Contact details
Email: france.wima[at]gmail.com
Website: www.wimafrance.fr
Facebook: WIMA France
Instagram: @wima_france
About WIMA France
WIMA France was started by Agnès Acker in the nineteen sixties and until quite recently the division remained small, despite the success of four beautiful international rallies. The first was organised in the Vosges, at Col des Croix by Agnès. Over many years, without an official WIMA France team, Chantal Hertrich organised several small weekend meetings, as well as the “3 Länder Treffen”, with women from France, Germany, Switzerland and even The Netherlands.
WIMA France is now an active division with many riders across the country and the national rallies are a very popular get together. These also attract some international members as they are always held in scenic parts of France.
Over the years France has hosted five international rallies: 2023 Parc National des Ecrins, 1990 Saint-Pierre, 1977 Méribel les Allues, 1974 La Petite-Pierre, and 1970 Col des Croix.
Notable members
Colline de Rancourt, President since 2023
I got my licence at 21, in 2009. Working as an archaeologist, I rode on France’s roads with my 600Fazer. In 2022, I began my international road trip on a Royal Enfield Himalayan and rode 20,000 km over six months through Europe and the Middle East. I rode alone but met some WIMA girls en route. In 2023, at the international rally in France, I met many women who encouraged me during my travels and talked with many incredible people. This is why I decided to be the National President.
Anne Girardin, President 2017-2022
WIMA France has gone from strength to strength since Anne and her team took over. Anne herself is an avid traveller who spent a year travelling solo on her trusty BMW F650GS from Alaska to Ushuaia. After a period in the USA, Anne spent many years as a land surveyor for the United Nations, across the world including Afghanistan and several African countries, working to protect the land rights of ordinary people. In 2020 Anne became Mayor in her home town.
Chantal Hertrich, President 1985-2007
I got my licence in 1975. I started riding to maintain my connection with my brother who died in a motorcycle accident. After being pillion with men who rode too fast, I decided to start riding by myself. I’ve been travelling to WIMA rallies since 1974, and was a member of WIMA Germany, as there was no organised WIMA France, and always informed French and Italian women about WIMA rallies. I was given the title French Captain in 1985 in Sweden. But without an official division. We formed WIMA France from my motorcycle club in order to organise the 1990 international rally in France.
At the age of 40, I had my daughter Alexia, and from a baby to the age of 14, she took part in 10 international rallies and many “Three Countries Rallies”. I strongly encouraged other women to come to WIMA, with WIMA cards in my bag.
Chantal is still active in the background, available to help whenever needed. She has received the Ellen Pfeiffer award and is featured in that section.
Sophie Vignon, President 2008-2017
Sophie took over the WIMA France presidency in 2008 and greatly continued the national rallies. Geneviève Herbillon took over the French WIMA presidency in 2016 but soon handed it over to the French Vosges’ team.
Agnès Acker, Founder of WIMA France
Agnès got her licence in 1963 and launched herself into a mass of motorcycle activities, clocking up around 200,000 km over the next 25 years. Having founded WIMA France, she attended every international rally from 1968 for nearly a decade.
Agnès was a terrific adventurer. One year she rode from San Francisco to Montreal on a 350cc Kawasaki in 13 days and she attended six Elephant Rallies on a solo bike (two in heavy snow).
Between 1971 and 1975 she took part in 20 high speed trials at Hockenheim, Schotten and Nürburgring, winning ten medals on her 350cc Suzuki. She had five children and rode while pregnant too, and only got her car licence very late in life.
She is distinguished in other fields as well: an astrophysicist who founded the Strasbourg Planetarium and directed it for 22 years. In 2012 she received one of France’s highest awards: Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur.
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