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Final Rebelle Rally Field Update:
Rebellation
October 17, 2021
Rebelles spent Saturday relaxing in the Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis) following completion of the sixth edition of the annual Rebelle Rally. Instead of being woken at 5:00 AM by Rebelle Founder Emily Miller’s infamous cow bell, the competitors slept in before being treated to a breakfast of chilaquiles and eggs benedict from Michelin star chef Drew Deckman and his talented staff. With their appetites satiated, the teams took part in a Driver Challenge and a series of games conducted by Fuel Tech Brian Busby called the “Busby Games.”
The Busby Games consisted of a bracket style, single elimination competition consisting of bocce ball and corn hole with prizes from Yeti, Wagan Tech, Big Agnes, and Scrubblade up for grabs. Technical Director Chris Woo directed the Driver Challenge, which required Rebelle navigators to drive backwards through an obstacle course while their driver provided instructions. Team #219 Wunder On (Kaitlin Mason / Renée Vento) posted the fastest time in the driver challenge in their Porsche Cayenne, while Kathleen Salvo of Team #122 Prosciutto Babes and Alicia Trigeiro of Team #117 Rescue Ranger won the Busby Games.
Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit) won the 4x4 Class in their Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, earning a custom trophy and free entry for next year’s Rebelle Rally as their prize. They also were the top placing team in both the Bone Stock and Electrified designations. The overall winners have driven Bone Stock vehicles in the past, but this was the first time an Electrified vehicle has taken the overall victory. Electrified is a special designation that was started in 2020 for EVs, hybrids, and PHEVs that are charged during the rally via hydrogen power supplied by Renewable Innovations’ Mobile Energy Command.
Bone Stock, as the name implies, requires vehicles to be exactly as delivered from the manufacturer, with the only allowance for factory sized aftermarket tires and wheels. Team #177 Jeep Thrills (Emily Benzie / Christine Benzie) finished second in the 4x4 Class in their own Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, and the podium was rounded out by Team #188 Dirt Hustle (Laura Wanlass / Maria Guitar) in a diesel Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, making for an all-Jeep podium.
Rochelle Bovee and Melissa Vander Wilt of Team #141 Roaming Wolves were the only entries this year in the 4030 designation, which is specifically for vehicles that are at least 40 years old. Just like in 2020, they competed once again in their late father’s 1969 Ford Bronco to honor his legacy. Team CanToy Divas – #144 (Sue Chapin/Liza Tough) took home the International Cup for the second year in a row after coming all the way from Canada to compete in the Rebelle Rally. Winners of the International Cup have $2,500 donated to the charity of their choice, with the CanToy Divas choosing the Kelowna Women’s Shelter this year. The Kelowna Women’s Shelter provides individualized domestic abuse support, domestic abuse education, shelter, and basic needs including food and personal items, to women and children leaving abuse and violence.
The only rookies who finished in the top ten in the 4x4 Class were Team #152 Toyota Way-Finders (Samantha Barber / Becky Brophy). The two engineers from Toyota’s Production Engineering division piloted their 2021 Toyota “She-Quoia” TRD Pro to a ninth-place finish overall. Brophy grew up in Northern Kentucky and graduated from University of Kentucky with degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Barber earned her Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from IUPUI and has Baja racing experience on her resume.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Team #202 Ford Performance (Cora Jokinen / Melissa Fischer) finished first to also take home a free entry in the 2022 Rebelle Rally for their efforts. Team #202 edged out the Kia Sorento PHEVs of Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) and Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk), who finished second and third respectively in the final standings.
The evening ended with a six-course meal by Drew Deckman and his staff delighting competitors’ taste buds with Baja oysters, fresh sashimi, rabbit, goat, and more during the award ceremony, presented by Jeep. The final award of the event was the Team Spirit Award, co-presented by Rebelle Impact and Jackie Hickman of Rebelle partner Scrubblade. Voted on by the competitors and course staff, this year the prize went to Team #145 Fast n’ Curious (Kristian Vockler / Andrea Shaffer) who battled electrical issues all week long but never let it dampen their spirits, or their ability to reach checkpoints (CPs). This year there were 17 team nominations for the award, more than any previous year and signaling the great sense of camaraderie in this year’s edition.
The Team Spirit Award winner receives $5,000 in their name to the charity of their choice, with Team #145 choosing Record the Journey as the recipient. Record the Journey provides outdoor photography adventures to military veterans and their families. Participants capture moments that inspire them and share their images and unique stories. The goal is to help their service members process who they were as a person before they left, with who they are as a returning veteran.
Rebelle Founder Emily Miller gave an inspiring speech reminding all of the women in the room that change is inevitable, but progress is not. “Progress takes concerted efforts to fall forward with passion,” Miller explained. “Success is hard, but failure is hard too, you choose your hard.” After covering over 2,275 grueling kilometers of competition and triumphing over a sandstorm in the middle of the rally, it was clear that these women had chosen which hard was for them. Emily Miller continues to distinguish the Rebelle Rally as not only a world-class competition that is the longest navigation rally in the United States, but also a force for good in local communities and the larger global community as well.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- Jeep
It is no coincidence that Jeep vehicles have won more titles at the Rebelle Rally than any other vehicle manufacturer. Over a third of the field in the rally this year are driving Jeeps Wranglers, Jeep swept the podium in the 4x4 Class, and a Jeep vehicle was the top finisher in the Bone Stock designation for the fifth time in six years. Jeeps have repeatedly proven they have the capability, reliability, and comfort to withstand the punishing Rebelle Rally. For our 2021 edition, Jeep sponsored our awards ceremony and our media tent. And for the fifth year, they provided a vehicle to help us reach the best locations for photography and find that elusive cell phone signal in the middle of the desert to get our media content out to the fans at home.
