The second international rally in France was held at a campsite located near the Imsthal pond, La Petite-Pierre, Vosges du Nord.
GB member Mary Stevens wrote a report for WIMA News.
The Rally was held at La Petite-Pierre, not far from Strasbourg. We had competitions: flower arranging, road trial, trial and technical – we also had a trip to Strasbourg to the Kronenbourg Beer factory, which the men thoroughly enjoyed. I was particularly struck by the friendliness of the other girls, and the helpfulness of husbands and boyfriends who would all help with the organising of events and cheered us all on in the Trial.
WIMA France member Chantal Hertrich (who was later WIMA France President for many years) described being welcomed by Agnès Acker, rally organiser and founder of WIMA France. Chantal reported that there were around 24 women participants from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Austria, England and France. They were also accompanied by a few men and children.
She went on to describe the activities of the week.
The weather was not very good this week, but the programme was varied:
– a tourist rally on the pretty Alsatian roads with a visit to the Kronenbourg beer factory
– a game where you had to find a breakdown on a motorcycle – a game where you had to guess motorcycle parts hidden in small bags
– a 400m standing start race on a small road
– a floral contest where you had to make a beautiful arrangement or bouquet
– the creation of a WIMA song ….
A busy week!
“They came from all over Europe …In Imsthal, it is the celebration of women-centaurs” headlined an article for a local paper, written by Marie Brassart about the rally.
The events planned also want to combine ‘femininity and motorcycling sport’. For femininity, Agnès planned a floral contest. The jury will be made up of available boyfriends and husbands. To occupy the latter, who would rather sunbathe near the pond, they were charged with multiple checks, the preparation of small mechanical glitches, the preparation of the breakdown game. All motorcycles put on a single line will receive the attentive care of these gentlemen. The first biker to find the breakdown that they have tinkered with on her machine will have won. The rewards: cups, accessories kindly donated by Strasbourg merchants.
