It hasn't exactly been an over the river and through the woods type of journey, but thanks to a strong last two days, team Torq-Masters finds itself nestled among the top-5 racers as the Rebelle Rally Friday approaches its final racing day.
Team Torq-Masters, comprised of Cora Jokinen and Melissa Fischer, has finished the initial six days of the Rally with 955 points, and trail the first-place team of Kaleigh Hotchkiss and Teralin Petereit by a mere 23 points. The second-annual Rebelle Rally winds up Friday in the southern California desert east of San Diego.
The Rebelle Rally is a unique and demanding all-woman event based on the elements of headings, hidden checkpoints, time, and distance using maps, compass and roadbook. It is part navigation, part driving, and all excitement.
Jokinen and Fischer began the event Saturday, capturing 151 of a possible 161 points which was good enough to secure a fifth-place slot. They then picked up 156 of 175 points on Sunday’s second leg, 148 of 160 points on the third day and 141 of 163 points for day four – keeping them within the top-seven teams and striking distance of first place.
The event’s first two days took place mostly in the desert and high mountains of rural western Nevada, going through historic mining towns like Belmont and Manhattan, as well as dry lake beds such as Kibby Dry Lake.
All teams then entered a marathon stage for days three and four, rolling through the White Mountains to Silver Peak and into Dumont Dunes. Teams were also required to self camp in the dunes for that night and had to bring their own food and camping equipment.
Day five saw all teams enter Johnson Valley, home to the famous King of the Hammers, and those in Jeep vehicles quickly began to shine. Jokinen and Fischer, in their 2005 Wrangler Unlimited, captured second place for the day by gathering 187 of a possible 198 points which moved them into fifth overall.
Thursday's sixth stage had competitors continue south through Johnson Valley before traversing through Joshua Tree National Park on the way to Imperial Sand Dunes, and Jokinen and Fischer again put on a show. They ended the day with 177 of a possible 190 points which gave them another second place finish, and set the stage for what will be an exciting Friday.
Rebelle Rally competitors score points based off a variety of methods, including their ability to find green (easy), blue (medium) and black (hard) checkpoints, as well as navigating on prescribed routes at assigned average speeds in order to arrive ‘on time’ to certain locations.
All teams can only use a compass and maps for navigation as no cell phones or other GPS equipment is allowed during the event. This year's race currently has 32 active teams in the 4x4 division.
Team Torq-Masters is partially sponsored by Quadratec and their 2005 Wrangler Unlimited includes products like upper doors with glass slider windows, replacement interior door handles, windjammer, High-Lift jack, fire extinguisher mounts, Tuffy center console, Tuffy locking storage box, hood latches, and a speedometer gear.
You can follow the Rebelle Rally's final day here as well as scoring updates here.
