This report was written by a male journalist, Klaus Fischer for Moto Sport Schweiz, an article very much of its time with its assumptions about women motorcyclists. We’ve concentrated on reproducing the facts.
The event was attended by about 180 women and 15 children from Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Finland who had their own beautiful private camping area at the ‘Buchenhof’ campsite on Lake Lauerz.
Klaus Fischer attempted to explain the origins and spirit of WIMA and understand why women bikers stick together. The two main organisers of this meeting, Margrit Podesser and Betty Manz explained, ‘Most of us are very positive about men; many have husbands or friends, but it is the case that they ride motorcycles in a way that is often to do with speed, competition, stress. We, on the other hand, also love our machines, but our conversations often cover much more than bikes and turn to everyday issues, whereas male biker clubs are practically always about Töff, Töff, Töff… That’s why we always include so many games at our WIMA meetings, not all of which have to do with Töff (bike)’.
Family friendliness is therefore the trump card and the cultivation of a decidedly ‘classless’ society. At WIMA, every woman is equally accepted, whether she rolls up on a Vespa or Harley-Davidson. Several sidecar teams can also be found, which is particularly practical for mothers with children.
In any case, I can confirm that the women I met at this WIMA meeting here were not only from all sorts of countries, but from different walks of life and age groups. The first half of the week must have been wonderful.
Very hot, but very suitable for the events programme, such as the ‘Quintathlon’ with swimming and pedalo stages. Also, nighttime parties, as WIMA women love them, are better in warm weather. The traditional ‘Rally’ was underway, which requires not only motorcycling but also various challenges (even a real crossbow apple shoot), when, having looked so settled in the morning, the weather then turned. The planned trial (with Yamahas especially provided by importer Hostettler) had to be postponed to Friday because the steep terrain had become too greasy and dangerous in the rain. But the women were not discouraged, and a free day was announced, which many of them took advantage of with a trip on foot or by train.
The number of private individuals and companies that expressed their support to the WIMA meeting with donations in kind and money is almost unbelievable. In any case, the women received a whole lot of attractive prizes for the competitions and Silke Stolley was crowned Madame WIMA. (65 companies and individuals who sponsored the rally are listed in the programme!) A complete list of all sponsor companies would far exceed the scope of this report, but one worthy mention is for the butcher Reichmuth in Schwyz, who spontaneously offered the 180-strong women’s group a veritable Zvieri afternoon snack when they rolled over the finish line after the Wednesday rally.
