I’ve ridden motorbikes for over 25 years and love to travel. I left my native Sweden for Spain in 2007 so I could ride all year round. My first three bikes were Ducati Monsters followed by a Kawasaki Versys. I’ve always travelled extensively, and for eight months, the Versys was my home. I currently have a 2007 BMW F650 GS in Spain and a 2002 model in Sweden. I’ve found that they are perfect for travelling, commuting and shopping.
My current role as International Website Design and Development Officer
I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to our community again, now with this hands on project of designing the look of our new website. Here you can find information based on the material Sheonagh Ravensdale, Caroline Lunnon and myself collected for WIMAs History book. My vision is that this website will reflect our rich heritage and our legacy as well as showing what a diverse and wonderful sisterhood we are. I want to extend my thanks to everyone who has contributed with material to this website.
My achievements as International Vice President 2015-2017 and President 2017-2020
During my time in WIMA government, as International Vice- President and International President, I am especially proud of connecting with women in countries where women motorcycling isn’t a common thing but rather a statement, breaking gender stereotypes and social rules – just as it was in the USA 70 years ago when WIMA was founded. I’m very proud to have worked with pioneering women to bring WIMA to Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Greece, India, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, the UAE and Ukraine – together we are changing the world of women motorcycling. I’m also proud of WIMA’s support for the women riders at MJ Piki in Tanzania, a project very important to me.
The 2019 WRWR event also had a massive impact on women riders worldwide. We connected and supported each other in a new way, united by the common goal to pass the baton around the world. It was a privilege to be part of it as a guardian, and fantastic to be able to use my WIMA contacts to spread the word and bring people together. A welcome side-effect of this was that it introduced WIMA to women who were not yet familiar with what we stand for, and the same year a couple of new divisions came from this, WIMA Luxembourg and WIMA Italy, along with many more contacts from around the world. In addition, we found Michelle, one of the WRWR admins, to revitalize WIMA USA, our dormant mother division. Working for WIMA government takes time and dedication and I want to thank my team who volunteered their time and expertise and all our National Presidents.
It was a great honour to serve as an international vice president for the first time from the Asian region. At the same time, I was the national president of WIMA Japan. I supported the international president behind the scenes and promoted the smooth operation of WIMA, as I believed that was my role as an IVP. When I became the point of contact for people interested in establishing new divisions and eventually succeeded in doing so, I felt very happy and fulfilled.
Despite the increasing number of divisions, the number of participants from Asian divisions in our international rallies was not high. Therefore, I visited Malaysia to strengthen the connection with the Asian divisions. Fortunately, Claudia Fehrer, who was the IP at the time, agreed with this idea. Together, we met with members of WIMA Malaysia, participated in a local motorcycle event, experienced Malaysian culture, and were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the Malaysian people. We had an invaluable time together.
I hope that someday, in addition to Japan, an international rally will be held regularly in other Asian countries.
International President 2012-2017, International Vice President 2011-2012, International Treasurer 2008 to 2011 and Ellen Pfeiffer Award recipient in 2018
My name is Claudia Fehrer and I would like to briefly review, and give a personal account, of my time with WIMA over the past 20 years. There will of course be many more WIMA years to come, but this is my story to date.
I participated in my first WIMA rally in 2002 in the Czech Republic, and since 2007 I have had the honour and privilege to serve WIMA as an international committee member. During the rally in Germany, I was elected to take the role of the international treasurer (2007-2012). In 2011, I became vice president, and then in 2012 it came as a bit of a surprise to be chosen as the international president of WIMA (2012-2017).
During the rally in Finland 2018, I handed over to my successor, and I was proud to receive the Ellen Pfeiffer award. This came along with celebrating my 10 year anniversary serving in this awesome institution. The WIMA International committee achieved many positive things for WIMA during those years. Expanding WIMA from 16 to 28 countries, we were able to unite more women riders around the world, affirm our community, and increase our visibility as an organisation.