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
STAGE 7 Powered by TOTAL CHAOS
October 15, 2021
The Rebelle Rally starts innocently enough with an unscored day en route to the first base camp. Do not be fooled though, this event is a pressure cooker for drivers and navigators alike. Rebelle Founder Emily Miller and Course Director Jimmy Lewis set up the course to be increasingly difficult for each day of competition, in terms of both navigation and driving skills. And it all culminated at the Imperial Sand Dunes (aka Glamis) on STAGE 7 powered by TOTAL CHAOS.
At the top of the 4x4 Class standings, Team #149 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit) and Team #177 Jeep Thrills (Emily Benzie / Christine Benzie) had sizable leads coming into the final stage. The teams made a strategic decision to work together and maintain their positions, finishing second and third for the day to end in first and second overall. The final podium spot was very much in play though coming into STAGE 7, with only twenty points (the equivalent of one green CP) separating third through sixth place. Team #188 Dirt Hustle (Laura Wanlass / Maria Guitar) worked with Team #149 4xEventures and #177 Jeep Thrills to win the final stage and catapult them from fifth to third in the overall standings, making it an all-Jeep Rubicon podium.
Team #150 G.O.A.T. (Shelby Hall / Penny Dale) maintained their fourth-place position coming into the finale by finishing in fourth for the day. Team #140 Killer Watt (Emme Hall / Rebecca Donaghe) slid from third to fifth in the overall standings after a challenging day navigating the sand dunes in their Rivian R1T. Team #106 Wild Grace (Lyn Woodward / Sedona Blinson) faced similar challenges to finish in sixth place overall in their Nissan Frontier.
Team #149 4xEventures not only won the 4x4 Class, they were also the top scoring Bone Stock and Electrified vehicle in their Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. The Bone Stock designation requires vehicles to be as delivered from the manufacturer, with the only allowances for aftermarket tires and wheels in the factory size. New last year, the Electrified Designation applies to EVs, PHEVs, and hybrid vehicles. Electrified vehicles placed first and second in the 4x4 Class this year.
The only rookies who finished in the top ten were Team #152 Toyota Way-Finders (Samantha Barber / Becky Brophy). The two engineers from Toyota’s Production Engineering division piloted their Toyota “She-Quoia” to a ninth-place finish overall. Brophy grew up in Northern Kentucky and graduated from University of Kentucky with degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Barber earned her Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from IUPUI and has Baja racing experience on her resume.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Team #202 Ford Performance (Cora Jokinen / Melissa Fischer) won STAGE 7 in their Bone Stock Ford Bronco Sport to take the class victory. Team #208 Sand Mode (Tasha Krug / Elizabeth Long) finished second for the day in their Honda Ridgeline and rookie Team #204 MTNSUBI (Carey Lando / Laura Fino) finished third on the final stage. The Kia Sorento PHEVs of Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) and Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk) played it safe on STAGE 7 to protect their positions in the overall ranks, finishing second and third respectively in the final standings.
Daily Tech Tip- What Is the Team Spirit Award?
It is not always about your score, but how you compete. The Rebelle Rally Team Spirit Award is designed to promote and encourage a positive spirit in the midst of focused competition. It is searching for solutions, providing encouragement, and treating others with respect and enthusiasm - which ultimately results in fostering a spirited, competitive climate. The Team Spirit Award winners, as voted on by competitors and course staff, will win a $5,000 donation in their name to the charity of their choice.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- Maxtrax
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if there is a brand that has been imitated in the off-road world, it is Maxtrax. None of the knockoffs have been able to match Maxtrax’s traction boards’ durability and strength in the demanding conditions of the Rebelle Rally. And if you can’t count on your recovery gear when you need it most, what good is it? Maxtrax distributor Adventure Imports even offered a generous contingency: $1,000 to the first place finisher, $500 to the second place finisher, and $250 to the third place finisher running Maxtrax recovery boards on their vehicle.
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
STAGE 6
October 14, 2021
STAGE 6 of the Rebelle Rally covered 355 kilometers, the longest distance in a day since the rally left Las Vegas for Twin Springs Ranch during the Prologue a week ago. The stage started on the shores of the Colorado River at Pirate Cove Resort and headed south along the river past Blythe with 19 checkpoints (CPs) in play before an On Time Enduro. This particular enduro used a cross country roadbook common to rally raid events like the Dakar Rally. The format was a first for Rebelles, challenging them in a way that they have not previously experienced.
