Frequently Asked Questions

We will not publish the course until the day of each stage. Currently, we have several Base Camps and one Self-camp night. This is subject to change. Be prepared for the adventure. We will post a general course update just prior to the start. You will receive maps of the roads and Base Camps for safety purposes at the start.

Navigation Skills:

• Knowing how to read a map
• Knowing how to use a compass
• Knowing how to use a plotter
• Plotting latitude and longitude on a map
• Triangulation
• Route planning
• Reading pace notes/tulip notes
• Understanding pace
• Basic understanding of angles (geometry)
• Good communication and organization skills

Driving Skills & Knowledge:

• Knowing how and when to use 4 wheel drive (high range & low range)
• Understanding traction control & throttle control
• Knowing how to judge appropriate speed for the terrain
• Ability to read terrain
• Tire placement
• Knowing your vehicle’s capabilities and limitations
• Negotiating rocks, sand, loose dirt, washouts and ruts, etc.
• Sand dune technique
• Knowing your capabilities and limitations as a driver & making good, safe decisions
• Changing a tire
• Managing a vehicle’s fluids
• Knowing how to get a vehicle unstuck

The Rebelle Rally is open to stock vehicles. Vehicles must be street legal. Vehicles must be plated, and able to travel at posted speed limits on all roads including Interstates. Items such as roll cages and harnesses are not required. Skid plates and reinforced bumpers are good options.
Please contact the rally staff to inquire about specific vehicle questions.

4×4

• 4-wheel drive vehicles with a two-speed transfer case (low range)
• Examples: Jeep Wrangler/Rubicon, pickup trucks and SUVs including Toyota Tacoma 4×4, Chevy Colorado, Land Rover / Range Rover

X-Cross™

• Unibody construction and two-wheel or all-wheel drive (no low range)
• Examples: Subaru Forrester/Outback, Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota RAV4, etc.

For vehicles in question, please contact the rally staff.

This is an important section that takes place on October 10th (location TBA). This will allow us to meet with you to distribute necessary items, install tracking, check for required items, register for fuel service, etc. Time schedule of the 12th will be announced by July 1st.  The day is expected to start early with Welcome Meeting and Rally School. You can view a sample Tech Inspection sheet here.

You can view a list of required items below or in PDF form here.

Overview:

We have designed an interesting course that is fun to drive (in our book!) and respectful to our desert environment. It is composed of the primary portion of challenges – called Compass & Map Challenges. The secondary challenges are called Rebelle Enduro Challenges (REC) whereby competitors use roadbooks to remain “on route” and in some challenges, “on time” factoring in time, speed, distance for average speed (at or under speed limits). Our goal is that when you finish, you have tested and sharpened your driving skills, and definitely sharpened several different types of navigation skills. The Rebelle Rally combines multiple types of navigation/driving challenges including the following items:

• Navigation to checkpoints (CPs)
• Checkpoint accuracy
• Time, speed, distance sections between CPs
• Checkpoint decisions factoring in skill, time, strategy
• Roadbook reading (including pace notes/tulips) & management
• Plotting checkpoint Latitude and Longitudes
• Plotting distance and heading
• Route choice
• Map reading

The primary navigation tools are compass, plotter, ruler, calculator, and scales. The rally supplies the maps, roadbook, scorecard, and daily CP Guide detailing the CP locations and key information. We also recommend a stopwatch and Terratrip or non-GPS odometer for the navigator to use as a reference. Key information for the day’s leg will be given in the mandatory daily competitor briefings.

The checkpoints are rated as green, blue, and black, indicating the level of difficulty in finding the CP and what to expect then they “see” it. A green CP is marked with a prominent green flag and course official. A blue CP is marked with a smaller blue flag for marking such as a blue, Rebelle branded stake. A black CP bears no physical marking, and competitors must get within the “bullseye” to get points. All competitors have a handheld Iridium tracking device that they signal when at the CP. You only have one chance to signal the tracker. The tracker gives a time stamp and latitude/longitude coordinate which the team records on their scorecard. Signaling the tracker more than once at the location to “try again” or to get a coordinate to help pinpointing your location results in a penalty.

Rebelle Enduro Challenges involve a specific prescribed route with an assigned start time, and in some RECs, assigned target average speeds through the route.