I personally gained a deeper understanding of WIMA and its facets. I learned to appreciate how much effort it requires to run a network of institutions on an international level, how much work goes on unseen in the background and gaining an understanding of how much responsibility rests on each official. I believe the key to progress is to face upcoming challenges, and to providing a good service to the membership. The leader of an international association needs passion, accompanied with good fortune, and a willingness to undertake hard work.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to everybody who helped me to carry out my duties, enabling me to run WIMA effectively over the years of my tenure. During this time, I found fun and joy, making friends from around the globe. In the future I will continue with my mission, to be a true ambassador for WIMA, whilst continuing discovering the world on my motorcycle.
Using Article 2 of our international constitution, as a reference, I conclude my review with a little wish: Let’s stand together, let’s continue to achieve improvements for women in general, and for women riders in particular, let’s keep the WIMA SPIRIT alive at all times!
‘I feel FREEDOM! Riding my BIKE with the WIND in my face’
Claudia FEHRER (May 2022)
This is the Ellen Pfeiffer Award nomination that was submitted by Kathy O’Donnell of WIMA Australia for Claudia (edited by Claudia in 2025):
Claudia served on our international committee for many years, first as assistant treasurer, then as treasurer, then as vice president and for many years as president.
Claudia joined WIMA in 2002 and her first WIMA International rally was in the Czech Republic. Since then, Claudia has attended almost every international rally including Japan and Australia, in total 20 rallies including 2024, looking forward to attending many more WIMA rallies in coming years.
Claudia joined the WIMA International committee in 2007. During the time Claudia served as president, nine countries joined WIMA. She will continue her mission as an ambassador for WIMA and she will carry on keeping the WIMA spirit alive.
In 2015 I hosted Claudia in my house when she travelled to Australia for the international rally. She was travelling with Silvia Wiesner-Kaschner. Claudia had encouraged Silvia to join her, to come to Australia for her to attend the WIMA Rally. Silvia spoke no English, so Claudia translated for her for their entire trip.
Last year my husband travelled with me to the WIMA rally in Estonia. To save money, Al decided to buy a second-hand motorcycle in Germany to ride. We would not have been able to do this without Claudia’s assistance. She was so helpful and so accommodating. She met us at the train station, hosted us overnight, allowed Al to service the motorcycle at her place.
Motorcycles were the object of my admiration and a dream of mine since I was a little girl. My dream was not dimmed by the fact that, in the 1980s, motorcycles were considered a ‘man’s thing,’ and I didn’t know any women who rode motorcycles. At the age of 15, I began my motorcycling journey with my brother’s small Suzuki PV moped. As you might guess, I was the only girl in my hometown who rode a moped.
Finally, at the turn of the millennium, my spouse and I bought our first ‘real’ motorcycle – a Suzuki GSX 600F. Around the same time, I heard about a women’s motorcycle club, which I naturally had to join. It felt amazing to find other women motorcyclists and to feel like I belonged.
I became deeply involved in the association’s activities. Together, we organised tours, trips, and events. There was always someone to ride with. I experienced my first WIMA rally in the Netherlands in 2004, where I got to meet women motorcyclists from all over the world. That year, I also attended my first meeting of WIMA presidents, and soon after, I was elected as the international vice president of WIMA – an incredible honour.
At the beginning of the 2000s, motorcycling communities quickly moved online. Traditional associations were perhaps seen as outdated, and women riding motorcycles was no longer considered unusual. We had to think about what unique value the association could offer its members.
The answer lay in rider training, and at that time, WIMA Finland decided to send its first two members to instructor training – I was honoured to be one of them. Traffic safety was an important issue in Finland, and I wanted to advocate for it within WIMA internationally. Another cause I found meaningful was the promotion of motorcycle travel. I deeply admired every WIMA member who travelled from other continents to attend WIMA gatherings in Europe and women who adventured around the world on their motorcycles. I wanted these women to be an example to all of us – showing that the world is open and that friends around the globe are there to support and help each other. Women have strength and courage!