Rebelle Founder Emily Miller has been constantly refining the rally to make it more interesting, efficient, and challenging for staff and competitors alike based on feedback she receives. One comment that many teams have noted is their desire for the course to be more challenging for drivers and vehicles. STAGE 6 delivered, and had more than one of those teams realizing that they need to be careful for what they ask for. Steep, loose climbs, deep ravines, and rocky terrain were all served up in generous portions on STAGE 6. The sun had set long before many teams arrived in the final basecamp at Imperial Sand Dunes (aka Glamis).
Team #140 Killer Watt (Emme Hall / Rebecca Donaghe) earned their first stage win of the 2021 edition of the rally in their Rivian R1T, finishing one point ahead of Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit). The two teams had the same score on all 19 CPs except for 12X, where Team #140 Killer Watt got one more point by navigating closer the coordinates of the black CP. Team G.O.A.T. #150 (Shelby Hall / Penny Dale) finished third on the day in their Bone Stock Ford Bronco.
Team #129 4xEventures currently has a sizeable 57-point lead over Team Jeep Thrills #177 (Emily Benzie / Christine Benzie) heading into the final stage. Team #129 4xEventures has been aggressive and efficient throughout the rally, winning four out of six stages. Follow along at rebellerally.com/live to determine if they play it safe or swing for the fences on the final stage. Less than 20 points separate third place to sixth place, with Team #140 Killer Watt, Team #150 G.O.A.T., Team #188 Dirt Hustle (Laura Wanlass / Maria Guitar), and Team #106 Wild Grace (Lyn Woodward / Sedona Blison) all battling for a spot on the podium.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) edged out Team #202 Ford Performance (Cora Jokinen / Melissa Fischer) by one point. Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk) rounded out the top three for the day in their Kia Sorento PHEV. The course took its toll on the bumpers and skid plates on the X-Cross™ vehicles, which generally have smaller diameter tires and benefit from less ground clearance than vehicles in the 4x4 Class. Team #202 Ford Performance, Team #205 Watt Girl Summer, and Team #206 Giggle Watts are currently 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively in the X-Cross™ Class with one stage remaining.
The entire Rebelle Rally culminates on STAGE 7 Powered by TOTAL CHAOS in the vast, intimidating dunes of Glamis. Legacies have been created and dreams have been dashed in these dunes in equal parts over the past six years. The first cars off the line, Team #140 Killer Watt (Emme Hall / Rebecca Donaghe) and Team #107 The Luna Chicks (April Leone / Chelsea Weedon), depart at 7 AM PDT with vehicles leaving camp two car at a time at two-minute intervals. The Live Show presented by Lexus will start at 6:45 AM PDT. Tune in at rebellerally.com/live as co-hosts Rachelle Croft and Matthew Johnson discuss all things Rebelle on the final stage of the rally.
Daily Tech Tip- Why Is the Start Order Random?
Most multi-day rally events determine the starting order for a day from the previous day’s results. The Rebelle Rally is different in that each team draws a number out of a bucket at the end of almost every day to determine their starting order for the next day. “By making the starting order random we prevent the less experienced teams from just following the more experienced teams each day,” explained Scoring Director Chrissie Beavis. “We also set up more than one route to avoid teams from following each other.”
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- TOTAL CHAOS
The Rebelle Rally is in a class all on its own as a driving and navigation challenge, so it should not be surprising that the companies we choose to partner with are just as unique as we are. Case in point: TOTAL CHAOS Fabrication. Single-handedly responsible for the “midtravel” suspension segment with their introduction of the tubular Upper Control Arm (UCA) in 2002, TOTAL CHAOS Fabrication has been innovating for decades now, and they have been supporting the Rebelle Rally since its inception. Their control arms use race-quality components to increase wheel travel without the need for custom fabrication.
With TOTAL CHAOS’ commitment to quality, craftsmanship, customer service, and constant innovation, we are proud to call them our Official Suspension Partner. This year, TOTAL CHAOS built a brand-new Lexus GX460 for Emily Miller to pilot on the rally. Christened “Sea Biscuit,” the GX is fitted with a full host of TOTAL CHAOS components including their upper and lower control arms, spindle gussets, rear adjustable link arms, and more.
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
STAGE 5
October 13, 2021
Rebelle competitors spent the night near Rasor OHV Area on the marathon leg of the rally, where they self-camped without the luxuries of base camp. STAGE 5 took teams through Rasor before traversing through the Mojave Preserve. An On Route Enduro ensured that competitors maintained the proper speed on the famous Mojave Road while battling to accumulate as many points as possible. The rally then moved into previously uncharted Rebelle territory on the shores of the Colorado River at Pirate Cove Resort in Needles, California. 
Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit) finished first in the 4x4 Class yet again, continuing their dominance in the overall standings. Barlow owns Barlow Adventures, a Jeep rental business in Moab and Sedona, and is an accomplished off-road instructor. Petereit has won the Rebelle Rally twice is the past and finished on the podium in her other two years of competition, making her one of the most successful competitors in the event’s history.
