FLATED Goes Rebelle: The Taco Belles Take on the Desert
Eight days. 2,500+ kilometers. No GPS. No cell phone. Just a map, a compass, a Tacoma, and a whole lot of figuring it out.
This October, I’m trading my FLATED desk chair for a driver’s seat and taking on one of the biggest adventures I’ve ever signed up for: the 2026 Rebelle Rally.
I’ll be competing alongside my teammate, Veronica Kelly, as Team #119 — Taco Belles, driving our 2021 Toyota Tacoma through California, Nevada, and Utah.
What the Rebelle Is -
The Rebelle Rally is an eight-day, women-only off-road navigation competition where speed isn't the goal. Teams earn points by finding checkpoints using paper maps, a compass, headings, distance, and teamwork. GPS and internet are off the table, and our phones stay sealed.
That means when we head into the desert, we're on our own.
Our goal?
Finish.
Of course, we'll do our best to collect some checkpoints along the way. But getting through eight days of desert terrain, navigation challenges, vehicle abuse, sleep deprivation, and whatever else the Rebelle throws at us is the real mission.
There has never been a rookie team to place and I will be 100% honest, I am shooting for anything other than last place. But I do fully expect to place #1 on vibes!
Why Am I Doing This?
I've spent a lot of time around outdoor gear, but this is a chance to really test my skills around vehicles.
It's also an opportunity to represent women in an industry and sport where women haven't always been given the same visibility.
I'm not going into this expecting to dominate the field. I'm going in wanting to learn, push myself, make some mistakes, solve some problems, and hopefully come out the other side with a pretty epic story.
The Tacoma
Our trusty Tacoma is going to be our home base for the rally, and we're taking a little FLATED DNA with us.
The truck is equipped with a FLATED Air-Topper CAP60 — a lightweight, inflatable truck shell designed to provide secure, enclosed storage without permanently changing the truck.
Normally if you see me, you know I rock the MR60 because I am camping, but on this journey, you have to check your truck in and out every night!
Follow the Taco Belles
The best part?
You don't have to be sitting in the desert with us to follow along.
The Rebelle Rally provides live tracking during the competition, so you can see where Team Taco Rebelles is and follow the action as we make our way through the course.
FOLLOW THE REBELLE RALLY LIVE →
Look for Team #119 — Taco Belles.
We'll be hoping that little dot keeps moving in the right direction.
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Want to Help Get Us Across the Finish Line?
This is a privateer effort, and getting a vehicle and two people ready for an eight-day off-road rally is no small undertaking. Between entry fees, vehicle preparation, mechanical work, fuel, and everything else that comes with getting to the start line, the costs add up quickly.
If you'd like to support the Taco Belles, we've set up a GoFundMe to help cover those expenses.
Whether you donate, share the fundraiser, follow along, or just check in to see if we've managed to find our way through the desert, we're grateful to have you along for the ride.
See You on the Other Side
