Race Day: Three American Women in Rallye AÏcha des Gazelles
We've told you a little about the Rallye AÏcha des Gazelles here on the Ask Patty blog before, but for those of you who are unfamiliar, it's a pretty amazing thing. Imagine a classic off-road auto rally - this one takes place in the desert of Morocco - sand swirling, sun blazing. Racers start their engines and speed off into the lurid desert heat, with only an outdated map and a navigator in the passenger seat to help them find their way. There is no GPS, no cell phones, no support crew, and - get this - no prize money for the winner. Here, the only prize is the pride of accomplishment. The whole event has an aura of tradition and nostalgia, recalling the old rallys of Monte Carlo in an age gone by. Now, imagine that all the competitors - 220 of them in this case - are women. I know, right? Hit the jump for details. This year's Rally began on March 25 and ended on April 4. During the ten-day trek, 220 women tore across the Sahara desert in 110 off-road vehicles with only the horizon and hope in front of them. The event has been running annually in southern Morocco since 1990, but if you haven't heard of it until now don't worry. It's only just appearing on the American radar - this year saw the first American sponsor of the event, Pompeian Olive Oil, and three of the women competitors this year were American, members of a growing community of American women who compete in the rally each year, known as the USA Gazelles. American competitors this year included Emily Miller, a professional off-road racer who returned to the Rallye for the third time with her French navigator Armelle Medard, and sisters Amy Lerner and Tricia Reina who had been training for the race's unique format since 2010 with Learner as the pilot and Reina taking the role of navigator. (via Automotive Discovery) This event is absolutely fascinating to me - the romance and grandeur associated with this type of rally can't be denied, and really sparks my imagination. My hat's off to Dominique Serra, creator of the 21-year old event, and it's my sincere hope that the Rally will continue to enthrall and inspire my fellow American women - whether as competitors or spectators. Congratulations to all of this year's winners (via marathonrally.com), listed below. The 2011 Winners The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles was created in 1990 by Dominique Serra. The event, held annually in Morocco, is owned and produced by Maïenga Communications, France. In addition to serious competition, the rally is known and respected for extensive humanitarian and environmental efforts.
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