Top Ten Most Unforgettable Moments on the Rebelle Rally
May 28th, 2025
Escaping wildfires on Day 1 of the very first Rebelle Rally. A food truck stuck for hours. A mid-course engine swap. Tents launched into orbit.
We pulled together ten rally moments that pushed limits, rewrote the script, and still have the team shaking their heads (and sometimes laughing).
1. The Windstorm of All Windstorms – 2021
In 2021, 70+ mph winds slammed basecamp at Big Dune, forcing teams — and staff — to sleep in their vehicles for safety. By morning, the aftermath was surreal: tents were shredded or gone completely, some found miles away, in one of the most intense nights the Rebelle has ever seen. Shoutout to the food team who camped in the REFRIGERATOR truck to bring a hot breakfast to Basecamp 2.
2. First (and Only) Tie – 2018
You can prepare for a lot on the Rebelle, but a tie? No one saw that coming — yet in 2018, two Jeep teams crossed the finish line with identical scores: Michelle Laframboise/Elise Racette and Emme Hall/Rebecca Donaghe.
3. Rolls-Royce Cullinan Breaks the Mold – 2019
In 2019, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan entered the Rebelle and did more than just survive — it won the X-Cross™ class. The Cullinan redefined what luxury looks like off-road, proving grit and grace can go hand in hand.
4. Fire, Bears, Satellite Fails — Oh My! – 2016
The inaugural rally wasn’t just breaking trail — it was putting out fires (literally), relocating camps, dealing with global satellite outages, and dodging a bear or two. Call it chaos or a crash course in resilience — either way, it set the tone for everything the Rebelle would become.
5. The Great Food Truck Fiasco – 2016
In a tragic betrayal, Google Maps led our large, movie-set-sized catering truck straight into a sand trap—where it stayed stuck for hours in the desert heat until an army of 12 MAXTRAX, lots of digging, and sheer staff determination finally freed it. Miraculously, dinner was still served that night… with a little extra crunch.
6. First EV to Win the Rebelle Rally — 2023
What once seemed improbable is now a defining moment in Rebelle history: a fully electric vehicle taking first place in the 4×4 class. Rivian engineers Lilly Macaruso and Alex Anderson piloted their R1T to the top—quietly, confidently, and without a single drop of fuel thanks to remote charging by Renewable Innovations. Progress doesn’t just look different. It drives different.
7. The Mid-Rally Heart Transplant – 2024
On the way to the first base camp, Team 193’s engine gave out with a sickening rod knock — the only original part left on a truck that had been rebuilt from the ground up. Thanks to a miracle relay of drivers, a performance engine from LCE, and Rebelle’s legendary mechanics (Thanks Pennzoil!), the heart swap happened in under 12 hours… and they didn’t even miss Prologue.
8. Renewable Innovations Replaces Generators with Solar – 2020
Basecamp went quiet — not from fatigue, but innovation. Renewable Innovations brought solar tech that silenced the generators and powered the rally with sunflowers and sustainability.
9. Rainstorm on the Gala in Glamis – 2022
Just as the sequins came out, so did the storm—right before our inaugural uncovered gala in the sand dunes. With zero time and nowhere dry, we pivoted to a plan B we didn’t even know existed. Thanks to our all-star crew, led by Steph Prater, the first indoor Glamis gala came to life—complete with candlelight, champagne, and yes, a literal calm after the storm. Added bonus? The photos from that evening were absolutely stunning—storm-lit skies and all.
10. Tech Inspection on Hoover Dam – 2021
Only the Rebelle Rally could turn Tech Inspection into a full-on landmark moment. In 2021, competitors lined up atop the iconic Hoover Dam, ready to make history.