Team #109 Don’t Hate, Triangulate (Jo Hannah Hoehn / Susie Saxton) finished second for the day in their brand-new Land Rover Defender, their highest finish in this edition of the rally. This moves them up to eighth place in the overall standings after a two-year hiatus. Team #106 Wild Grace (Lyn Woodward / Sedona Blinson) also had their highest finish of the year, in third place for the stage. The team has been incredibly consistent behind the wheel of their Nissan Frontier and are currently in third place overall with two stages remaining.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Team #202 Ford Performance (Cora Jokinen / Melissa Fischer) won STAGE 5 in their Ford Bronco Sport to increase their lead in the overall standings. Jokinen and Fisher competed together in the 4x4 Class in the first two editions of the Rebelle Rally, and Fisher is one of only six women to have competed in the event every year since its inception in 2016. Rounding out the day’s podium was the two Kia Sorento PHEV teams, with Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk) in second and Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) in third. STAGE 5’s winners mirror the overall standings with Team #202 Ford Performance, Team #205 Watt Girl Summer, and Team #206 Giggle Watts in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.
The first car off the line, Team #102 Sunset Chaser (Kristle Slason / Lois Slason), will go off the line at 7 AM PDT with vehicles leaving base camp at two-minute intervals. The Live Show presented by Lexus will start at 6:45 AM PDT. Tune in at rebellerally.com/live as co-hosts Rachelle Croft and Matthew Johnson give us an inside look of the STAGE 6 start line.
Daily Tech Tip- What is Bone Stock?
The Bone Stock Award is presented to the team and vehicle manufacturer that places highest in a vehicle that is exactly as delivered from the factory. The only allowable change is different tires, but even that is limited to the factory sizing. The Rebelle Rally has become a proving ground for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who recognize that surviving a week of punishment off-road is a badge of honor, with nine manufacturers entering vehicles in this year’s event. The 2021 edition of the Rebelle features nine Bone Stock vehicles competing in the rally from four different manufacturers.
BONE STOCK TEAMS
Team #109 Don’t Hate, Triangulate (Susie Saxten / Jo Hannah Hoehn)- 2021 Land Rover Defender 90
Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit)- 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xE
Team #131 4WP Belles (Victoria Bundrant / Kathryn Reinhardt)- 2021 Ford Bronco Bandlands Edition
Team #139 Veterans United (Amanda Brezina / Cindy Fajard)- 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Team #140 Killer Watt (Emme Hall / Rebecca Donaghe)- 2021 Rivian R1T
Team #150 GOAT (Shelby Hall / Penny Dale)- 2021 Ford Bronco
Team #177 Jeep Thrills (Christine Benzie / Emily Benzie)- 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xE
Team #184 Sass-quatch Rebelles (Kendra Miller / Eliza Coleman)- 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Team #202 Ford Performance (Melissa Fischer / Cora Jokinen)- 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Edition
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- KIA
“Movement That Inspires” is Kia’s new slogan, and it perfectly aligns with what the Rebelle stands for, with the rally serving as the ultimate inspiration for women across all different walks of life to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. The word “Kia” means to rise up, and that’s exactly what the new logo embodies – Kia rising up to the Rebelle Rally challenge. Kia is moving toward electrification with “Plan S” and Sorento PHEV is among the very first vehicles part of this new strategy, making it the perfect vehicle to participate in Rebelle Rally’s Electrified Designation. This marks the second year in a row Kia has participated in the Rebelle Rally. After finishing 2nd in the X-Cross class last year, Kia returned with two Sorento PHEVs (Team #205 and Team #206) for 2021.
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
STAGE 4
October 12, 2021
After a restless night at Big Dune in high winds, Rebelles channeled their energy to cover 320 kilometers for the first half of the Marathon Leg. Chef Drew Deckman and his talented crew also overcame adversity to provide a hearty breakfast to the competitors before they headed out on a two-day unsupported marathon leg with no food service, mechanic station, shower trailers, or any of the other luxuries found in basecamp.
Along the way they traveled through Ash Meadows, Tecopa Hot Springs, and Sperry Wash, searching for 18 checkpoints (CPs) scattered along the way. The normal fueling was canceled at the end of STAGE 3 due to the winds, and instead occurred on Tuesday morning. The result was that there was less time to gather CPs, forcing all the teams to prioritize and strategize to maximize their scores.
Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit) posted the top score of the day in the 4x4 Class in their Jeep Wrangler 4Xe to extend their lead in the overall standings. The mother and daughter team of #177 Jeep Thrills (Emily Benzie / Christine Benzie) earned the second highest score for the day in their own Jeep Wrangler 4Xe, narrowing the gap between them and Team #150 G.O.A.T. (Shelby Hall / Penny Dale) in the overall standings. Team #152 Toyota Way-Finders (Samantha Barber / Becky Brophy) were the top scoring rookies for STAGE 4, in eighth place in both the day and overall standings.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk) posted the top score for the day in their Kia Sorento PHEV, followed by rookies Team #204 MTNSUBI (Carey Lando / Laura Fino). Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) rounded out the podium for the day and are tied for first in the overall standings with Team #202 Ford Performance (Cora Jokinen / Melissa Fischer).
In the X-Cross™ Class, Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk) posted the top score for the day in their Kia Sorento PHEV, followed by rookies Team #204 MTNSUBI (Carey Lando / Laura Fino). Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) rounded out the podium for the day and are tied for first in the overall standings with Team #202 Ford Performance (Cora Jokinen / Melissa Fischer).
