Where Are They Now: LeeWhay Pasek, 4x Rebelle
February 19th, 2025
- Years Competed: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Team: The Honey Badgers #156
- Teammate: Driver Rasa Fuller
- Vehicle: A TOTAL CHAOS-equipped 2004 First-Gen Toyota Tacoma, boasting 300,000+ hard-earned miles (and still going strong!)
For LeeWhay Pasek, the Rebelle Rally wasn’t just about competition—it was a turning point.
“At Tech Inspection in 2021, my rookie year, I sent a down payment on 200+ acres of raw land in NH just before we shut down our electronics.”
Since then, she and her family have built a homestead, farm, and orchard. This spring, they’ll add another 350+ fruit and fodder trees and three goats to their property. “It has been an adventure.”
But Rebelle’s impact on her life didn’t stop at the start line. In May 2025, she’ll be teaching navigation skills to a group of homeschool kids and their parents—with guidance from Rebelle founder Emily Miller.
Seeing the Land Differently
“For years, I have explored the outdoors in vehicles. But, since the rally, I seem to look at the terrain a bit differently.”
Recently, when their tractor got stuck in a lower section of their property covered in snow and ice, LeeWhay analyzed the slope and vegetation to find the best way out. By choosing a route with minimal impact, they cut and cleared a few trees to create a path—just like navigating terrain in the rally.
Advice to Her Pre-Rebelle Self?
- BREATHE.
- COMMUNICATE with your teammate—don’t hold things in.
- Cross-train.
- Take a moment and enjoy your surroundings.
- Hydrate and eat.
A Rally Landmark She’ll Never Forget
For most competitors, navigation means maps and roadbooks. But for LeeWhay and her teammate, a blue dumpster in Glamis became an unlikely rally landmark.
“It was 2021, our rookie year. We were in Glamis for the FIRST time. We braved chasing a checkpoint in the dunes, found the flag, and celebrated. Then we panicked—how do we get out of here?”
Making their way out with sweaty palms, they spotted a familiar sight.
“Then, with incredible excitement, Rasa exclaims, ‘There are the dumpsters!’ A landmark leading us back to Gecko Road.”
What the Rebelle Has Given Her
Beyond the skills and adventures, the Rebelle gave LeeWhay something even more personal.
“It has given me an outlet that is mine. I have been married for over 20 years, and I may have lost things that were ‘mine’ for ‘ours.’ For that, I’m very grateful.”
