Rallying: The Ultimate Motorsport Challenge
The art of collaboration and competition. Written by A. Rickerson
2024 PARTNERS
The Ultimate Motorsport Challenge
Rallying (known as Ralley in Europe) combines speed, endurance, and skill into an intense motorsport that has gained global popularity and continues to rise in recognition in the United States. Drivers face the dual challenge of preparing their vehicle and navigating unpredictable off-road conditions. Navigators, meanwhile, follow a road book (think of it as an advanced version of MapQuest) or use a series of navigation points and a physical map to chart the course. Together, the driver and navigator work as a team, relying on cooperation and communication to reach the finish line.
With minimal outside assistance, teams must depend on each other to stay on track, as mechanical services are available only sparingly. Teams that perform best demonstrate harmony between driver, navigator, and machine, functioning seamlessly under the pressures of time and the natural elements. Rallying is truly the ultimate test of a vehicle and the skill of its crew in the cockpit.
The Rebelle Rally is the longest off-road navigational rally in the United States. Preparations began a year in advance, with building support as the critical first step. Driver and vehicle owner Angela Rickerson partnered with environmental scientist and navigator Adriana Stovall. As with most adventures, unpredictability and challenges became defining themes of the experience. But with the right support and partnerships, anything seemed possible.
Standing up to the challenge of the Rebelle Rally rewards the competitors with an experience of a lifetime. For Angela and Adriana, the primary goal was to cross the finish line with the vehicle intact—avoiding major mechanical issues, flat tires, or getting stuck. While winning was, of course, an aspiration, it was a lofty goal. Teams often spend years practicing to break into the top ten, and many aim just to make it into the top 20. For Angela and Adriana, finishing in the middle of the pack in their first year would mark a successful rally.
“Through the intense experience of the Rebelle Rally competition, a deep trust in your own capabilities and resiliency are developed. You find inner strength and skills you never knew you had. The endurance you need to survive this event translates to the real world in such a valuable way.”
-Adriana Stovall, Environmental Scientist & Navigator
The Rebelle Rally: A Test of Endurance
The 2024 Rebelle Rally covered 1,700 miles (2,681 kilometers to be exact) over eight consecutive days of intense competition. Starting in Mammoth Lakes, California, in the eastern Sierra Mountains, teams ventured north into Nevada’s rugged backcountry. The alien-like landscapes posed grueling challenges for the 65 rally rigs, featuring fast tracks across silty lake beds and steep ascents into mountainous terrain. From Nevada, the teams traveled through Death Valley to Dumont Dunes, where the next basecamp was located.
Navigating dunes is a wild and unpredictable challenge. The constantly shifting terrain and the difficulty of driving full-sized rigs truly tested each team. From Dumont Dunes, the rally continued to Johnson Valley, where basecamp was set up on the infamous Soggy Dry Lakebed. The next challenge involved technical driving and rock crawling through the steep and treacherous terrain famously home to the King of the Hammers. While dunes navigation seemed to have ended, teams faced three more days of it, culminating in a trek to the towering Imperial Sand Dunes in Glamis, California—the tallest sand dunes in North America. Johnson Valley would serve as the final basecamp before teams returned to the finish line and the closing ceremonies on the lakebed.
“At the beginning of my journey, I knew I was passionate about off-roading but didn't know what to do with that passion. My main focus was to get outside and spend time with my kid to show him that being a "mom" doesn't just mean taking care of his needs constantly. It's setting a good example and living your life to the fullest.”
-Angela Rickerson, Driver & Build Owner
The Ultimate Off-Road Endurance Vehicle
Jeeps are an excellent choice for rally vehicles. While speed isn’t a traditional focus of Jeep designs, small enhancements to suspension and other key systems can elevate them to top-tier competitors. The Mojave Jeep Gladiator, fresh from the factory, exemplifies a perfect rally build. With its long, balanced wheelbase, reservoir shocks, and ample storage for tools and gear, it’s no surprise that a factory-sponsored Jeep was crowned the overall winner of the 2024 Rebelle Rally (closely followed by factory sponsored Ford Bronco and factory sponsored Toyota Tacoma).