Time controls will be encountered along the route, indicated by a sign at the right side of the road, (not necessarily noted in the route book) where competitors’ time of passage will be recorded by control workers. The goal of competitors is to follow the route and maintain assigned target speeds as closely as possible, points are awarded for being “on time” at each time control. Competitors should continue at the prescribed average speed without stopping or slowing at or immediately after a passage timing control, as doing so will be unsafe and disruptive. Each REC section will finish just before a Green Checkpoint unless otherwise denoted, which is dealt with in the usual manner, and after which the time constraints no longer apply. Points are awarded for ideal “on-time” passage at each timing control.

Penalty points are subtracted from the overall score. The team with the highest score is the winner of the Rebelle Rally. No team will be eligible to win if they have been penalized for outside assistance. In the unlikely occurrence all teams receive outside assistance, the winner will be the team with the highest score.

Prior to the event, the exact route is only known by the course and land management officials and not published until the day of competition.

Please see the following helpful slide below:

Rebelle Competition & Scoring Visual

Your safety is a top priority. Teams will receive two tracking devices, and one satellite phone. These units will be installed and distributed at Technical Inspection. This allows the course officials to track your vehicle and checkpoints. You will have the ability to call the safety officials in case of an emergency, and for rally officials to communicate with you. If teams cannot find the evening Base Camp, competitors will be contacted after the close of the final CP and assisted back to the Base Camp.

The Rebelle Rally offers an introductory navigation course webcast and online supporting materials.

Additional driving and navigation courses will be held starting in March and continue through September. These are not designed to teach how to win the Rebelle, but to build strong off-road driving and navigation skills.  A schedule is posted online. We encourage you to do additional training to sharpen your skills. For driving courses or training, search your local area, or contact local off-road or vehicle or Jeep clubs.  These can be excellent resources.   For navigation, we recommend checking with your local REI for a map and compass class, and checking your local area for orienteering clubs, as these outlets can be great practice for getting to “know where you are and where you are going.”

Driving:

Driving courses are offered by several reputable outlets across the country.

Arizona area:
Barlow Adventures
Contact: Nena Barlow
928.282.8700

The 4×4 Center (Vermont)
www.the4x4center.com

All teams have a designated mechanics team provided by the rally. You can use the mechanic services at the base camp at night to check and fix your vehicle as needed. You must bring your own spares.  Competitors can work on their own vehicles and will have access to a neutral location in the mechanics area.

If your car breaks down on the course and you cannot fix it or limp it to the Base Camp, use your supplied tracking equipment to contact officials. A team of mechanics will come to your vehicle, assess the problem, and fix it if possible. If it cannot be fixed in the field or at the Base Camp, we will call a tow company. The tow company will tow the vehicle to the nearest primary city (Reno, Las Vegas, Riverside, San Diego, etc.). You will stay with your vehicle until it is repaired. You will have a rally point of contact. You will stay in communication with that point of contact and inform them of progress and your schedule. You can come back to the rally to continue the competition (although you will have missed checkpoints) regardless of what day you return. Towing and repairs that are done in a city, and not at the rally, and your expenses while away from the rally, will be paid for by the particular team.

No. You may work on the vehicle yourself in the mechanics pit. We also have Milwaukee Tools for your use in the pit. ADDITIONALLY, the rally provides a mechanics pool overseen by Chief Mechanic, Nick Cimmarusti. This top team provides mechanic service to fix specific issues and keep your vehicle running if possible.  You receive a specific amount of time with the mechanics without penalty, and lengthy fixes with penalty. You will be responsible for managing fluids, tire pressure, etc. 

A fuel truck will be onsite at the Base Camps and predetermined locations on the Marathon Stage. Competitors will fuel in the evening or prior to morning departure. You are not allowed to carry jerry cans of fuel. You are allowed a properly ventilated accessory fuel tank (must be approved by rally official.) We recommend your vehicle can travel between 250- 300 miles on one tank of fuel.

YES! We encourage it – from stickers to partial and full wraps – it allows you to show off your sponsors and add your personal touch to your team and vehicle. Vehicle wraps can also help protect the paint from pinstriping. However, please refer to guidelines as the rally will have specific locations for required rally decals (including rally sponsors). Rally decals will be applied by rally staff at technical inspections.

