Until I spotted the Monster Energy crew at the airport, I wasn’t entirely convinced the trip was real. They had invited me on behalf of DirtFish and all I knew was that I’d be getting the keys to a Defender and going to the Grand Canyon.
I’d been off-roading as a child in British Columbia’s backcountry, but never in the driver’s seat. Now I was heading into the desert with off-road racing legends Sara Price and Ricky Brabec leading the way.
That morning we started with a briefing of what we were in for with the Grand Canyon as our backdrop. Brabec had been extremely deliberate about making sure we all understood his instructions and how to use our road books. Price later told me that Brabec had been nervous and had considered changing the route, worried that the section we just completed might be too challenging for new drivers.
I was glad he hadn’t. As I started out on the trail, I thought, “I’m really getting the hang of this,” as I barreled mine and my co-driver’s Defender over some lightly rocky terrain.
Then I saw the climb. The hill ahead instantly made me feel nervous. I could tell that the ground was a bit softer and not only did it seem like we’d be going straight up, but there was actual risk of slipping. I figured, “Well, we’re here now,” and that my only choice was to give it a shot.
Steep, rocky terrain wasn't for faint of heart
I’m proud to say that first big hill climb ended with a thumbs-up from Ricky Brabec.
I’d gone first out of our convoy, made it over, and earned the approval of a two-time Dakar winner. For someone who had never driven off-road before, that was quite a confidence boost!
My next surprise? How fast Sara drives. This shouldn’t have shocked me as much as it did, but I expected she would ease us into the trails after the climb, which I realize now is a lot to ask of a Dakar racer. Keeping up with her required considerably more concentration and commitment than I was used to.
Next came my first puncture. We had just left lunch and were hitting the trails to take us back to historic Route 66 and Oatman, Arizona. As I went to pull onto the Tarmac, I realized my tire was down to 1psi, and I hadn’t even felt it happen.
I pulled over, panicked a little and was afraid to carry on. This was the first flat tire of my life, after all, and it happened on a narrow, windy road in the middle of the desert.
Nicole Bogusinski got to experience Defender's capability from behind the wheel
Thankfully, we had radios which I used to call Price, who encouraged me to keep going, and the team sprang into action to change the tire for me at the next stop. My introduction to desert driving now included both a small triumph and a problem I couldn’t solve alone.
After a full day of driving through the desert, we arrived at our final destination – Rip & Dip Ranch. This is Price & Brabec’s oasis where they can rest, train, entertain and live life to the absolute fullest.
At Rip & Dip Ranch, there was plenty to bring me back to earth, including a visit to cuddle Price’s four rescue donkeys. I watched some of our group try wakesurfing for the first time from the comfort of a pontoon boat, quite happy to leave that particular first for another day.
The jet boat, however, was an immediate ‘yes’ for me.
I zipped up my lifejacket and got my safety briefing, realizing immediately as I crawled into the seat that there was nothing to hold me in the boat aside from a grip bar by my side. The wind pulled at my face as we flew across the water at 90mph. I was cheering, but couldn’t even hear my own voice as the 1000 horsepower engine directly behind my head drowned out the sound. Somehow, this was all part of a motorsport trip.
Sara Price and Ricky Brabec played hosts at Rip & Dip Ranch
To cap the evening off, I jumped into the lake fully clothed, jeans included, with only a little coaxing from Price, who wanted to jump in with someone. At first, I wasn’t going to let myself do something so careless. But the thought that this might be the only time I’ll get the chance crossed my mind and so I threw caution to the wind and dived in, head first, with Price right behind me.
It felt like girlhood: spontaneous, playful and wonderfully unconcerned with having the right clothes.
On the trail, I’d needed careful instructions and a Dakar champion’s reassurance. At the lake, all it took was Sara asking if someone would jump in with her.
Both times, my first instinct had been to hesitate. Both times, I was glad I’d joined in.
That’s what stayed with me beyond the driving. At Rip & Dip, two people who take racing incredibly seriously made room for the simple pleasure of doing something for the first time. I could learn from them behind the wheel, but also in those moments when there was nothing to achieve and nobody keeping score.
I’d come to the desert to learn how to drive off-road. Somewhere between the hill climb and the lake, I remembered how much fun it is to be a beginner.
That was a bit more than I’d expected from a set of Defender keys.