I started riding when I was 18 years old with my first Yamaha SR500. Rode a Triumph after that (Thunderbird and Thruxton), then a Guzzi V7 Stone and ended up with my current Ducati Scrambler. I was travelling a lot with the bike: Spain, Italy, UK. Went through the Via Baltica from Berlin up to Finland through all the Baltic states. Rode through the US with a rental Harley Road King. Went to Poland, France, Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal – so a lot of European countries. First WIMA in 1996 in Lubenec, Czech Republic, 1997 Netherlands, 1998 Switzerland, 1999 Austria, 2000 Finland, 2002 Czech Republic, 2003 UK, 2006 Switzerland, 2009 Italy. Then I took a long break and just returned this year in 2025!
As vice president, I was basically helping the president, Rita Koopmanschap. We put together a WIMA International hospitality list. I met with Erica B. Smith from the US and compiled a few statistics about women motorbike riders for the US section for Erica and Alice Sexton. I helped an American woman with the organisation for her to be part of WIMA Czech. I compiled national presidents’ lists and did all sorts of coordination work with the national presidents. As you know I was just doing this for one year, from 2004 to May 2005. I was out of a job back then, so I had the time to help Rita.
Doris Ravic joined WIMA around 1981/2. Doris’s husband had retired from work and bought a motorbike for the two of them to tour Europe on. Sadly he died very suddenly, leaving her a widow with three motorbike riding sons. After a while, Doris decided that she would learn to ride a motorbike and go on those adventures anyway, on her own. Her story was featured in the local newspaper, as the local middle-aged teacher who had learnt to ride a motorbike and bought a 500cc bike, a Moto Guzzi V50. Doris was immensely proud of featuring in the local paper.
Doris lived in Romford, near London and helped fellow member Sue Herbert set up local meetings for WIMA members in East London. She was always ‘tail end Charlie’ on runs out, because she liked an excuse to go fast, catching up! Doris met Sue’s other local biking friends and she became one of the founder members, in 1983, of the Imperial Elephant Motorcycle Club.
Doris became active on the WIMA GB committee, serving as treasurer for about six years and she loved to go to the international rallies every year. In late 1985 or thereabouts she met and started to go out with Steve Porter, 15 years her junior, whom she married in December 1986. The photo is of Doris on her Moto Guzzi T3 (Violet) at a WIMA rally in 1986. She loved Guzzis but the last bike she bought was a Triumph.
Doris loved competitions, quizzes (which she took very seriously) and she was highly sociable; always liked to be involved with everything.
In 2002 Doris suspected there was a potentially serious health problem looming but she was absolutely determined to ride to the WIMA International rally in the Czech Republic, regardless. She was voted international vice president and she regarded this as a crowning achievement. She was very well organised and was an enormous help to Sheonagh on the administrative front. Sadly she passed away in October 2002.
I have been a biker since 1980. I started with a Honda C50 crash gear pizza bike. Within a year, I was riding a Honda 250 Super Dream on L plates (you could back then). I joined WIMA in 1990; I came across them at the BMF Tailend Rally which I attended with the Gaybikers, a mostly male club back then. My first impression was that it was cliquey, but then I met Bev Leale. What a lovely lady; we just hit it off. She introduced me to Liz Allsop, and the gang. And then the adventures began. I think it was in 1994 that WIMA Belgium invited me over to this new biker motorloft called the Groenedijk just outside Ostend. In 1996 I acquired the beast, a Honda 750cc Super Magna, which I still have to this day, and have travelled many a mile, in many a country.
I spent quite a bit of the 90s in Europe at one event or another, making great friends. The Netherlands rally at Heythuysen in 1997 was my first proper WIMA international. Due to a heatwave, everyone camped around the edge of the field. But in the middle was one portaloo and six tents – I just knew that had to be UK and it was, what a great time!
During my time with WIMA I was the GB/UK regalia officer, turning what was a deficit into a profit, so much so that I was offered the post of the first international regalia officer. I designed and produced the 60th anniversary logo as both patch and stickers and delivered them to Bernadette at the 2010 Dutch rally. I planned much more, but due to ill health had to stand down. I was then asked if I could sort an international rally for GB in 2011. A challenge, but with the right team we did it.
