Rebelle Rally

Back in Issue 24 of OutdoorX4 Magazine’s Gear Guide, contributing author Harry Wagner wrote an engaging article on the 2017 Rebelle Rally and highlighted the uniqueness of this women’s only vehicle-based competition.

The Rebelle Rally is a unique and traditional navigational competition held each October. This rally was started in 2016, by Emily S. Miller, a successful rally race driver and off-road instructor. It isn’t a race for speed, but a challenging vehicular-based event that uses your navigation skills and driving wits to find hidden checkpoints across the Nevada and California desert, as well as Glamis sand dunes. Rally teams need to find each checkpoint at the right time, in the right distance, while only using only maps, compass, and a road book.

There is no pre-requisite for the Rebelle Rally, other than to be a woman, have a 4×4 or an AWD crossover (whether you borrow, rent, or own it), and have at least $12,000 to pay for entry fees, equipment, etc. Registration for the competition closes on September 10^th, 2018 or when all team spots are filled up.

No technology is allowed during the 10-day rally. Teams of two surrender their phones, Wi-Fi enabled DSLRs, GPSs, and all other tracking/navigational helpers. It’s returning to a time when explorers navigated with map and compass, vs. a TomTom to tell them where to turn.

My Rebelle Rally partner for 2018 is Elise Bent. She lives in Bozeman, Montana but is originally from Sundre, Alberta. I’ve known Elise through overland rallies and events. She and her husband, Josh, own Bomber Products, a company that specializes in selling products to help folks make vehicle-centric adventures possible. During the last few years Elise and I become friends and hoped someday we’d compete in the Rebelle Rally together. This year, the dream is becoming a reality! I’ll be the driver and Elise the navigator.

The Rebelle Rally will be a serious undertaking requiring us to improve our driving expertise, hone traditional navigation skills, raise funds for entrance fees, drum up a team logo, and write about our journey. As an excited team of two, we’re full of determination, energy, and the will to conquer the Rebelle Rally this October. Stay tuned for monthly OutdoorX4 Rebelle Rally web updates.

We’re known as: Team Free Range Dames. Be sure to follow us on our journey!

Instagram: teamfreerangedames, elise.bent, mercedes_lilienthal
Facebook: Team Free Range Dames
Website: Team Free Range Dames
GoFundMe: Team Free Range Dames

* OutdoorX4 Magazine – Promoting responsible 4×4 adventure travel and outdoor recreation