The starting order and start times for each team for STAGE 5 will be the same as STAGE 4. But without an official starting line, competitors are allowed to leave at their own pace, but no earlier than their STAGE 4 start time. STAGE 5 takes the competitors through Rasor OHV area and the edge of the Mojave Preserve on their way to the shores of the Colorado River for the first time in Rebelle history. Co-hosts Rachelle Croft and Matthew Johnson will be greeting competitors at the finish line. Tune in to rebellerally.com/live at 6 PM PDT for the live show with all the latest updates from the rally.
Daily Tech Tip- How to Follow the Rebelle Rally Standings
There are a variety of ways to follow the Rebelle Rally standings in real time as the event progresses. Clicking on rebellerally.com/live-tracking provides up-to-the-minute positions of competitors on course provided by YB Tracking and Iridium via the Rebelle Rally website or the YB Racing app for Apple and Android. For those that prefer tabular data, rebellerally.com/live-scoring has just about every statistic you could ever ask for. There are overall standings for the 4x4 and X-Cross™ classes, links to team bios, and individual CP scores for each day. Note that 4x4s are separated into Group A and Group B in order to prevent teams from playing follow-the-leader. The flowchart is a handy way to chart momentum of teams from day to day. No one has a perfect rally, and bouncing back from adversity is a critical skill for overall success.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- YETI
YETI spawned an entire market for upscale coolers with their roto-molded construction with no seams to split, crack, or leak over time. The handles are formed around a corrosion-proof aluminum rod so the hinge stops can’t be broken as they’re extended. “Yeti is aligned with and supports our sustainability and environmental commitment to not throwing away plastic bottles,” explained Rebelle Rally Founder Emily Miller. “The durability and the superior quality of their coolers and drinkware stands in stark contrast to the cheap, disposable of products of the past.”
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
STAGE 3
October 11, 2021
STAGE 3 of the Rebelle Rally tested the resilient mettle of Reblles, with 60 mile per hour winds laying waste to the course and basecamp, located between Death Valley and Area 51. Basecamp, located adjacent to Big Dune, south of Beatty, took a beating, seeing damage to main competitor’s tent, forcing Rebelles to rely on their required survival supplies to get through the night. 
Before the wind hit the sand, 4x4 Class competitors danced along the west side of Area 51 in their search for 24 checkpoints (CPs) over 245 kilometers. The X-Cross™ Class started in the sand of Big Dune, with moisture from the prior evening making the dunes easier to traverse than in the afternoon’s near-hurricane force winds. After crisscrossing mining roads and dodging wild burros outside Beatty, the teams passed through Rhyolite before crossing into Death Valley National Park.
The plan was for teams to run an On Time Enduro followed by their first On Route Enduro through Titus Canyon. The goal of On Time Enduro is to maintain a prescribed speed. The On Route Enduro awards points for staying as close to the prescribed route as possible. This was a challenge with white out conditions as the wind rushed through the canyon. All competitors were clearly instructed at the beginning of the day that the storm was imminent and they needed to have food, water, an sleeping bags with them on the course. They returned to a basecamp ravaged by the storm, with tents full of sand and dinner consisting of Mountain House meals as the crew and competitors alike waited out the storm.
Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit) created a storm of their own, posting the top score for the day to increase their lead in the overall standings. They duo was able to bag several optional checkpoints, with black CP 22X allowing them to edge out Team #150 GOAT (Shelby Hall / Penny Dale) for the day.
Team #150 GOAT are currently in third place in the overall standings, just three points behind Team Jeep Thrills #177 (Emily Benzie / Christine Benzie), who finished fourth on STAGE 3. Team #154 Roads Less Traveled (Tiffany Walker / Rori Lewis) took third for the day, demonstrating that they are settling into the new (to them) format of optional X checkpoints after taking last year off.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Kia Sorento PHEVs took the top two spots with Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) finishing in first place and increasing their lead in the overall standings. Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk) finished in second for the day ahead of Team #201 Sol Seekers (Lisa Wolford / Noelle Sanders) rounded out the top three on STAGE 3 in their Subaru Crosstrek.
STAGE 4 takes the competitors from Big Dune to Dumont Dunes via Ash Meadows for the first half of the Marathon. The first two cars go off the line side by side at 7 AM PDT with vehicles leaving camp at three minute intervals, and the live show will start at 6:45 AM PDT. Tune in at rebellerally.com/live as co-hosts Rachelle Croft and Matthew Johnson lay out what is in store for competitors and fans on STAGE 4.
Daily Tech Tip- What is a Marathon?
A Marathon takes place over multiple days with minimal outside support (only fueling is allowed). The teams are required to carry all of their own camping gear and cook for themselves, without the luxuries of basecamp. Mountain House freeze dried meals substitute for Drew Deckman's cuisine and there are no showes or bathrooms. Many competitors mention the Marathon as the most memorable night of the rally, where lifelong friendships are formed in the middle of the desert.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- Iridium
Iridium may be a new official partner, but the Rebelle knows the company well, having invested in their satellite communication systems and Iridium-enabled products since the inaugural rally in 2016. The rally, competitors, and fans watching from afar count on Iridium far more than most realize.
