Emily Miller

Emily Miller is the founder and director of the Rebelle Rally, the longest competitive off-road rally in the United States, and a championship off-road racer who made history as the first woman to solo drive the grueling Vegas to Reno race.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up as the youngest of three siblings—with a brother 15 years older and a sister five years her senior—Emily spent her childhood trying to keep up with the big kids[1]. Her father was an architect who loved design, and family vacations weren’t spent at theme parks but driving around looking at architecture[2]. She wanted to follow in his footsteps, dreaming of becoming an architect herself.

Miller grew up as a car fanatic with a stack of car magazines always nearby[3]. That early passion for automobiles would eventually steer her away from architecture and toward a career that combined motorsports, marketing, and adventure. She lived in San Francisco working for Dr. Kevin Stone, an orthopedic surgeon who worked with the US Ski Team, before her life took a dramatic turn toward off-road racing[4].

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond racing, Emily established herself as a sports marketing powerhouse. After years racing for Rod Hall Racing and producing events with the team, she formed her own marketing company, Soulside Network, Inc.[5]. Through Soulside, she produced and marketed motorsports events for major brands, with credits including 13 years working in the industry[6]. She put together massive events with Red Bull, including their wild ideas like base-jumping off seven casinos in Las Vegas[7].

Miller also became a driver and eventually an instructor for Michelin-BFGoodrich Light Truck Tire Seminars[8]. She’s a self-described “tire nerd” who believes deeply in teaching fundamentals—time, speed, distance, and bearing—without worrying about social media optics[9]. Her resume includes farm manager, a testament to her ability to pivot and tackle whatever challenge comes her way[10].

EARLY SUCCESS

In 2002, while living in Reno, Nevada, Emily met Rod Hall, the legendary off-road racer who would become her mentor and friend[11]. Hall brought her into off-roading and taught her how to drive, fundamentally changing the trajectory of her life. She started racing under his guidance, learning from one of the best in the business.

In 2005, Miller made history when she became the first woman to solo drive the Vegas to Reno off-road race—the longest in the United States[12]. The second year she entered the three-day rally with her co-driver Sam Cothrun, she solo drove the entire race and they won[13]. She also clinched part of a Baja 1000 win and racked up multiple podium finishes throughout her racing career[14].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2005: First woman to solo drive the Vegas to Reno off-road race[15].
• 2009: Part of the only US team to compete in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles in Morocco[16].
• 2010: Returned to Morocco with Wendy Fisher to compete in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles[17].
• 2011: Finished 2nd in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles in Morocco[18].
• Multiple years: Won her class in the Baja 1000, competing alongside Rod Hall and Mike Winkel[19].
• Multiple years: Achieved numerous podium finishes in Vegas to Reno races[20].
• 2016: Founded the Rebelle Rally, creating the first women’s off-road navigation rally in the United States[21].
• 2017: Inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame[22].

INSPIRATIONS

Rod Hall was the single most transformative figure in Miller’s racing life. The legendary off-road racer didn’t just teach her how to drive—he showed her what was possible and brought her into a male-dominated world with mentorship and respect[23]. His influence shaped not only her driving skills but her philosophy about racing, navigation, and the importance of fundamentals over flashiness.

After getting married, Emily’s priorities shifted and she didn’t necessarily want to race anymore[24]. But that life change didn’t diminish her passion for motorsports—it redirected it. She wanted to create something where women could feel proud of their accomplishments, spend time focused on their jobs, push themselves, and be respected for completing a monumental challenge[25]. That vision became the Rebelle Rally.

REPUTATION

Emily Miller is recognized as a living legend in the off-road racing community, with an impressive resume that spans champion racer, rally instructor, sports marketer, and event director[26]. She’s respected not just for what she accomplished behind the wheel, but for what she built for other women.

The Rebelle Rally has become a game-changer in motorsports—a 1,200-mile, seven-day navigation rally through some of the most challenging terrain in the American West, with no GPS allowed[27]. Competitors use old-school navigation tools: maps, compasses, and roadbooks. It’s the real deal, demanding skill, strategy, and grit. Miller designed it to be an event where women are tested, respected, and celebrated for their capabilities rather than their gender.

She’s known for emphasizing preparation, resilience, and leadership—using navigation as a metaphor for life[28]. Through her TEDx talks and numerous podcast appearances, she advocates for teaching women the fundamentals and not letting them take shortcuts just because technology makes it easier[29]. Miller believes in passing knowledge forward through programs like Rebelle Impact and Rebelle U, where experienced women teach others to succeed and carry that knowledge into their own communities[30].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2025, the Rebelle Rally is celebrating its tenth anniversary—a milestone that speaks to the event’s staying power and impact[31]. Miller continues to drive in the rally herself, piloting a 2020 TC-Equipped Lexus GX460 since 2021[32]. She remains focused on expanding the reach and influence of both the Rebelle Rally and the educational programs that support women in motorsports and outdoor adventure.

Through Rebelle Impact, she’s committed to helping women who know how to do the job teach others to do it successfully, creating a ripple effect of knowledge and empowerment[33]. The Rebelle Rally continues to attract major brand partnerships and media attention, with Miller consistently advocating for more opportunities for women to prove their skills in competitive motorsports environments.

REFERENCES

[1][2][4][7][10][11][24][26] Living Legend: Emily Miller – Expedition Portal
[3][25] Journey to the Rebelle
[5][6][9] Industry Insights: Emily Miller – Performance Racing
[8] Emily Miller’s Rebelle Rally is Changing Off Roading – A Girl’s Guide to Cars
[12][23] Meet Emily Miller, the founder of Rebelle Rally and a real “tire nerd” – Pirelli
[13] Rebelle Rally Founder Emily Miller Is a Total Off-Road Warrior – MotorTrend
[14] Emily Miller discusses Morocco, Navigation, and Rebelle Rally – Overland Journal
[15] The Rebelle Rally Is the Real Deal – Autoweek
[16][18][22] Legends Live at the Hall of Fame – Emily Miller – ORMHOF
[17] Wendy Fisher, Emily Miller return to Moroccan rally – Crested Butte News
[19] Baja 1000 official final results – Motorsport.com
[20][27] The Rebelle Rally Is a Seven Day, 1200-Mile Rally Just for Women – Road & Track
[21] Breaking Barriers in Motorsports: Emily Miller on the Rebelle Rally – Get In Her Lane
[28] Emily Miller’s TEDx Talk on Navigation, Resilience, and Leadership – Expedition Portal
[29][30][33] Rebelle Impact – Words by Founder Emily Miller
[31] January 2025 Newsletter – Rebelle Rally
[32] Competition – Rebelle Rally