This fifth Continental rally in the Netherlands was hosted on the Welgelegen campsite, an enclosed ground surrounded by ditches, near Haarlem. The first WIMA Continental rally was held in the Netherlands in 1958 at which there were 9 participants from four countries. In 1983, numbers had increased to 144 women, 27 men and 4 children from eight countries. The entry fee of about £25 included all events such as the special meals and visits, as well as the camping.
A Dutch newspaper reported on the rally:
On campsite Welgelegen, you see a gathering of all sorts of tents. Small one-person shelters, family and group tents. The motorbikes, bright and shining and varying from 250cc to 1000cc.
Besides 43 Dutch members and their families, WIMA members from Switzerland, France, Italy, Sweden, Austria, West Germany and England are present on this yearly summer camp.
The Dutch WIMA branch, founded in 1981, consists of a small group of female bikers. Peggy van Schaik describes WIMA as the only place a female biker fanatic is taken seriously.
Peggy rides a 1000cc Honda Goldwing with sidecar; her little son is the sidecar passenger. Most women who chose to ride a sidecar bring along children and spouses to participate in this event.
Marion Watt’s report was published in the English Motorcycle Weekly.
Rallyists began arriving at the campsite at Spaarnwoude near IJmuiden from Saturday afternoon, ready for the start on Monday, when a ride to Akersloot and a welcome lunch was planned. As it was very hot (it turned out to be the best day weatherwise), we went to the coast for a swim in the afternoon and a barbecue was held in the evening.
Tuesday started with the first competition: the bicycle gymkhana. Vanessa Bretton upheld the honour of the British, scoring 130 out of a possible 150, but the most entertaining rounds were by Anne Gale and a petite French girl called Chantal who treated us to some marvellous sound effects. In the afternoon, we visited a cheese factory and a windmill, amid violent thunderstorms!
On Wednesday, we were supplied with a detailed route card for a 125 km tour along the IJsselmeer coast. We used minor roads as far as possible, including a beautiful stretch alongside a picturesque canal, and later crossing on a ferry to take us to the fishing village of Spakenburg.
On Thursday morning, coaches took participants into Amsterdam, about 25 miles away. There was free time in the morning for shopping and sightseeing, and in the afternoon a visit to the Heineken factory, followed by a canal boat trip.
Friday was an even earlier start, as we could collect our route map and question sheet for the treasure hunt from 8.30 a.m., and then we made our way to Alkmaar where the hunt started. Completed questionnaires had to be returned before 3.30 p.m., to allow time for marking before the evening Farewell Dinner and Prizegiving at Restaurant Akersloot.
Thank-you gifts were given to Peggy and Cees Van Schaik in recognition of the immense amount of work they had done. Gifts were also given to some of the German girls, as Ellen Pfeiffer has now attended 25 Continental rallies, Jo Johnen 20, and two others 10.
Competition Winners:
Overall: 1st Carola Cach; 2nd Marion Sommer; 3rd Christina Bork.
Gymkhana: 1st, Veronika Wartia; 2nd, Carola Cach; 3rd, Cordula Gewecke.
Tour/photos: 1st, Liesbeth Stahel; 2nd, Margrit Podesser; 3rd, Christine Arndt.
Treasure Hunt: 1st, Christine Wedhorn; 2nd, Bettina Kuberka; 3rd, Birgit Auschner.