The picture is me at the 66th parallel (Arctic Circle) taken by my great friend then Australian president Angela Trevaskis, who flew over to England and borrowed my old BMW Funduro 650. The two of us set off to the Arctic on our way to the Finland rally in 2008 at Saimaa. WIMA has been a great club, but like all clubs, the more you put in the more you get out. I now have friends all over the world.
International Treasurer 1997-2007 and Ellen Pfeiffer Award recipient in 2022
I started my life on a motorcycle as a baby. My highly pregnant mother and me as second daughter in the sidecar of a BMW and my five-year old sister as pillion on the backseat (not close to the driver). But when the third baby was born, my mother decided to have a washing machine instead of the BMW.
At the age of 18 I wanted to pass my driver’s licence for car and motorcycle, but because at that time I had to be 21 to sign contracts as an adult, my dad refused to sign, because he did not like women riding motorcycles, so I made my father’s signature myself. (Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.) When I came home with my first bike (a Yamaha 250 DS7) he was very disappointed, because it was a Japanese one. After two years with the two-stroke including two holes in a piston, I changed to a BMW 75/5 and now he was proud enough to ask me if he could ride it.
In 1977 I bought a Yamaha XT 500 and had a lot of fun with her, except the difficult starting procedure. Unhappily my brother-in-law crashed her and for some years I changed my ride to a Suzuki 1000cc.
In 1983 I stopped my career because I was pregnant with Sascia. In 1985 my husband allowed my WIMA journey to Stockholm on his beloved Bimota SB3 (not really a touring bike!) and in 1986 he surprised me with a black Kawasaki GPX 750R underneath the Christmas tree! Her name was ‘Espresso’. She was followed by ‘Moulin Rouge’, my last motorcycle Honda VFR800. Sadly I had to sell her because of a cerebral attack in 2012. But now I feel very happy in my husband’s sidecar (Suzuki Bandit 1200) which is very comfortable for me and powerful enough for him.
(2025)
Sheonagh Ravensdale adds:
Floh was hugely important for many years, from very early days in the 70s, helping Ellen Pfeiffer with the organisation of WIMA Germany, uniting many women’s groups into one. She worked with scraps of paper and index cards, behind the scenes, supporting Ellen who preferred riding to admin! A discussion arose among the captains during the 1990s about replacing Louise who was no longer active. I checked with Floh if she wanted to do it and she refused, preferring to stay in the background as treasurer. We worked closely together throughout my presidency. We decided to build up a fund and to charge half a euro per member. Floh managed all of this, while working full-time and bringing up their daughter Sascia who came as a pillion until she was old enough to ride her own bike. Floh is an accomplished linguist and throughout my time as president would simultaneously translate my speeches into German at every rally. She was also the first person I turned to for advice. She remained as WIMA International treasurer, long after I stood down, until 2007. WIMA Germany and WIMA internationally would not be where they are now without her.
This is the nomination that was submitted by WIMA Germany:
Floh has been a WIMA Germany member since 1974, one of its early members. She came to her first rally in 1974 and participated in many rallies after that. Almost from the beginning, she supported Ellen Pfeiffer energetically and committedly. She took care of the administration, the public relations, the press and much more in the steadily growing WIMA Germany division. In 1978, she also took over the post of treasurer.
In 1983, Floh took over the office of WIMA Germany captain from Ellen Pfeiffer and led the business of WIMA Germany for 18 years in a diligent one-woman-show, until she decided to hand over the office in 2001. After that, she was still active as international treasurer until 2007.
Unfortunately, for health reasons, Floh had to end her great passion ‘motorcycling’ forever. Nevertheless, she is still a WIMA Germany member and is represented in the meantime by her daughter Sascia, who has also been a WIMA Germany member for several years.
Together with Ellen Pfeiffer, Floh is one of the most important women in the WIMA Germany history since our foundation in 1958 and a WIMA ambassador with passion. She speaks German, English, French and a little Italian. WIMA Germany, and the international WIMA would not be what it is today without Floh. Only because of women like her, can an organisation like WIMA exist for more than 70 years – Floh has been a part of our WIMA family for almost 40 years and has more than deserved this award, which bears the name of one of her early WIMA friends, for her years of voluntary commitment. Hardly anyone knew Ellen better than Floh.