Not only do competitors utilize Iridium for safety communications through traditional satellite phones and YB trackers, the Rebelle's operational backbone is powered by Iridium. “The Rebelle Rally elevates women across the globe, empowering them to push their limits, and is a good reminder that speed isn’t everything without focus on precision and quality,” says Suzi McBride, chief operations officer, Iridium and driver for Team #133 Stormtrooper. “It’s been thrilling to be part of this community as a Rebelle participant and to firsthand experience the significance of Iridium’s role as the official safety and communications partner in keeping participants connected during the competition.
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
STAGE 2 Powered by Pirelli
October 10, 2021
The second stage of the 2021 Rebelle Rally, powered by Pirelli tires, started with an On Time Enduro through wide open valleys and tight canyons lined with pinion pines. The enduro ended in Big Smokey Valley at the northern end of Area 51. After the enduro, teams traded their rally computers for maps and compasses to navigate their way to the day’s checkpoints (CPs). The stage covered 330 kilometers and 17 CPs as it wound its way through the Great Basin. For the first time since 2018, the course returned to the cool and quirky International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield, Nevada en route to Big Dune. Located in the Amargosa Valley between Las Vegas and Beatty, Big Dune provides the first glimpse of the sand in store for 2021 Rebelle competitors.
The course produced vehicular carnage for teams who got overly aggressive, resulting in broken axles, bent skid-plates, and flat tires. None of the punctures occurred to the competitors or numerous course workers running Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, which have withstood all the punishment they have been subjected to thus far on the Rebelle Rally.
The mechanical team will be working well into the night to get competitors back out on course for STAGE 3. Of those who were more prudent on STAGE 2, the mother and daughter duo of Team #177 Jeep Thrills (Emily Benzie / Christine Benzie) took the top spot for the day, moving them into second place overall in the 4x4 Class. For their efforts as the winners of STAGE 2, Team #177 will receive a set of Pirelli tires.
Want your own set of Pirelli tires?
Pirelli and Rebelle Rally have teamed up to give you the chance to win a set of four Pirelli tires from the Scorpion™, Cinturato™, or P ZERO™ families.
Team #129 4xEventures (Nena Barlow / Teralin Petereit) maintained the lead in the overall standings, finishing in a tie for second, just one point behind Team #177 for the day. Also in the second-place spot was Team #188 Dirt Hustle (Laura Wanlass / Maria Guitar), moving them up to fifth in the overall standings.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Team #206 Giggle Watts (Verena Mei / Tana White) posted the top score of the day in their Kia Sorento PHEV to move ahead of Team #202 Ford Performance (Melissa Fisher / Cora Jokinen) in the overall standings. Fisher and Jokinen finished third for the day after Team #205 Watt Girl Summer (Sabrina Howells / Alyssa Roenigk) who took second place.
STAGE 3 starts at 7 AM PDT with cars leaving the line two at a time at three-minute intervals for a day filled with sand dunes, dry lakebeds, and a drive through Death Valley National Park. Team #103 CWG (Kristie Levy / Rachael Ridenour) and Team 201 Sol Seekers (Lisa Wolford / Noelle Sanders) will be the first teams off the line, and the live show will start at 6:45 AM PDT. Tune in at rebellerally.com/live as co-hosts Rachelle Croft and Matthew Johnson lay out what is in store for competitors and fans on STAGE 3.
Daily Tech Tip- What Are Optional X CPs?
Some checkpoints (CPs) have an optional alternative (designated by an X) that is harder in terms of either driving and/or navigation. Since it is more difficult, the X options are worth more points. Teams must choose to either pursue the normal CP or the X CP, but not both. Difficulty and time management are important when determining the best course of action for each team.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- Pirelli
“Tires are the critical link between your vehicle and the terrain,” Rebelle Rally Founder Emily Miller shared. “Their importance in an event that spans eight days of competition and over 2,200 punishing kilometers of terrain cannot be overstated.” That is why the Rebelle Rally partnered with Pirelli this year and equipped several staff vehicles with Pirelli's flagship light truck tire, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus. The Scorpion All Terrain Plus are developed for drivers of SUVs, pickups, and crossovers who want to strike a balance between on-road civility and off-road capability with minimal compromises. Pirelli is also the tire of choice for Rivian on their fully electric R1T truck. The Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus carried Rebelle Rally veterans Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe to a top ten finish in the highly competitive 4x4 Class in 2020 and never suffered from a puncture across the entire event.
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
STAGE 1
October 9, 2021
Rookie Rebelles got thrown into the deep end of the pool right off the bat on STAGE 1 of the 2021 edition of the rally. STAGE 1 covered 285 kilometers and included 20 checkpoints (CPs) for the 4x4 Class and 19 CPs for the X- Cross™ Class and an On Time Enduro. The course consisted of a figure eight through Lunar Crater National Natural Landmark with three scoring groups to keep teams from following one another. The southern loop of the course had numerous optional CPs with rocky, technical terrain that required precise tire placement. Carnage included a broken strut mount that took out an axle shaft, broken shock mounts, a flat tire, and more.
