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Racing for more than winning
Amy Volmer, 41, is an Imperial Valley local preparing herself for the Rebelle Rally race starting Oct. 12 in Lake Tahoe and ending Oct. 20 in San Diego.
The verb Rebel meaning to defy convention and the noun belle defining a beautiful woman structured the name Rebelle Rally. This rally consists of all-women teams that travel through the desert for 10 days.
Volmer said, “I have to take special classes to prepare myself with the knowledge that is needed for this race. I fear that I may encounter mechanical difficulties and I don’t want that to prevent me from getting to the finish line.”
The Rebelle Rally is important because in addition to having all-female contestants from all over the world, the women must have the proper skills and equipment to train and compete to take home that victory.
Volmer said, “The contestants aren’t allowed to have any form of technology. The vehicle only has a
GPS tracker for emergency purposes. We must learn how to navigate around using maps, compass and the stars to get us to the finish line.”
Although this isn’t Amy’s first time off-roading it is her first time competing in the Rebelle Rally race. She possess the skills, knowledge, and courage needed to compete in this race but she lacks the sponsors that are very helpful to reduce the out of pocket expense this race contains.
Volmer, “This race totals out to about $20,000 dollars. Everything is out of pocket but with the help of a sponsor it will help reduce the cost of participating. The fee includes the cost of attendance, gasoline, emergency services, and base camps needed throughout the race.”
This event is important to Amy because many people from all around are coming to compete in our backyards and most locals aren’t even aware. In addition it helps her prove she is capable of doing anything she sets herself up to do.
Volmer, “I accepted to participate in this event because we must prove that our small town is capable of competing with these major league women. Rally racing is full of adventure I am most proud of the fact that I, as a single mom, I can do this and be both roles as a parent to my children.”