Team Courage Gazelles is hitting the road to Morocco, on our way to the 2012 Rallye Aicha des Gazelles. The explosive combination of Emme Hall of Hall Ass Racing and Michele Martineau of Team Courage will be right at home with their elite peers – only 5 other U.S. women have attempted this grueling adventure since its organization in 1990. The Rallye is the world’s only rally for women only, but don’t let the ‘women’ part fool you. It’s recognized around the globe as one of the most intense off road competitions.
The women, called “Gazelles”, spend 9 days in the Moroccan desert navigating to predefined check points using only a compass and maps from the 1950s. No GPS, no phones, no pit crews, just relying on their driving and navigating skills. Team Courage Gazelles is not just another typical team looking for sponsorship to make our dreams of racing come true. Team Courage Gazelles adopts the motto of our sister team, Team Courage, and the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles is our opportunity to show we are “Racing to Make a Difference”.
Michele and Emme make a very dynamic team, but the value of our team is more deeply rooted than being based on talent, personalities, and nice smiles. Just like the original Team Courage, we are raising funds for charities along with our vehicle entry. Our goal of raising $50,000 will allow us to donate over $15,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Michele divides her time between her normal family life with husband and son in Colorado and her off road life in California. She was honored to be a director for the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA) and a part of the Mexican 1000 in both 2010 and 2011. Competing with her original Team Courage Racing team, she races off road while raising money for breast cancer charities. A breast cancer previvor, Michele also uses Team Courage as a means to encourage and inspire other women facing breast cancer and reconstruction to continue to remember their spirit through the darkest times, and to never give up chasing their dreams.
Emme currently enjoys a very busy life which includes working as a costumer for Ford’s Theatre and doing car reviews for Roadfly TV. She participates in Solo competition with the Sports Car Club of America in her 2001 Mazda Miata whenever she can and will desert race any air cooled Volkswagen available.
These two women are certainly prepared to set the globe on fire in their quest to reach Morocco. You can follow them at www.teamcouragegazelles.com and on Twitter @couragegazelles.
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