Louise Scherbyn, Founder Member and first WIMA International President. WIMA was founded in the USA, way back in the early 1950s by Louise Scherbyn pictured here with her white Indian Scout. Her interest in motorcycling started in the early 1920s but went only as far as sitting astride a 1921 Indian motorcycle belonging to her sister's boyfriend and later, in 1924 experiencing her first ride in a sidecar. Louise married a motorcyclist and became a pillion rider on a Harley Davidson. This was followed by an INDIAN Chief with sidecar. In 1932 her husband encouraged her to learn to ride herself. Initially she was concerned about the effect riding would have on her reputation. She held a good position in the Kodak company and wondered what the office would think about her "putting about" the city on a motorcycle. Luckily she was not put off and was soon the proud possessor of a 1932 Indian Scout. Many miles of motorcycle travel all over the USA and Canada were to follow, with Louise staying loyal to the INDIAN marque. She lays claim to being the first American woman to reach the far north, Timagami Forest of Canada, a trip which in 1937 was made on many dirt and gravel roads. She also took part in Enduro and other events but her main love was touring. Louise became active in many motoring clubs including the AMA, the Canadian Motorcycle Association and the British Pathfinders Club, and was an associate editor of one of America's leading motorcycle publications. She became very interested in motorcycling activities for women in the 1940's as the number of women riders increased. She had been involved with an organisation called the Motor Maids which seems to have been more display team than motorcycle club. They would do formation rides around the track at the start of race meetings, kitted out in smart blue uniforms and on immaculately kept machines. During the second world war Louise corresponded with women from other countries and an idea began to grow. "I believed there should be a world wide organisation for all women motorcyclists." She said in a magazine interview in 1952. "Why not unite as a body in exchanging ideas and opinions, problems and advice? And with this came the initial step of the founding of the Women's International Motorcycle Association. With the help of every member and some wonderful friends, the WIMA has now grown today to be the largest women's motorcycle organisation in the world. And that, girls, is how it all began"
She donated her motorcycle and other memorabilia to the Indian Motorcycle Museum, Springfield, MA, USA where they are on display.
Louise died on 18th June 2003.
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Theresa Wallach, first WIMA International Vice-President, pictured here after winning a Brooklands Gold Star. Theresa grew up in London, England and learned to ride much against her parents wishes. She competed in trials, scrambles and road racing. In 1928 she won a scholarship to study engineering at what is now the City University, London. In 1935 she undertook an epic journey from London to Cape Town. She, and her travelling companion Florence Blenkiron, were the first people (male or female) to cross the Sahara on a motorcycle Her story of this amazing adventure has been published recently under the title "The Rugged Road" (full review in the TRAVEL section). In 1939 she won a coveted Brooklands Gold Star. Brooklands was a famous English road race circuit and a Gold Star was awarded to any rider managing a 100mph + lap. In his biography Francis Beart, the ace Norton tuner recalls how Theresa walked into his workshop at Brooklands and asked if she could borrow his 348cc International Norton for the next weekends race meeting. He told her it would cost five pounds, which she didn't have but managed to borrow. When the day came it was pouring with rain but her lap was timed at 101.64mph - much to the annoyance of Beart's top rider, Johnny Lockett, who had never taken the machine to a 3 figure lap! Theresa's was one of the last Gold Stars awarded before Brooklands was closed down at the start of the second World War.
During the war she became the first woman despatch rider in the British army and spent 7 years in active service.
After the war she spent two and a half years touring the USA with just a bike, sleeping bag and whatever fitted into her saddle bags. 32000 miles and 18 jobs later her bike was displayed at a motorcycle show in New York where she met Louise who introduced her to WIMA. Theresa returned to England, but within a year was back in the USA and set up shop selling, servicing and repairing British bikes, mainly Norton & Triumph. Another first - the only woman to own and run her own motorcycle business. She also gave motorcycle riding lessons and in 1970 published her book "Easy Motorcycle Riding" The early 1970s saw a decline in her business due to the influx of Japanese machines to the market and in 1973 she moved to Phoenix, Arizona to open a motorcycle riding school. Having never owned a car she carried on riding until she was 88 years old when sight problems forced her to give up her licence. Theresa maintained an active interest in WIMA right up until her death in 1998 aged 90. A truly remarkable woman
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Doris Porter
Doris was a longtime active member of WIMA GB. The many tributes to her, received from around the world following her death on 27 October 2002, remain on the website at the following link "Farewell Doris"