Contact details
Email: info[at]wima-usa.com
Website: wima-usa.com
Facebook: WIMA USA
About WIMA USA
WIMA USA was originally founded in the United States by Louise Scherbyn in 1950. The USA division was the foundation from which all other divisions grew under Louise’s passionate leadership. WIMA USA faded in the 1970s but was revived in 2002. At that time, the strong leadership of Alice Sexton helped WIMA USA grow to over 100 members. The organization stayed vibrant for nearly a decade. But after Alice retired as national president, and with the proliferation of local, regional, and national women’s motorcycle clubs across all 50 US States, WIMA USA found it challenging to maintain an active national membership across such a large country.
In 2020 a new leadership team was formed by a group of women from different backgrounds and parts of the USA and with different riding styles. Michelle Lamphere (president), along with Kimberly Brown (vice president), Rachel Stienstra (treasurer), Lynda Hood (director of membership) and Shana Sanderson (director of social media and technology) grew the membership to nearly 200 members in the first year. A variety of projects and events are in development to help support and engage our members across the USA. In 2021 two virtual rallies were held. In 2022, we held our first national rally. We organise regional rides hosted by regional chapters; we are also developing a charity partnership and launching a quarterly newsletter for members. Membership currently stands at around 500 members.
Notable members
Louise Scherbyn, Founder of WIMA International and Theresa Wallach, first WIMA International Vice President (VP) are fully profiled in the first women section.
Michelle Lamphere, president since 2020
Michelle was born in Sturgis, South Dakota, home of the world-famous rally, and learned to ride at the age of 15. She developed a love of adventure motorcycle travel and spent two years living on the road in North, Central and South America. She self-published two books about her journey and has written numerous magazine articles about her subsequent travels. Michelle was one of the WRWR eight-person administrative team and designed the global route for that event. She is co-founder of Rev Sisters, which produces online motorcycle filmfestivals. She is a panel member of Adventure Rider Radio’s RAW monthly podcast. In adition she serves as International Vice President.
Sylvia Salenius, president 2015-2020
Sylvia represented WIMA USA at international motorcycle shows in California, Illinois and Texas and made appearances at several rallies run by regional and national women’s motorcycle organizations. She says ‘My role was to keep knowledge of WIMA alive in the US and to spread the joy of our international sisterhood with stories about our rallies and information about motorcycle travel abroad’.
Alice Sexton, President 2002-2011
For more than 25 years, Alice raced vintage Moto Guzzis and Ducatis, for organizations such as the Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Association (MARRC), the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA), and the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC). She worked effectively for many years to bring visibility to women motorcyclists and to revitalize WIMA USA. She served as International Public Relations Officer, 2005-2011.
Erica Smith, Vice President 2002-2011
Erica was listmanager for the first-ever Women in Sport Touring (WIST) listserv (an electronic mailing list) for women riders in the US. An avid Ducati rider and sport-touring enthusiast, Erica filled a need in the spirit of WIMA to connect women riders. For over 15 years, WIST was one of the only online sources for sport/touring women riders to virtually meet, share experiences, and organize. She was instrumental in reviving WIMA USA by creating policy and inclusiveness priorities, and creating the first WIMA USA website, blog, and events.
Sarah Schilke, advocate 2002-2011
Co-owner of WomenRidersNow.com, former VP at SW-Motech USA and marketing director at BMW Motorrad USA, first woman elected to the Motorcycle Industry Council. As a long-time industry professional, Sarah has shone a light on all women in motorcycling. With her life-long career in the international motorcycling community, she was a champion for WIMA USA/WIMA World and was instrumental in the recreation of WIMA USA.
Mary McGee
Mary McGee is an American motorsport racing pioneer. She was the first woman to compete in motorcycle road racing and motocross events in the United States. She competed from 1960 to 1976, then began competition again in 2000 in vintage motocross events. In 2013, McGee was named an FIM Legend for her pioneering motorcycle racing career. She was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2018.
Wendy Crockett
Wendy Crockett member of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) LongRider program, the Iron Butt Association, and the Motorcycle Endurance Rider Association. Wendy was the recipient of the AMA Board of Directors 2020 AMA Bessie Stringfield Award and was the 2019 winner of the Iron Butt Rally, the first female winner of that event.
Danell Lynn
Danell Lynn earned a Guinness World Record for the longest trip by motorcycle in a single country. She traveled in all 50 states, and logged 48,600 miles from September 2014 to August 2015.
Honorary memberships and recipients of the WIMA USA Award:
Theresa Wallach – AMA Hall of Fame Inductee 2003 (award accepted by WIMA USA VP Erica Smith)
Vicky Jackson-Bell – Factory motocross racer, first woman to win a WSMC and National 125GP championship.
Debbie Evans Levitt – Winner of 7 Taurus World Stunt Awards, AMA Hall of Fame Inductee 2003.
Jan Plessner – Former PR Director Kawasaki and advocate for women in motorcycling.
International rallies
WIMA USA hosted international rallies in 2025 in Maine, 2009 in Keystone, Colorado, and 1970 in New York (20th anniversary celebration).
