Women In Racing Calendar From Team Courage Gazelles

Simon | November 26, 2012

(Nov 2012) Team Courage Gazelles is hitting the road to Morocco, on their way to the 2013 all female Rallye Aicha des Gazelles. The explosive combination of Michele Martineau and Emme Hall will be right at home with their elite peers. Since its organization in 1990, only 8 other American women have attempted this grueling adventure, where points are awarded for fewest kilometers traveled rather than fastest time. Over nine days, teams must navigate to pre-determined checkpoints using only a compass and a map from the 1950’s. No GPS, cell phones, or chase crews are allowed.

As part of Courage Girl Motorsports, Michele and Emme will be using their visibility as Gazelles to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. As a breast cancer previvor, Michele has been racing to make a difference in the lives of women; to inspire them to reach to their full potential and never forget their courage and strength.

The team is currently selling a 2013 calendar featuring women of off road racing to help fund their adventure. It can be purchased on their website at www.teamcouragegazelles.com/calendar

“More and more women are coming into the sport as drivers, co-drivers, pit crew, you name it,” says Hall. “This was a perfect way to showcase these new talents while at the same time raising money to get us to Morocco.”

“When Emme suggested a Women of Off Road calendar I immediately thought it was a great idea,” says Martineau. “Not only does it help us raise funds for an amazing cause, but it also helps us spread the word about some of the audacious and spectacular women that are out there with us, tearing it up with the boys under a cover of desert dust. It’s extremely powerful to see the pages of each of these women that joined us in this calendar.”

The ladies sold out of their calendar at this year’s Powder Puff, where they both podium finished. They expect this second printing to sell just as quickly. The cost is $20, with proceeds going to their entry fees for the Gazelle Rally. Anything raised above that will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

About Team Courage Gazelles – 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 Courage Girl Motorsports team, she races off road in a 7s truck while raising money for breast cancer charities and to fund mammograms. A breast cancer previvor, she’s developed education and support for other women facing breast reconstruction and will be launching the Save the Girls Project, focusing on educating teens about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Her wonderful husband and amazing son make her days off paradise, and with their support her gypsy spirit will continue searching for the next big adventure and the next big race! www.teamcourageracing.com

Dynamic personality Emme Hall is a driver for her own race team, Mega Monkey Motorsports™, campaigning a 2/1600, but has also raced class 11 and 5u. She has been featured in Dirt Sports, Dusty Times, S&S Off Road Magazine, and Gearbox Magazine. She has been heard running her mouth on KCBQ, CBS, Speed Freaks TV, and Jim Beaver’s Down and Dirty Off Road Show. Emme holds an MFA in Costume Technology in North Carolina School of the Arts and is also a graduate of Yale School of Drama. She has a day job in theatre and also reviews new cars for Roadfly TV. During her few free weekends you can find Emme campaigning her stock 2001 Miata in SCCA autocross events. She has been aptly described as a “charisma missile.” www.megamonkeymotorsports.com

To learn more about Team Courage Gazelles or to donate, please go to www.teamcouragegazelles.com or www.rally.org/teamcouragegazelles.