Prepared vehicles can be rented. Barlow Adventures has a specific Rebelle rental package:

Barlow Adventures
Nena Barlow
(928) 282-8700
Vehicle Types: Jeep Wrangler – with modifications

Any device that has connectivity and a way to get information provided by the connection such as a screen or speaker is not permitted. Examples of connections are Global Positioning System (GPS), cellular, internet, WiFi, bluetooth, satellite, etc.

• Prohibited item examples: phones, GPS units, ipods, computers, smart watches, family radios, tablets, e-readers
• Allowed item examples: ipod shuffle, digital watch, stopwatch

Cameras are an exception to this rule: a dedicated camera may have wifi or bluetooth capabilities as long as it has no other capabilities such as GPS.

Below is a list of prohibited items, but please ensure you read the Rulebook clearly for detailed information:

• Calculators that perform functions beyond addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Cameras that have any images or information stored on it from prior to the start of the Rally. All images and files must be deleted at the time that prohibited items are sealed.
• Digital or otherwise powered compasses. Compasses that are OEM fall under the Rule 3.1.2.3
• Binoculars
• Zoom lenses greater than 200mm or 12x zoom lens capabilities.
• Personal maps with a scale less than 1:500000.
• Two-way radios.
• Rally computer that has a TSD mode that corrects or provides information for course corrections, deviations, calculation corrections including (but not limited to): Alfa Elite, Timewise, Rally GDP, TSD Rally Runner, RallyCore XSI, etc.
• Medications or drugs that have not been approved by the rally (see Rule 1.3.5.)

A note about manufacturer installed items – GPS sensors, compasses, and other connectivity devices not used for navigation that are pre-installed by the manufacturer as original equipment for purchase by the public are not deemed prohibited, but may be covered or disabled at the Technical Director’s discretion.

Use of the prohibited items during the event is cause for immediate disqualification.

All prohibited items as listed below must be submitted at Technical Inspection within a padded or “Pelican” type case marked clearly with the team number and name. Competitors will provide their own case. Below is the protocol for carrying prohibited items during the rally:

• Recording Of – All prohibited items will be recorded at Technical Inspection and sealed by Rally Officials prior to the start of competition (usually upon arrival at the first Base Camp).
• Daily Inspections – Each day, participants will show the finish line staff their sealed prohibited items. Staff will inspect the seals to ensure that they have not been tampered with or opened.
• Emergency Use Of – Only in the event of an absolute emergency may participants open the sealed container. If deemed used for any reason other than an emergency and a last option for communication, the team will be disqualified from the Rebelle Rally.
• Post Event – Teams will be permitted use of these items upon crossing the finish line of the final stage.

Please ensure you read the Rulebook carefully for detailed information. 

You cannot use your cell phone until after the event. However, there will be available phones at the Base Camp for emergencies, and important calls. You will check in with rally staff to use the phone.

Rebelle Tools:

• Compass
• Map (supplied by the rally)
• Plotter
• Ruler (with metric scale)
• Minute ruler / lat long scale
• Roadbook (supplied by rally)
• Map board
• Pencils
• Calculator

Resources for purchase:

COMPASS:

We recommend SUUNTO products as we have found them to be reliable and durable.  We prefer two models in particular – MC-2 and KB 20 models.  We highly recommend adventurers should always keep a compass with a sighting mirror in your kit.  The MC-2G has a global needle and works anywhere.  If you travel out of the country, this is the model for you.  Don’t forget to double up on key items such as compass, plotters, scales.  You would not want to lose one!

SCALES:

We recommend using scales for the specific maps you are working with.   We recommend purchasing from maptools.com.  This scales include lat/lon on one side and distance scales in km/miles on the other.  Click the link below.  These scales listed are the typical map scales in the rally: 

• 1:50,000 scale
• 1:100,000
• 1:200,000

Please note that navigators should understand scale and how to improvise without a pre-made scale. 

PLOTTER:

You will need a plotter (Breton or Portland) that has a moveable compass rose, similar to the ones in the video.  There are several outlets to purchase.

Try this one or look for similar products – Weems & Plath

MAP BOARD:

You will want a firm surface to attach your maps to.  This helps for plotting, and map work while in and out of the vehicle.  We recommend a rectangular surface in the range of 18″x20″ or similar.  Please note that you will want something durable and lightweight.  Cardboard works just fine, but be cautious to not use something that could be dangerous or cause harm in an accident.