As the teams take on their first marathon leg, a look at what compels one Gazelle to make the journey into the heart of the Moroccan dunes.

The dunes of Morocco beckon competitors in the 2011 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles. A top team is unranked and the U.S.-French partnership of Team Miller Medard moves into the second spot.

Team Miller Medard holds onto the third spot as the Gazelle Spirit of helping fellow competitors is evident on the third leg of the 2011 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles.

The U.S.-French Team 109 moves into the third spot as competition during the 2011 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles heats up.

Team Miller Medard are in fifth place as the 220 competitors battle their first sandstorm and more than one missing map during the 2011 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles.

Prologue Day: Odometer calibrations and checkpoints amid desert ruins as 110 teams take part in the ceremonial start of the 2011 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles.

American Emily Miller and Frenchwoman Armelle Medard are the team to watch in the 2011 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles. With technical qualifications complete, the 220 women competitors make their crossing from Sète to Tangiers.

We rarely pick up press releases verbatim from manufacturers, but today we’ll make a partial exception. Crossing my desk earlier was a release from Saab telling of a truly “feel good” story.

Ireland is closer than you think. Debi Lander visits a Caribbean island where St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday, and imported Guinness flows alongside Goats Water.

He was the screen icon of his era—a survivor and a superstar—and in 1971, he made his most personal film, Le Mans. Seen here is the Porsche 911 that was Steve McQueen’s co-star for the film’s first four minutes. Richard Truesdell tells its story. Darin Schnabel provides the photographs.

Looking for a brand-new air-cooled Porsche 911? Richard Truesdell checks out the Singer 911 from Singer Vehicle Design.

Arizona’s oldest continuously operating hotel is the home of one of Tucson’s best breakfast spots, The Cup Café, and on any given morning, summer or winter, you’ll find dogs seated beneath at least one of the outdoor tables. (I’ve heard The Cup offers a pretty good lunch, dinner, and happy hour menu, too. In fact, when I was in high school, The Cup was a favorite spot to meet friends for a decadent late-night dessert after doing research at the University of Arizona library for debate class.