I walked into the back classroom at REI on Thursday not knowing exactly what to expect.  I was there for my first Fundamental of Map and Compass Reading class, kind of a precursor to the navigation training I will receive for Gazelles.

For those not up to speed, I’ll be competing with Michele Martineau in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles in March 2012, a 9 day all female rally through Morocco.  It’s one of the toughest off road rallies in the world, where participants are not allowed chase crews or GPS.

Wait….what?  No GPS?   Nope.  We Gazelles will navigate using old maps, a compass, and our stunning intellect to get us from one check point to another.  Points are awarded for the shortest distance, not necessarily the fastest time.  Don’t get me wrong though, you certainly can’t dawdle.  To quote a former Gazelle, “…to win, you need to be dead accurate.  To be dead accurate you have to stop and work on your navigation and then drive quickly when you know exactly where you are going.”

But any kind of speed we put down won’t matter if we’re off by 2 degrees, and though I will be the driver, Michele the navigator, we both need to know how to be spot on right. So I found myself  at  REI in a basic class.

First of all, I have to give the instructor credit for, well, putting up with me.  “Why does magnetic north move?  Does it decide it  just needs a change of scenery?  How often does it move?  Why do I have all these different norths to deal with, magnetic, grid, and true?  Why is altitude on the maps given in feet, but everything else is in meters?”  How does this needle in the compass float, anyway?”  I am like your best friend’s annoying 6 year old that you really want to muzzle, but can’t because you really need your friend to drive you to the airport next week and need to stay on his good side.

In time he answered all my questions, and then some.  I learned how to find a heading, distinguish between ridges and ravines on the map, even find myself on the map, which isn’t quite as esoteric as it sounds.  I think what I am taking away most from the class is that I’m going to need to work pretty damn hard in order to feel prepared for Gazelles.

But completing a rally like this without the use of GPS will be a very fine feather to stick in my cap.   The Baja 1000 is November 17-20, so it’s been on my radar a bit lately.  A racer friend of mine always laughs when I ask  him, “Yes, but wouldn’t the 1000 mean so much MORE if you won it without GPS?”  It doesn’t make the 1000 a walk in the park, for sure, but you  have to admit that GPS levels the playing field a bit.  Now it’s possible to do the 1000 with only one pre-run.  Back in the day, if you wanted to win, you had to know the terrain like the proverbial back of your hand.

I have raced sans GPS before.  Right before the start at the USA 500 in July, the GPS conked out on Desert Dingo’s class 11 stock VW.  However, that was a loop course and it was very well marked so I didn’t feel nervous at all.  I was more nervous about getting the car to the next driver in one piece!

My dad lives down in Mexico and  is enjoying sending me “ha ha you’re working” emails about everyone having fun pre-running for the Baja 1000.  My work at Ford’s Theatre means I can never get to the 1000, as we are always in the busiest part of putting up Christmas Carol, so I’ll be tracking my pals from DC.  I’ll be watching Gustavo Vildosola in Trophy Truck 21.  He won last year, the only Mexican team to do so.  I met him at the NORRA Mexican 1000 and he couldn’t be more of a gentleman.  He even gave me a Vildosola Racing hat!

I’ll also be chasing Jim Anderson 518, Heidi Steel 619, Christian Hall (no relation) 1008, Mark Power 1607, and Gustavo Garayzar 1148.  My pals at Desert Dingo have complied more than a few ways to follow the 1000 from the comfort of your own home.

As far as my other team, Hall Ass Racing, we are currently looking for a two seater 10 or 1600 car, possibly even getting another 5-unlimited.  If anyone has got anything, please shoot me an email at emme@hallassracing.com.

To keep up with my Gazelle adventure you can go to www.teamcouragegazelles.com and follow us on Twitter @couragegazelles.  Michele and I have a few pretty cool developments up our sleeves for Gazelles, but it’s still a bit too early to talk about them.  We don’t want to jinx ourselves!  I will say that if they pan out, you will be stunned by our awesominity.

You can stay on top of my race team and car reviews at www.hallassracing.com, like me on Facebook , or send me a tweet @hallassracing.  I love interacting with fans so please….don’t be shy!