Compass & Chaos- The making of Rebelle Team 114
The origins of Rebelle Rally Team 114 involve a meandering history of overlapping timelines in the overlanding industry that brought driver Connie Rodman and navigator Rachael Elseman together behind the wheel of the American Expedition Vehicles Jeep Wrangler. Connie and Rachael have worked closely over the years to promote the overlanding industry, specifically focusing on conservation and responsible off-road travel.
Connie Rodman
Connie has crafted a life of travel and rich experiences with deep roots in the early overlanding community in the United States. By day, Connie works in the Native American arts and crafts industry. By night, she is likely working on a project around her historic home or organizing her vehicle for the next big adventure. Connie has notable experience with overland travel from London to Cape Town in 9 months and extensive overland travel in Australia.
The 2026 Rebelle Rally will be Connie’s second year in the driver’s seat. Team Tried-n-True competed in 2025 with Patty Upton navigating. Connie is bringing her decades of experience in overlanding and her time in the Rebelle to the team this year with hopes of competing and having a good time with her new navigator.
Rachael Elseman
Rachael is a free-spirit with a desire to see and experience all that the world has to offer. Her experience with adventure travel began at an early age with backpacking and ski trips and morphed into a lifetime of adventure. Rachael has worked in a variety of industries, but is currently the Executive Director of the Overland Expo Foundation and as Event Coordinator for The Overland Collective.
2026 is Rachael’s rookie year in the Rebelle Rally. Rachael has a deep well of experience in adventure travel including biking the West Coast of the United States from Vancouver to Tijuana and living full-time in a school bus conversion while visiting every US State and much of Mexico and Canada.
Rachael and Connie met while producing Overland Expo events in 2018 and their paths have continually crossed at various overlanding events and by keeping in touch over the years. Now living close to each other in Colorado, the time seemed right to put together a Rebelle team and go on an adventure together. With the support of brand partners and sponsors like American Expedition Vehicles, the support of their spouses, and a little bit of luck, the team hopes to compete and have the most fun possible.