Jeeps dominated the rankings this year, with 17 of the 65 teams competing in Jeep Wranglers, including Motobilt’s partnered build, Ronda Rhino. Owned by Angela Rickerson from Seattle, Ronda Rhino is a purpose-built rig named after professional boxer, Ronda Rousey. Based on a 2017 two-door JK platform from the Hard Rock Anniversary Edition, Angela focused on creating a vehicle that embodied speed, strength, and reliability. Motobilt was her first and only choice for the build.
How do you build a vehicle capable of tackling unpredictable off-road terrain at speed while maintaining reliability? You choose a builder known for advanced engineering and quality craftsmanship. For the 2024 Rebelle Rally, Angela entrusted Motobilt with protecting Ronda Rhino for the challenges ahead. Under the expertise of Dana Swanson from Allied Motorsport in Snohomish Washington, the build focused on key enhancements to ensure performance, strength, and dependability.
Ronda Rhino got the full Motobilt treatment. Jeep JK aluminum rocker armor, front inner fenders, and highline front and rear fenders were added to bolster strength (while being light weight) and allow for increased up-travel at all four corners. In addition, the steel stubby rear bumper and spare tire carrier increased clearance. The Tomahawk frame-chop front bumper with bull bar positioned the winch just below the grille, optimizing airflow and maintaining a sharp approach angle for steep climbs. Additional airflow considerations led to the installation of Motobilt's hood vent kit for the 10th Anniversary hood—a significant upgrade over the less effective factory plastic vents. Motobilt’s many choices for aesthetic preferences and performance needs are one of the reasons they are renowned among off-roaders and rock crawling enthusiasts.
The Essentials: Lighter, Faster, Stronger
When planning the 2024 build, wheels and tires were a key focus for Team 102. Angela, based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, navigates terrain that demands aggressive, heavy-duty tires to handle slippery rocks, mud, and tight, tree-lined trails. However, the landscapes of California and Nevada present a different challenge, with sand, silt, sharp rocks, and dense brush.
Pirelli Tires stepped up to the challenge, providing a set of Pirelli Scorpion Plus tires for the rally. These lightweight tires feature a tighter, less aggressive tread pattern that, when aired down, balloons at the bottom—ideal for desert terrain. On the road, their lighter compound delivers a smooth, quiet ride, with excellent balance straight from the factory, while also reducing strain on the vehicle.
Paired with Method Race Wheels (703 Machined Gloss), the Pirelli Scorpion Plus tires performed flawlessly. The bead-grip technology ensures a secure seal on the bead without the added bulk and weight of traditional bead-lock construction. The aluminum machined wheels are approximately seven pounds lighter than their steel counterparts—an essential weight savings when building a vehicle for speed and agility in the dunes.
Making it Work: The Expertise
As a SoCal local, born and raised on the coast, Adriana Stovall fell in love with the outdoors at an early age. She has over 18 years of experience as an Environmental Scientist & Consultant and received her B.S. in Environmental Science and Resource Management from California State University Channel Islands. Her research has been nationally highlighted, presented at industry conferences and is in the process of being published. She is an accomplished leader in the environmental industry, which fuels her personal passion for the backcountry and public lands.
Adriana has spent the majority of her career exploring and preserving the natural resources of California through remote fieldwork, scientific research and environmental advocacy. As a returning Rebelle with nearly 2 decades of experience in the outdoors, Adriana is a strong competitor. She prides herself in being a true outdoors-woman with a passion for challenges - she is always chasing a horizon or summit. She is a long distance solo backpacker, snowboarder, surfer and is a self proclaimed topo map and gear nerd. She has significant GIS experience creating maps and analyzing spatial data which contributes to her strength as a navigator.
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