rode her Indians for both amateur competition and stunt performance. She raced endurance events, rode trials and field meets, and earned a substantial trophy collection. On September 29, 1940, Louise helped produce and starred in the “United States’ First All Girl Motorcycle Show,” in Waterloo, New York.

Louise was well-known in the motorcycling community. She wrote a regular column for Motorcycle Magazine during the World War II, to help keep the temporarily-sidelined sport alive for overseas GI’s and stateside riders. She was an assistant editor for a “major motorcycle magazine,” probably Motorcycle. Louise was an active member of the Motor Maids during the organization’s early years. She was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the Waterloo Twilight Roamers Motorcycle Club, a group she co-founded in the 1940’s. Louise also had a collection of over 350 motorcycle miniatures, which was famous in its own right.

Louise was fiercely brand-loyal to Indian Motocycles, and claimed to have only once ridden another brand, as a passenger. Louise and her white 1940 Indian Junior Scout had the distinction of being the most photographed motorcycle in the history of the Indian News, which was published from 1926 until the 1950’s. She was inducted into the Indian Motocycle Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1981, Louise donated her Indian, trophies, the miniature collection, and other motorcycle memorabilia to the Indian Motocycle Museum in Springfield.

Of all Louise Scherbyn’s many motorcycling accomplishments, undoubtedly the most significant was the founding of the Women’s International Motorcycle Association (WIMA) in 1950. Louise had a far-reaching vision for the Association: a world where women motorcyclists around the globe joined together in their love of the sport. She served as International President from 1950 through the end of the 1970’s, and held the title pro forma until a second International President was elected in 1996.

Louise’s objective for WIMA grew out of World War II and her correspondence with international colleagues: “The object of the Association shall be in the interest of improving and promoting activities, goodwill and sportsmanship of women enthusiasts in the motorcycle world.” She was especially known for frequently hosting international motorcyclists, and with great magnanimity. Her niece, Virginia L. Richardson, of Parma, Ohio, has a childhood memory of Louise arriving in Ohio, c. 1937, with a group of women motorcyclists, one of whom was carrying her baby in a sidecar. At eighty years old, even though suffering from arthritis and poor eyesight, Louise continued to keep the international network alive, connecting women motorcyclists around the globe.

Today, the WIMA created by Louise Scherbyn remains the only motorcycle organization that is international in its charter, constitution and membership, and which has no constraints on member age or brand ownership. It is the largest international organization for women motorcyclists, with a membership of over 2,000 in 17 different countries. Through various charity events, WIMA has raised substantial funds to benefit many worthy causes throughout the world. Charities supported by WIMA include, among others, breast cancer research, head trauma victims, and working dogs for the sight-and hearing-impaired. WIMA is currently working on a large-scale project to help child prostitutes get off the streets of India and into self-sufficient, healthy environments. Without a doubt, Louise Scherbyn’s far-reaching vision is alive and well.

Louise M. Scherbyn died on June 18, 2003, in Clifton Springs, New York, having nearly attained the age of 100.

There have been many happy times and they have been countless, but sometimes one can actually select the happiest moment of all and this was it – making other women motorcycling enthusiasts happy too with the success of joining together their interest in motorcycling into an international organization and making it possible for a celebration in every Division of WIMA in different parts of the world… I am indeed very proud of the WIMA and of every member for upholding our principles into making WIMA the fine organization it is today. May it always continue to be that way.”

-- Louise M. Scherbyn, September,1970.

References

Ferrar, Ann. Hear Me Roar, Whitehorse Press, N. Conway, 2000, p. 33.
McPhillips, Jody. “Riding on Memories: White cycle was her trademark,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, c.1979.
Popley, Frances. “Women’s International Motorcycle Association 1950 – 1980,” 1980, pp. 69 – 70.
Turner, Alice. “Louise Scherbyn – Pioneer Cyclist,” Road Rider, c.1974.
Whitney, Bill. “Indian Motorcycle Museum Springfield, MA,” The Sunday Republican, Springfield, MA, c.1998. Reprinted at: www.wimausa.org/WMA_Indian.html.
WIMA International “Pioneer Women” web page: www.wimaworld.com
Direct link: http://www.wimaworld.com/history.shtml
Text also found on: www.wimausa.org/WMA_About.html
WIMA International Constitution2006: http://www.wimaworld.com/docs/constitution.html

Interviews with:
Jerry H. Hatfield (Motorcycle Historian and Author)
Esta K. Manthos (Curator, Indian Motocycle Museum).
Virginia L. Richardson (Niece of Louise Scherbyn)
Sheila Whittingham (WIMA International Archivist)

Many thanks to them all!

Attachments:

Reference Letter, Ms. Linda Bootherstone
Reference Letter, Mr. Jerry H. Hatfield
Reference Letter, Ms. Alice Sexton
Article, “Louise Scherbyn – Pioneer Cyclist”
Article, “Riding on Memories”
Supporting documentation, courtesy Mr. Jerry H. Hatfield
Photographs, courtesy Ms. Virginia Richardson
Biography, WIMA International 1980
Biography, WIMA International website
Article, “Indian Motorcycle Museum”
Obituary