How to Prep for An Off-Road Rally

Two rookies shed light on what goes into prepping for an off-road rally.

If you’ve ever tuned in to an off-road race or rally, then you’ve likely imagined yourself participating in one. Even if it was just for a moment, just long enough to conjure the image and then throw it out and mutter impossible.

Me? Hurtle down rugged trails, knuckles gripping the steering wheel, maneuvering through treacherous terrain. Bumps and twists seemingly appearing from nowhere, dust flying, the sun glinting off of hot painted metal. Adrenaline and sweat and fuel. A rear view showing a landscape as breathtaking as it is unforgiving.

I could never.

As Lani Trejo and Danielle Cheifetz will tell you: Never say never.

Set to compete in their first ever off-road competition next month, the two rookies are learning that thrilling dreams of competition and adventure absolutely can become reality. It just takes focus, motivation, and a whole lot of preparation.

The Engine Block sat down with Trejo and Cheifetz to learn how they prepared – physically, mentally, emotionally, and vehicularly – for the upcoming grueling, multi-day event. We talk sponsorships and fundraising, navigational challenges, finding a supportive automotive community and, of course, training for the big day. You’ll learn a bit about the ladies themselves (how does one get into off-road rallying anyway??) and pick up some tips on how you can check an item like this off your own bucket list someday.

The Road to Rally

Lani Trejo’s first introduction to off-road racing was a memorable one: the 2015 Baja 1000. Working as a video production manager at the time, she was part of a photo shoot for Volkswagen’s Beetle Dune reveal. An opportunity that included getting to meet a Class 11 race team.

One of the most difficult (and rare) classes in desert racing, Class 11 consists of unmodified, pre-1981 VW Bugs. We’re talking stock suspension, a full steel body, and a 65-hp, 1600cc air-cooled flat-four engine tackling arduous terrain in the Mexican desert.

Amazed by the scrappy ingenuity on display, Trejo jumped at the chance to attend two years later and feature the class participants in a video. It was a different team behind the wheel this time – a fortuitous change, as it turned out. One of the co-drivers was Emme Hall, a racer and automotive journalist, who also happened to be an original competitor and two-time winner of the Rebelle Rally.

Finding Your Niche

Never heard of the Rebelle Rally? Covering more than 1,500 unforgiving miles over eight days in Nevada and California, it is the longest competitive off-road rally in the entire United States. It’s also one of the toughest, strictly prohibiting the use of cellphones and GPS.

Prioritizing endurance over speed, the challenge tests competitors’ driving and navigation skills as they seek out hidden checkpoints scattered throughout the desert, relying only on maps, compasses, and female intuition.

Oh yea, did we mention it’s ladies only?

“It was really through meeting that team and covering the Baja 1000, getting to know Emme and then through her, meeting several women in the Rebelle community, that I decided this was something I really wanted to do someday,” Trejo said, noting how networking with people in the scene helped her determine what off-road rally experience was right for her.

Like most things in life though, timing is everything. And, for Trejo, the stars just never quite seemed to align. Then, last year, after attending an off-road training event, she was invited to be a plus-one at the rally’s closing gala. “Meeting the Rebelles, seeing them and their vehicles right after they had done this really hard thing, I thought ‘I gotta do it,’” she said. “So, I registered that night.”

Securing A Vehicle

Like Baja, the Rebelle is a grueling endeavor. Unlike Baja, though, it is not a race. Specifically, the Rebelle Rally is a navigation competition where teams acquire points. The focus is heavy on strategy, endurance, and teamwork – features that really appealed to Trejo, as did the accessibility. She could do this rally without going bankrupt, and she could do it in a stock vehicle. Which is exactly what she plans to do.

Meet Hank, a two-door 2021 Ford Bronco Black Diamond with the standard 2.3L turbo-four paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission, along with an electronic-locking rear axle, full underbody bash plates, 4×4 with part-time selectable engagement, OEM roof rack, and… well, really that’s about it. In fact, Hank’s only real “performance mods” are an onboard ARB air compressor, Baja Designs Fog Pocket Light Kit and XL Linkable LED Light Bar affixed to the front bumper, and a set of 32-inch Destination MT2 tires, compliments of Trejo and Cheifetz’s sponsor Firestone. (Yea, that Firestone. More on that later.)

While the Rebelle Rally does allow mods, competing vehicles must be street legal in all 50 states and be offered for sale to the public. In his current condition, Hank qualifies for the Bone Stock award, which requires vehicles be exactly as delivered from the manufacturer, save for factory-sized aftermarket wheels and tires.

