Honda is Sending Engineers to Compete in Off-Road Rally
With zero modern technology to guide them, two teams of female Honda R&D engineers will tackle some of the toughest deserts in the west.
No Technology Allowed
The Rebelle Rally, the world's first women-only navigational off-road rally, covers over 1,200 miles of Nevada and California desert. And for 2019, Honda is sending two driver/navigator teams of engineers from Honda R&D Americas, Inc. (HRA) in California and Ohio to tackle the unique event. These teams must strategically navigate from checkpoint to checkpoint – within set windows of time – using only maps, compasses, and a roadbook. No GPS or smartphones allowed.
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
Paying Homage
Team Sand Mode #208 features Liz Casteel, HRA chassis reliability test engineer based in Raymond, Ohio, and Tasha Krug, HRA engine systems and drivability test engineer, driving a 2019 Honda Passport. The Passport has been treated to a special wrap that pays homage to Honda's off-road heritage and offering accessibility to off-road adventures – much like the Rebelle Rally – by featuring an illustration of Honda's iconic Mini Trail 70 on the 50th anniversary of its introduction.
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
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Overcoming Adversity
Casteel helps guarantee the reliability of Honda and Acura vehicles through subframe and suspension testing, which includes in-lab and on-car strength, durability, and marketability analyses. She has been a member of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline and 2019 Acura RDX development teams. "I am excited for the Rebelle Rally and look forward to facing the challenges that it will throw at us," said Casteel. "It is a unique event that will bring our Honda team even closer through the adversities we will overcome."
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
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Fine Tuning
In her role at Honda R&D Americas, Krug calibrates engines and automatic idle-stop systems, which can enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions in city driving. She has tested on-board diagnostics failsafe systems and was on the 2019 Acura RDX development team. Krug's other duties include ensuring powertrain marketability and calibrating engines through dyno, track, and on-road testing.
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
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Eye-Catching Design
Team Challenging Spirit #203 features Sharon Moore, HRA senior engineering technician based in Torrance, California, and Michelle Klein, HRA crash safety test engineer based in Raymond, Ohio, who will return for her second Rebelle Rally to navigate the 2018 Ridgeline. The wrap for the Ridgeline was designed by Honda exterior designer Lili Melikian and celebrates Honda's performance development heritage. The Ridgeline's wrap is a simple expression of performance and dynamic motion, with the intent to make it look sporty, energetic, and eye-catching.
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
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Full Scale Ideas
Moore's role at HRA is to create full-scale models of future Honda and Acura vehicles, helping designers and engineers realize their ideas in three dimensions. Past projects have included the first-generation Honda Ridgeline, first-generation Honda Element, and the Acura CLX concept car (1995), as well as contributing to the Honda GRX (2006) and Acura Bike Tour Trike (Velomobile) concepts.
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
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Safety First
Klein works on the safety engineering team at Honda R&D Americas, where she conducts whiplash testing to study and improve the safety of Honda and Acura products. Klein has worked on safety testing for many vehicles, including the 2016 Honda Pilot, 2016 Honda Civic, 2016 Honda Odyssey, 2016 Honda Ridgeline, and the 2019 Acura RDX.
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
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Learning From Experience
Amazingly enough, Moore and Klein didn't even meet each other until a few weeks before the rally's scheduled start date. They'll be sharing duties piloting the Ridgeline, which is exactly the same vehicle that Klein used in last year's Rebelle rally. Klein is the only returning Rebelle Rally competitor from 2018, so her experience should prove to be rather useful.
Photos: Honda/Rebelle Rally
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