Month: October 2024

Congratulations Pirjo Kivimäki, The Ellen Pfeiffer Award winner in 2024.

Pirjo is a former National President of WIMA Finland and International Historian; she joined WIMA in 1999.

Pirjo was nominated by WIMA Liechtenstein and selected by national presidents at their annual meeting, this year held in Australia and by Zoom. They all agreed that hers is the story of an enthusiastic lady rider, world traveller and WIMA member by heart, bringing in generous contributions for the WIMA Family and to spread the WIMA Spirit. WIMA Liechtenstein members say in their nomination that she truly deserves the honour of receiving this Award and therefore to be recorded in the list of those ladies who brought in outstanding efforts for women in motorcycling and in enhancing WIMA World! – and WIMA national presidents agreed with them.

In October 2024 Dagrún Jónsdóttir was appointed new National President of WIMA Iceland.

Dagrún is a 53-year-old Icelandic woman who started riding motorcycles when she was 20 years old and has ridden ever since.  She was for a long time very active in fighting for motorcyclist’s rights through the Motorcycle Association in Iceland (Sniglar) and the Antique Bike Club (Gamlingjar). She was President of the Antique Bike Club for 19 years.  She was in a traffic safety committee for the Icelandic government, has organised many motorcycle rallies over the years and was one of the founders of HDc Ice. She has worked for motorcyclists in one way or another since the day she started riding.

Her main interests are traveling on bikes and restoring them.  She has travelled over most of the roads in Iceland, some European routes and in 2017 she took a 6-month trip in the USA, riding 30.000 km.  Dagrún has built and restored many old bikes. She has already built and restored 7 old Harley-Davidson and some Triumphs and Japanese bikes.

Her life is more or less all about motorcycles.

Welcome Dagrún – we all look forward to meeting you at many more International Rallies in the future.

“Move she does”
Exhibition of photographer, writer and biker-traveller Trui Hanoulle

With their trucks, bicycles, planes, boats, rickshaws and motorbikes, they flout prejudices, rigid traditions and absurd laws. Travelling to villages, towns and remote mountain areas, Trui Hanoulle has tracked down, spoken to and photographed some of the word’s wayward women. A few are over a hundred years old, one just turned twelve. Some are local or international celebrities, others are simple housewives. But each and every one of them is a trailblazing role model.

In case you are wondering, Trui adds: “Yes I do have a good number of bikers in the project, obviously :)))”
The exhibition features 34 large printed portraits, archive materials, 3 audio stories and a video of the making of.

Location: Concerthall in Bruges, Belgium
Dates: Sun 10 Nov 2024 – Sun 02 Feb 2025
Opening event: Sun 17 Nov 2024 / 5 pm

Several WIMA members have already arranged to meet and attend the vernissage event. There will be an interview with Trui by writer-biker Gaea Schoeters on the topic of Emancipation Through Mobility, a talk with three women featured on the photographs, and songs by mezzo-soprano Britt Truyts.
Very welcome ! ! !
Practical: Register for the (free) vernissage of this expo on Sunday 17 November 2024 at 5 pm Concertgebouw Brugge / ‘t Zand 34, 8000 Brugge, Belgium / +32 50 47 69 99 / info@concertgebouw.be
The exhibition of “Move She Does” can also be viewed during Concertgebouw Circuit opening hours, before and after a performance from Sun 10 Nov 2024 – Sun 02 Feb 2025.

Maura Raniecka received her WIMA International Officer Long Service Award from Mariko Shibata, National President of WIMA Japan, for her 6 years of voluntary service as International Public Relations Officer. The presentation took place at the WIMA Australia International Rally.

The photograph is of Maura with  Michiko, the pendant maker, a jewelry designer and former national president  of WIMA Japan.

Maura is National President of WIMA Poland and was also elected to be WIMA International Treasurer for the next three years.

Thank you Maura for your long-time dedication and loyalty to WIMA.

53 WIMA members and guests attended the week long rally, representing a total of 14 countries (plus a further 3 overnighters for the Friday night dinner/accommodation package)

The very successful rally was held at the Lady Northcote Discovery Camp, Glenmore, Victoria.

And, they raised A$1298 at their Piklily auction. Not bad for only 50+ people……it was a great effort.