Convincing a Co-Pilot

With her rally registration form complete and a qualifying rig in the driveway, all Trejo needed was a co-pilot and navigator. She messaged Cheifetz that night.

“I immediately responded with some clarifications,” Cheifetz said with a laugh. “Actually, I think I said if there’s camping, I’m out.”

There is, in fact, camping. A lot of it, actually. This year even ups the ante, as it’s the first time the rally will have two self camp or “Marathon” nights with no basecamp support. Still, Cheifetz stayed in – even after learning that assuming the role of navigator meant acquiring many new skills, some of which she didn’t even know existed. (Enduro math, anyone?)

“I’ve learned so much,” she said. “It hasn’t even started, and I’ve already walked away with more knowledge and life experience than I had before.”

Trejo, however, knew from the jump they’d be a good match. 

“Generally, I feel like I can get along with anybody. But I don’t want to get along with just anybody. I want to be there with someone I want to spend eight days with, and have it be a good experience.”

Like Trejo, Cheifetz also works in video production. In her day job as the founder of Kraken Cove Productions, she’s orchestrating locations, scripts, permits, people, props, dogs – you name it and she knows where to find it and how to get it on set. In short, she lives and breathes logistics.

Since the teams are not given the route for each day until the morning of, the navigator’s job is to plot out geofenced coordinates located in remote checkpoints (using analog tools, remember). Then, she must continue to make on-the-spot decisions to ensure accuracy and maintain a predetermined travel schedule between locations.

Basically, she’ll need to be a human GPS. For 8+ days. In the desert. No sweat, right? 

Right??

Finding Your Community

While Trejo’s road to rallying has been unique, thanks to the behind-the-scenes access her job provided, it’s still been a relatively long journey. The distance between setting an intention to compete and finally pressing ‘submit’ on that registration has been about six years. But in that time, she didn’t sit idle.

She sought out training sessions and off-road get-togethers, testing her mettle in a wide variety of environments. She reserved, purchased, and waited – for more than a year – to take ownership of her Bronco, and then immediately began learning about what the vehicle could do in its stock form. And once her and Cheifetz committed to rallying, she began signing them up for more in-depth training experiences.

Off-Road and Online

While some courses were Rebelle-specific, like former champ Nena Barlow’s educational 4WD tours, others were simply public classes aimed at getting off pavement. One of the most insightful experiences was an excursion in Moab with Melissa Clark – an Off-Rodeo instructor, Bronco Nation trail leader, and original Rebelle who has two first-place wins under her belt in the X-Cross category. 

Clark is Ford-sponsored and makes a point to help out other Ford-equipped teams. Trejo said she spent hours answering their rookie questions and provided detailed, Bronco-specific instruction. Incredibly valuable, the ladies said the connection happened organically, thanks to an unofficial Rebelle prepping Facebook group.

In fact, social media has been instrumental in helping her and Cheifetz find a supportive community. Being able to hop on a chat thread and ask questions not only of other enthusiasts, but also former winners and the rally’s head mechanic, Nick Cimmarusti of Nickgyver Enterprises, helped cement their decision to compete. For Cheifetz, it allowed her to “dip a toe in,” she said. “So, by the time we took an actual course, I felt more confident and like I was familiar with the [navigation] tools.”

Still, the hands-on learning component is a must-do, they said.

Training For the Big Event

“Even though there are online courses available, it’s still conceptually tough to grasp exactly what you’re doing and why — until you actually do it several times,” Trejo said, stressing the importance of not being afraid to ask the experts to help you learn.

Cheifetz also stressed the importance of finding moments to speak up. When you only have an instructor’s ear for so long, you have to make the most of it.

As for the training events themselves, nothing can 100% replicate a true rally day, but the ladies said they try to make the outings as realistic as possible. For example, in addition to plotting and hunting checkpoints, they bring their entire gear list along to better gauge what is and isn’t needed, as well as how best to pack it.

Lately, their focus has been on mastering the enduros, where they’ll need to pass a specific landmark within a set time, all while adhering to competition parameters. During the rally, they won’t receive each day’s enduro challenge until that morning, giving them only about two hours to plot, strategize, pack up, and head out.

Lessons Learned

Beyond the rally-specific challenges, there are plenty of other stressors too. For one, you lose points if you call for help. “But time is important,” said Cheifetz, “and you have to know when to just take the penalty and have someone tow you out, versus trying to dig or troubleshoot for two hours and risk exhausting yourself.”