The fact that she has not received the award so far can only be due to the misunderstanding that WIMA Germany assumed that repeated nominations were not possible. Floh was nominated in 2006 – a year in which there were 3 nominations, but only one award was given. Multiple awards have only been possible since 2007. We would now like to finally give Floh the honour she deserves and present her with the Ellen Pfeiffer award. If any woman deserves it, it is Floh.
I started riding over 35 years ago; my first bike was a dirt bike 175 Yamaha. I then progressed to a Honda 250, after that a Kawasaki GT 550 for over 20 years, BMW 1100 and then several Suzuki Vstrom 650s. I joined WIMA Australia Canberra Branch in 1986 and was treasurer for several years with this branch. In the mid 2000s, our membership seemed to be dwindling and the different branches were struggling in WIMA Australia. So those not doing so well folded, and those remaining members were made WIMA Australia members, with Victoria and South Australia running strong with their membership. At this time, I was WIMA Australia (national captain) president and with the different issues WIMA Australia was struggling with, we were able to hold a smaller membership base, change the constitution to match the changes happening with the membership to continue our love for riding and supporting women riders. With membership fluctuating and the enthusiasm of the membership, we kept WIMA Australia going.
In 2007, I was nominated and voted in as WIMA International president; the reins were handed over to continue promoting WIMA and encouraging more women to join. Through this time four new countries joined WIMA – Korea, Hungary, India and Curaçao and a fifth with Malaysia joining the year I resigned from being international president, after having a motorcycle crash. There was huge change happening with technology improving and increased access with the internet. This enabled the WIMA International committee and national presidents to communicate more directly and faster. Keeping up with these changes, the WIMA International website was updated, the constitution updated, guidelines set up regarding using the different electronic media, e.g. setting up Facebook pages and monitoring these. This was done through a team effort with the WIMA International committee and national presidents. Through this time as international president, there were many positives working with the diversity of the membership within WIMA and it was a pleasure to have served as WIMA International president.
International President 2003-2007 and Ellen Pfeiffer Award recipient in 2021
I was born in The Netherlands at midnight between 11th and 12th January 1968, so my mother told me. She chose the 11th, and I have celebrated this for many years now. Passing my motorcycle licence in the winter of 1988 it seemed a bit far to travel to the WIMA rally in Hungary, summer 1989, so I took part in my first WIMA rally in Maurik, The Netherlands in 1989.
Right before the next rally, in France 1990, my mother had passed away, therefore my father and youngest brother came along to my second international WIMA rally. My motorbike, a Kawasaki Z650 was transported in the back of our van, also during the crossing to Great Britain, where we took part in WIMA GB’s ruby rally (WIMA’s 40th anniversary). I still meet participants of those rallies, like Ann Weir from Wales whom we visited back then in 1990 and I was proud she attended our 2019 Dushi WIMA rally in Curaçao! I have tried to attend every WIMA rally since, because WIMA is like family in life, sharing ups-and-downs and the same big passion of motorcycling.
I just love adventure, riding and meeting such diverse women coming from all over the world. My interest in other countries and cultures may have led to emigration to the country of Curaçao, an island in the Caribbean. It was 2001 when I continued my job as an English teacher here and started exploring this side of the world. I had sold my BMW K1100 to buy a 1976 boxer 600 CC that stayed in The Netherlands for my trips in Europe. Somehow, a similar 900 CC boxer from 1976 crossed my path on Curaçao; my colleague had me test-ride it and never got it back because I bought it from him.
In the meantime, Sheonagh had asked me to become international president, of which I felt honoured, but I thought I was living too far away. After I had settled properly, I realised this shouldn’t be an issue because WIMA is a worldwide association and was established in nearby USA in 1950. I decided to take the position for a while, finishing the tough job Sheonagh, Erica Smith and all national presidents had been working on, i.e. the first full international constitution since Louise Scherbyn’s day. In 2006 I participated in the AMA women’s rally in Atlanta, USA thanks to Alice Sexton who had invited me over. I handed over my international president’s role, with my tent hammer, to Angie Trevaskis at the rally in Thüringen in Germany in 2007.
