More than 250 women motorcyclists from over 20 countries participated on Wednesday in the first Women International Motorcycle Association (WIMA) – International Rally held in Romania, the 75th edition worldwide, which ended at the Transilvania Motor Ring Circuit in Cerghid, near Targu Mures.
Women International Motorcycle Association (WIMA) Vice President and WIMA Romania President Mihaela Hodivoianu told the press that the parade was attended by members from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, UK, Norway, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, India and Bangladesh.
“We have about 5,000 members in all countries and, obviously, when we have an event in a certain country, we promote the cultural values of that country. This time it is Romania. We hope that we have made it very popular since 2017, when we set up the association and we believe that we have by now a name in the community and some close ties with all the community members. In Romania we have 120 official members and over 2,000 fans,” said Mihaela Hodivoianu.
The main goal of the event was to increase the visibility of motorcycling among women and promote local tourism.
“Here we have ladies of all ages, from 18 to 88. The oldest participant is 88. She came with the motorcycle on a trailer from the UK, but even so it is to be appreciated that she came to Romania and wanted to participate in the event (…),” said the president of WIMA Romania.
Claudia Freher from Liechtenstein was impressed by the warm welcome the women riders received in Romania.
We are very happy to be here, together with all these ladies who came from all over the world, we are very proud and we are grateful that Romania is a wonderful host for this meeting, said Claudia Freher.
Diana Dobre, a member of the association since 2019, says she first got on a motorcycle five years ago, but after a terrible fear, she started to feel strong and free.
The WIMA International Rally Parade arrived on Wednesday in the town of Ludus and followed the route Ranta (Bogata) – Cuci – Iernut – Cipau – Ogra – Sanpaul – Recea – Ungheni – Cerghizel – Cerghid – Transilvania Motor Ring.
