Where Are They Now: Thayer Gray
November 24th, 2025
- Years Competed: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023
- Teammates: Penny Dale, Kathy Locke, April Leone
- Vehicle: Land Rover, Toyota FJ Cruiser
We’re down to our second-to-last Where Are They Now of 2025, and this month we’re catching up with the unstoppable Thayer Gray. Buckle up for a good one as Thayer tells us everything she’s conquered since the Rebelle and how a woman who once worried about folding a tent ended up driving Baja and beyond!
A New Life Built on Courage, Clarity, and Grit
When Thayer Gray entered her first Rebelle Rally in 2018, she had no idea how much the experience would shape her future. Since that first year, she has navigated major personal changes, discovered a love for solo overlanding, built a new family, and stepped into a stronger version of herself.
“Since I first competed in 2018, I have left a bad marriage, started overlanding solo, got remarried to an amazing man, changed work situations, and very shortly will be adding another child to our crew. A fellow Rebelle once told me if you can fix your home life you will have nothing holding you back and I believe the Rally gave me the strength to do just that.”
From Wanting Adventure to Living It
Thayer began the Rebelle curious about the world. What followed was a series of journeys that took her across borders and into new versions of herself. Starting with solo overlanding, her travels grew to include her daughters and eventually her new husband.
“If I hadn’t gained the courage, grit, and confidence that the Rebelle knocked me over the head with, I wouldn’t have been able to drive my Land Rover down the Baja Peninsula and up to Canada.”
Every mile became a reminder of what she was capable of.
A Mindset Shift That Stayed
The Rebelle changed how Thayer approaches challenges and decisions in her daily life. She often thinks back to difficult days in the desert to ground herself.
“I think of the more difficult days or terrain on the Rebelle, and a voice in my head chimes in: if you could do that, you can obviously handle this.”
The rally became a reference point for resilience and confidence in all areas of her life.
Advice for Her Pre-Rebelle Self
Before her first year, Thayer’s biggest concern was surprisingly simple: camp setup.
“I would tell myself to worry less about folding a tent. Everyone struggles with this when we are dead tired, and I should have focused more on maps, maps, maps.”
A Song That Brings It All Back
There is one memory that stands out from her first rally in 2018. After crossing the finish line in Glamis and celebrating together, competitors gathered around a bonfire. The feeling of relief, community, and accomplishment filled the night.
“I will absolutely never forget the song ‘Feel It Still’ playing. Since it references a rebel just for kicks, it felt perfect. I think we could have danced all night by that fire.”
Life-Changing Impact
For Thayer, the Rebelle continues to influence her life, from the friendships she formed to the confidence she gained.
“The Rebelle has probably had the largest single impact on my life that one event could. I found female friends that love cars just as much as me, amazing camaraderie during the event and after, and my own inner strength and grit that has lasted ever since.”
Her daughters watch her cross the finish line each year. Seeing their mother compete shows them a world where women lead, explore, and take on challenges with confidence.
“It makes me so happy that this is the world they will grow up in, where of course women race awesome trucks.”