Back home on Curaçao I spoke to Chinka Olario about WIMA and WIMA Curaçao was founded by the end of 2011. I’ve kept riding, motivating others to join and inviting people over to Curaçao. We did a Women Riders World Relay (WRWR) Ripple ride on our Dushi island; we’ve been amazed by the effects of this WRWR on motorcycling women worldwide and were proud to meet Hayley Bell in 2019 in Castleton, UK.
Lastly, I was honoured to receive the Ellen Pfeiffer award in 2021, having met her several times at WIMA rallies in Europe. The word is spread: motorcycling is fun, so ride safe and looking forward to our next meet and greet.
(2022)
This is the nomination that was submitted by WIMA Curaçao:
Rita has been a member of WIMA since 1988; first of WIMA The Netherlands and later of WIMA Curaçao. She got her motorcycle licence in December 1987 and decided she wasn’t experienced enough to attend the 1988 Hungarian rally. As of 1989, Rita has attended all WIMA rallies in Europe and she was acquainted with Ellen Pfeiffer; they were both musicians, played the guitar and sang together. Rita was captain of WIMA The Netherlands from 1998 to 2001. Then she moved to Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean, and she was the WIMA international president between 2003 and 2006. She always made sure to plan her vacation around the WIMA rallies in Europe and amongst others, attended the AMA Women in Motorcycling Conference in Atlanta US, in 2006. As a teacher she was, regretfully, not in the position to attend rallies outside school vacation weeks like the rallies in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. In Curaçao, Rita was always talking about WIMA so enthusiastically that together with two other female motorcyclists, WIMA Curaçao was founded in December 2011.
Rita ‘brought’ WIMA to Curacao and as co-founder of WIMA Curaçao, has been involved as secretary/treasurer and she is the best WIMA ambassador you can have.
Years before the Dushi WIMA rally 2019 in Curaçao, Rita first checked by means of Survey Monkey questionnaire if there were enough WIMA members worldwide interested to participate and able to fly to Curaçao for this rally. With the results of the questionnaire, she knew what people were interested in, visiting a tropical rally and she started an inventory of possible activities, locations, prices etc. Later more WIMA Curaçao members joined her to prepare for the first Caribbean WIMA rally ever, which was very successful.
Rita is the binding factor for WIMA Curaçao. Without Rita, we must conclude that WIMA Curaçao would not have been founded and it would not have existed anymore. Rita never gives up and brings forward plans, keeps all informed and makes sure that board and member meetings are held. She ensures that there is an activity calendar, she takes care of the minutes of meetings and helps other members when they have motorcycle questions or issues. Not only in Curaçao, but also during WIMA International rallies she tries to find solutions or approaches a person who can assist a person with technical problems with their bike. Together with Rita we have made a lot of great memories, we still add to those, and new friendships have frequently been started.
Rita is very communicative, sociable and she easily associates with anything concerning motorcycling. In the timespan of almost 20 years that she has been living in Curaçao, she has come to know a lot of people and they always ask her if she has been riding recently and how WIMA Curaçao is doing. During WIMA International rallies, you notice that she knows most people and has socialised with many for a very long time.
Rita is always up for fun (wrapping a bike in toilet paper, decorating a tent, popping up on stage playing the drums, doing the Flee-Fly-Flo song whenever Berry Keller was not present) playing the guitar, providing entertainment at the campfire, and singing with whoever wanted to join. She even brings along, when space on her motorbike allows, several copies of song books so everybody can join in and sing together.
Finally, Rita is considerate and always keeps a keen look out to see if everybody is safe and she also encourages new riders to ride safely, helping them wherever she can with riding advice.
The 2021 WIMA International rally in Grolloo, The Netherlands, will be Rita’s 33rd rally. We, WIMA Curaçao members think it is about time that Rita receives the Ellen Pfeiffer award!