Many veteran teams commented that this stage contained the most diverse terrain and landscape of any single stage to date. The start was long and difficult, delivering on the promise that the Rebelle Rally is a challenge. Nena Barlow and Teralin Petereit of Team #129 4xEventures were the first off the line and posted the top score for the day in their Jeep Wrangler 4xE. They were followed by the Rivian R1T of Team #140 Killerwatt (Emme Hall / Rebeca Donaghe) and Team #150 G.O.A.T. (Shelby Hall / Penny Dale) in their Ford Bronco. Samantha Barber and Becky Brophy of Team #152 Toyota Way-Finders in their “She-Quoia” were the only rookies in top ten after STAGE 1, finishing in 8th place for the day.
In the X-Cross™ Class, Original Rebelles Cora Jokinen and Melissa Fisher of Team #202 Ford Performance posted the top score in their Ford Bronco Sport. They were followed closely by Team #206 Giggle Watts in the Kia Sorrento PHEV piloted by Tana White and her teammate Verena Mei, who is new to the Rebelle Rally but not to rally. Team #219 Wunder On (Kaitlin Mason / Renee Vento) rounded out the top three in X-Cross™ on STAGE 1.
Team #129 4xEventures will be the first out of the line at 7 AM Pacific Time on Sunday morning for STAGE 2 Powered by Pirelli en route to the next basecamp at Big Dune. The basecamps contain, amongst other things, sanitized mobile showers and bathrooms, a remote fueling truck, a Renewable Innovations charging station for the EVs, a full mobile repair station, and a food tent staffed by Michelin star chef Drew Deckman and his talented crew from Deckman’s in Guadalupe Valley, Baja, Mexico.
Daily Tech Tip- Is The Rebelle Rally A Race
The Rebelle Rally is NOT a race, it is a competition. It differs from a traditional race where speed is a priority to finish as quickly as possible. By contrast, the Rebelle Rally is about precision, not speed. Precise navigation and precise driving. There is no GPS, no pre-running, and you don’t need a highly modified vehicle to be successful at the Rebelle Rally. “My vision was to create an event that rewards intelligence, proper planning, and attention to detail,” Rebelle Founder Emily Miller explained. Over eight days, teams comprised of two women (one driver, one navigator) use maps, compasses, and roadbooks to navigate to multiple CPs and Enduros in a prescribed amount of time. Some CPs are visibly marked by a flag and course worker (Green CPs), while others are marked by a small flag or PVC pipe (Blue CPs). Black CPs offer the greatest challenge, with no visible reference on the ground. Teams check in at each CP with their tracker, and the closer they are to the exact Black CP location the more points they receive.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- onX Offroad
“The onX Offroad App has been a game changer when I am setting the course for the rally,” Rebelle Rally Founder Emily Miller revealed. “This year we have an all-new route starting on the Hoover Dam, and the ability to determine land ownership in real-time has removed all the guesswork from determining where the route can go.” onX has been been a mainstay in the hunting world for the past decade, with land ownership information being just one of the distinctions that sets them apart from other mapping apps. The same framework used for hunting was applied to the 4x4 market and customized for the unique experience of going off-road, including the ability to filter trails by vehicle type, create waypoints to share with friends, and upload KML and GPX files ahead of time.
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
Prologue
October 8, 2021
The 2021 Rebelle Rally kicked into high gear with the 52 teams leaving the Westin in Lake Las Vegas in one-minute intervals bound for Twin Springs Ranch, Nevada. Considered “Day Zero” of the Rebelle Rally, the prologue allows teams to get a feel for the competition format at the rally in an unscored day of competition. Consisting of the two key elements of the event, today’s objectives lead the teams to discover checkpoints via coordinates plotted on a map and navigated to with a compass; and an “On Time Enduro”, where the goal is to read navigation notes from a road book and cover a route as close as possible to the target time listed in the book. There were eight checkpoints (CPs) and one enduro along the prologue, which spanned 380 kilometers.
To reach the Base Camp, teams traveled to the east side of Area 51 past the towns of Alamo and Rachel, climbing into the Star Range amongst high winds and sporadic rain. The views from this ranges are not only breathtaking; they also serve as useful visual markers when navigating on a heading. Rather than the normal random start, the prologue was used to determine the start order for STAGE 1 with the first car off the line at 7 AM Pacific Time and teams leaving at two-minute intervals.
STAGE 1 will ramp up the competition with 20 CPs over a 275-kilometer course that starts and ends at the first Base Camp at Twin Springs Ranch, a historic cattle ranch run by Anna Falini and her family. Anna is a graduate of Cal Poly who was pulled back to Great Basin by the wide-open spaces and beauty offered by the desert.
