More than one newspaper report in both France and Switzerland in 1976 and other years, describes the WIMA women as ‘des centaures au féminin’ – female centaurs!
Agnès Acker (WIMA France) and Regula Rüttimann (WIMA Switzerland) wrote two very different articles – this report includes details from both.
Agnès wrote: Juju and Nesto Steiner, well-known motorcyclists in the 50s and 60s, have prepared a great motorcycling week. Juliette, the only woman to win a gold medal in 1956 in the tough Cannes-Geneva-Cannes event, has competed many times with her husband in trials, grass races, cross-country until she had a terrible accident with a reckless driver, where she lost the use of her limbs, but from which came again miraculously, the love of motorcycles.
For more than 20 years, WIMA has been bringing together women of all nations, all ages (18 to 48), from all professions: housewives, teachers, workers, secretaries, students, farmers, post office workers, private drivers, engineers, academics, nurses, as well as mothers. For example, three of us who compete, have one, two and three children. Yvette came from Chaillevette with her BMW, and her daughter Maryse on her Honda.
Some ‘pernicious’, ‘twisted’ minds think that we could be part of the MLF (Women’s lib movement), thinking that we want to demonstrate to ourselves and to others, feminine superiority and total independence from men, while we like to admire real men, ardent in life, as on the handlebars. ‘The passion for motorcycles beyond space and time’, this could be our rallying cry.
This year, we were 30 girls at this rally. Four Swiss, seven French, 14 Germans, two Austrian, two English, one Swedish, most of them staying on the campsite near Lake Neuchâtel. Many were with husbands or partners, so the total was about 50. A colourful village of small, light tents, around the glittering park of motorcycles. 11 Honda, (including six 250cc), six BMW, three Yamaha, two MZ, two Suzuki and even a Condor 750 side car.
Regula described the Tuesday evening: We were all invited to a garden party at the organisers. On the Promenade des Pins, two mighty hams with fine farmer’s bread and a lot of salad awaited us; there was no lack of liquid. A good 50 people, WIMA ladies and their husbands and friends, and a part of the Moto Club Bullet ate their fill, and still the ham was not finished. Bravo to the butcher who prepared and served it himself! On Wednesday we only met at 1 pm, because otherwise most would have slept too little.
The Swiss welcome was warm: a wine reception at Yverdon Town Hall, and a speech delivered with dignity by an official, brought together these ladies with big boots and nails full of sludge. We then visited a museum of lovely musical automatons and a cigarette factory in Vevey on Tuesday.
Agnès continued: All the excursions were a great opportunity to compare our dexterity in the curves and turns, very numerous in Switzerland. Sports events including rifle shooting led to a ranking, with many prizes and gifts collected by Juliette. An archery session in Arrissoules, like that of the legendary William Tell, allowed the girls to test their skill, but none of the men present agreed to lend their heads for the test. Good thinking, because no arrow hit its target.
More suited to our skills, the trial event took place in the rain on the Bullet motorcross track. Florian Thévenaz lent us a Montesa 125 and a Yamaha trail 125. With little experience of these small motorcycles, we slid and stalled… and discovered the Swiss daisies at close range.
After a last test, a tourist rally crossing villages and countryside, it is our English friend Mary who was crowned MADAME WIMA 76; the silver medal went to the French brunette Maryvonne, and the bronze one to Traudl, our blonde Austrian friend.
The original article written by Regula Rüttimann