There’s strategy to it, sure, but also trust – which is why she said her and Trejo had some honest conversations about the competition early on in their partnership.

“One of the very first things we talked about was ‘what are your expectations?’”

Frustration comes easily out there in the desert. The environment can be ruthless (as they’ve learned by getting stuck in the Glamis dunes several times), so you and your partner need to be on the same page. Trejo and Cheifetz both agreed that, more than winning, they’re in this for the experience and the camaraderie, to learn new skills, push themselves, and have fun.

With that in mind, here are a few lessons the rookies learned during training and plan to apply during the rally:

Consider Creature Comforts

This is a physically grueling competition, so it’s critical to stay well-rested and hydrated. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy camping, Cheifetz sprung for the higher-quality sleeping gear to ensure she gets a good night’s rest. Similarly, the ladies prioritized space onboard for a Dometic CFX electric cooler. Powered by an EcoFlow battery, it will ensure they have quick access to ice-cold hydration – a time-honored stress-beater in the desert heat.

Know the Edge

Like any endurance competition, knowing where your physical and mental edges are – and whether or not they can be pushed – will largely influence your ability to move forward. But that insight extends to the vehicle too.

Trejo has spent countless hours getting to know all the idiosyncrasies of her Bronco. She even drove from California to South Dakota for a wedding, just so she could catalog one more long-distance trip. Understanding even the smallest of limitations is necessary in order to properly solve problems – like how to best approach a hill or tackle a sudden change in terrain.

Have A Fail-Safe

The ladies will be lost (literally) without their compass – which is why they plan to bring multiple back-ups. “And NO magnets!” added Cheifetz, who learned that lesson the hard way during a training session when her magnetic pen clip threw the compass into a tailspin for several hours.

Let’s Talk Money For a Minute

Even without fancy gear and top-notch mods, competing in this rally (or any rally) is an expensive endeavor. You have registration costs, training, gear, and travel expenses; it all adds up – quickly.

It Never Hurts To Ask

“It was really hard in the beginning to get over the hump of asking people for money,” Trejo said. “But I think the biggest takeaway is to just get over it. Emails are free. Ask – be respectful, but ask.”

So, they did. The ladies reached out to over 300 potential corporate sponsors, and while they received plenty of nos, they also received some really impressive yeas — like Firestone, for whom this is a first-time Rebelle sponsorship. Other brands, like Baja Designs, Bubba Rope, Glue Tread, and Dometic, provided free product.

“Baja Designs were super generous and gave us basically all of the Bronco kits they have available,” said Trejo, adding that she still has an A-pillar light kit to install before the rally. For anyone considering a lighting upgrade on their own Bronco, Trejo stressed how the OEM Aux switches and Baja Designs’ excellent instructions, fitment, and quality made installation a breeze.

Highlight What You Can Offer In Return

To fundraise, the ladies built out a sponsorship deck detailing who they are, what their costs would be, and most importantly, what they can offer. (Remember, these are partnerships, not handouts. Companies want to know how they stand to benefit.)

As video producers, Trejo and Cheifetz highlighted their skills as creatives and even filmed a fun sponsorship video. (Check it out above.) They printed t-shirts with their newly-christened team name “Dead Reckoning,” made stickers, and other fun swag to both fundraise and incentivize higher donations.

They also welcomed the support of friends and family, and weren’t afraid to think outside the box. For example, several of their sponsors are not at all vehicle-related, like Pit Viper, Kula Cloth, and Kegelbell. In fact, several  sponsorships came from companies that offer hydration systems or electrolyte drinks like MODL, Biolyte, Lemon Perfect, and Buoy.

Ladies, Start Your Engines

While they admit to being apprehensive about the enduros (and Cheifetz is still less-than-jazzed about all the camping), both ladies can’t wait to bask in the feeling of crossing the finish line. In fact, Trejo said she’s most excited for the homecoming, and the opportunity it will provide to reflect on the entire experience.

At the end of the day, “we’re rookies and, save for the very first Rebelle Rally, no rookie has ever had a podium finish,” she said. “We just want to run our best rally and have fun.”

If you’re interested in following these two rookies as they tackle the Rebelle Rally, or want to help support their journey, then visit their website and social media. You can tune in during the main event too and enjoy updates on their progress, as well as get an up-close look at how things operate and what’s expected of participants. You know, just in case you stop saying “never.”