Want to learn more about the women competing in the Rebelle Rally? Team bios are live now at www.rebellerally.com/2021-teams/
Daily Tech Tip- Is The Rebelle Rally A Race
The Rebelle Rally is NOT a race, it is a competition. It differs from a traditional race where speed is a priority to finish as quickly as possible. By contrast, the Rebelle Rally is about precision, not speed. Precise navigation and precise driving. There is no GPS, no pre-running, and you don’t need a highly modified vehicle to be successful at the Rebelle Rally. “My vision was to create an event that rewards intelligence, proper planning, and attention to detail,” Rebelle Founder Emily Miller explained. Over eight days, teams comprised of two women (one driver, one navigator) use maps, compasses, and roadbooks to navigate to multiple checkpoints (CPs) and RECs in a prescribed amount of time. Some CPs are visibly marked by a flag and course worker (Green CPs), while others are marked by a small flag or PVC pipe (Blue CPs). Black CPs offer the greatest challenge, with no visible reference on the ground. Teams check in at each CP with their tracker, and the closer they are to the exact Black CP location the more points they receive.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- Lexus
Lexus is no stranger to the Rebelle Rally, with live show host Rochelle Croft of Expedition Overland winning the event in 2019 behind the wheel of a Bone Stock Lexus GX460. The brand mirrors the Rebelle Rally’s philosophy that luxury and capability do not have to be at odds. The Lexus GX460 and LX570 have both carried teams to the podium in the past, all while requiring zero repairs or maintenance during the grueling Rebelle Rally, which covers over 2,000 kilometers of inhospitable desert terrain. Lexus is presenting live daily coverage throughout the event from the technical inspection at Hoover Dam on October 7th through the final show in Glamis on October 16th. The live show (found at www.rebellerally.com/live) is the best way to follow the intricacies of the Rebelle Rally each day as the competition unfolds.
Watch the Day 1 - Tech Inspection Live from the Hoover Dam
Rebelle Rally Field Update:
Tech Inspection
Hoover Dam, AZ
October 7, 2021
The Rebelle Rally is a driving and navigation rally that spans over ten days and 2,275 kilometers across the wilds of Nevada and California, making it the longest competitive off-road navigation rally in the United States. Teams from across North America converged at the Westin in Lake Las Vegas, the starting point for this year’s rally. The morning starting with a welcome to the 52 teams - a completely sold-out event. Next up was rally school, where rookies and veterans alike were briefed on the competition format, scoring, penalties, safety, and etiquette, amongst other topics.
The past five years the Rebelle has started in the Lake Tahoe area, but this year the event traded one stunning shore for another - the Hoover Dam. With Tech Inspection held the Arizona side of the dam, the Rebelle is technically a three-state rally this for the first time ever. An engineering feat that was a critical component to establishing the American Southwest, there’s nothing more impressive than standing on the edge of the Hoover Dam.
Technical Inspection was designed for efficiency to accommodate a record number of teams, with each vehicle entering one at a time at specific intervals to receive their Iridium satellite phones, apply team numbers, and mount Yellow Brick trackers that allow live tracking of team positions on course. Starting on the Hoover Dam allows the rally to cover previously uncharted terrain through the beautiful and remote desert of the Southwest.
Rebelle Rally founder Emily Miller and Course Director Jimmy Lewis have spent years working tireless with national, state, and local agencies in order to access the areas used in the rally. “The dedication of our staff and the actions of our teams are the only way this is possible,” Miller explained. The competition kicks off at 7 AM on Friday morning with an unscored prologue to prepare teams for the challenges that await.
As the name implies, the Bone Stock Award is for the best finisher in a vehicle that is exactly as delivered from the factory. All parts must be OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). No modifications are allowed beyond aftermarket wheels and tires. The Rebelle Rally has become a proving ground for OEMs, with factory entries from ten manufacturers this year including Jeep, Ford, Mitsubishi, Kia, Toyota, Honda, Porsche, Volkswagen, Nissan, and Rivian.
Daily Tech Tip- How Can I Follow The Rebelle Rally?
There are a number of ways to follow the Rebelle Rally as the competition unfolds each day, including:
Live Webcast and tracking at www.rebellerally.com/live
Download the YB Races app and add the 2021 Rebelle Rally
Daily Updates- Sign up for our newsletter list on our website at www.rebellerally.com
Follow us on:
Facebook www.facebook.com/rebellerally
Twitter @rebellerally
YouTube www.youtube.com/rebellerally
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT- Scrubblade
As partner of the Rebelle Rally, Scrubblade was onsite at Tech Inspection today installing wiper blades for every interested team and course worker. "Scrubblade started as an idea on a piece of paper, and much like the Rebelle Rally itself, we’ve had to navigate through many obstacles in the course of doing business," explained company founder Billy Westbrook. "Every checkpoint along this journey we have built our strength and grown as both individuals and a business. Once we had the opportunity to meet the people behind the Rebelle Rally, we realized that this organization was more than a race. The impact the rally has on women we find truly amazing and are excited to see the growth in this industry.”
The crew from Scrubblade will also be a part of the Awards Ceremony, co-presenting the Team Spirit Award. Want to know more? Check out our interview with Westbrook here.
About the Rebelle Rally
The Rebelle Rally is the longest competitive off-road rally in the United States. Traversing over 2,500 kilometers through Nevada and California’s iconic terrain, it is an endurance competition for women consisting of precision driving and navigating - not fastest speed.
The competition is innovative and unique, using maps, compass, roadbooks and strategy - known as Rebelle Format. GPS and other electronic devices are strictly prohibited. Remote and off-grid for eight competition days, the Rebelle Rally is considered a providing ground for people, products and stock manufacturer vehicles.
To learn more, visit www.rebellerally.com.
Follow live October 7-16, 2021 @ rebellerally.com/live.
