COVID19 Compliant - Evening Fewbie PLUS Desert Drive - Exploration from Qudra to Little Swehian - Dubai - 24 Jul 2020

[Ale Vallecchi]

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and and strictly follow these guidelines in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely.

 

MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions

 

MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST

 

Two Way Radio Guidelines

• Every Offroader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic.
• We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. 
• Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving.
• Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops...
• No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it.

 

Drive Details

Level:  Fewbie PLUS (Drivers with more than 5 Fewbie drives) and all above - NO NEWBIES ALLOWED.

When: 24 July 2020, Friday

Meeting time: 4:30 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Meeting Point:  https://goo.gl/maps/oosk2Mgcp181hKMJ8

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 8:00 PM

 

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM.
  • 1 Lead Marshal + 1 or 2 Senior Member + 8 Members.
  • If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list
• Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS.
• Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS.
• Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list.
• Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others.
• Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month.

 

PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear fellow desert addicts.

While you are debating which drive to join (perhaps more than one), I'd like to give you a brief description of this Fewbie PLUS drive.

First thing, it will accept Fewbie drivers with 5 or more Carnity drives within this rank. 

This is to allow those who joins to find themselves in the company of similarly skilled drivers, and enjoy an hopefully smooth and lenghty drive.

In fact, I mention the length of the drive, as this means to be a sort of exploration of not so often visited parts of the Qudra basin.

We'll leave from an unusual starting point on the west of Qudra, which allowes a relatively quick access to ranges of long dunes. We'll ride these all the way to the sabkha facing Solar Park, with the goal of reaching more long range dunes, which head in a South-West direction toward Little Swahian. This will be our final destination, Inshallah. 

While more details will follow soon, I am looking forward to seeing you on Friday, with your explorer's hat (and spirit) on. 

Edited July 19, 2020 by Ale Vallecchi

[Chaitanya D]

21 minutes ago, Ale Vallecchi said:

Dear fellow desert addicts.

While you are debating which drive to join (perhaps more than one), I'd like to give you a brief description of this Fewbie PLUS drive.

First thing, it will allow Fewbie drivers with 5 or more Carnity drives within this rank. 

This is to allow those who join to find themselves in the company of similarly skilled drivers, and enjoy an hopefully smooth and lenghty drive.

In fact, I mention the length, as this means to be a sort of exploration of not so often visited parts of the Qudra basin.

We'll leave from an unusual starting point on the west of Qudra, which allowes a relatively quick access to ranges of long dunes. We'll ride these all the way to the sabkha facing Solar Park, with the goal of reaching more long range dunes, which head in a South-West direction toward Little Swahian. This will be our final destination, Inshallah. 

While morr details will follow soon, I am looking forward to seeing you on Friday, with your explorer hat (and spirit) on. 

@Ale Vallecchi you set the excitement right from the time drive is posted... 3 Nissan patrols (Y62)in the convoy if I am not wrong...there will be a lot of sand in the air 🤣.see you on Friday 👍

[Salarios]

22 minutes ago, Chaitanya D said:

@Ale Vallecchi you set the excitement right from the time drive is posted... 3 Nissan patrols (Y62)in the convoy if I am not wrong...there will be a lot of sand in the air 🤣.see you on Friday 👍

Y62's unite! Let's show them we're not driving over-glorified grocery getters, but formidable opponents in conquering the toughest terrains Ale can throw at us!  🤪 

 

Edited July 19, 2020 by Salarios
wrote unit instead of unite*

[Gaurav]

2 minutes ago, Salarios said:

Y62's unit! Let's show them we're not driving over-glorified grocery getters, but formidable opponents in conquering the toughest terrains Ale can throw at us!  🤪 

You still don't know the other half of the story why @Chaitanya D mentioned this.

Ill leave the surprise for him to share/show.

[Salarios]

Just now, Gaurav said:

You still don't know the other half of the story why @Chaitanya D mentioned this.

Ill leave the surprise for him to share/show.

😅 

@Chaitanya D You have to let me know! 

[Chaitanya D]

1 minute ago, Salarios said:

😅

@Chaitanya D You have to let me know! 

Already Ale has set the excitement,  let the amusement be reserved for Friday ... United Y62s conquer😉 🤣

[asifk]

Apologies but I will have to drop out of this drive. You guys enjoy ! 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Quote

 

Dear @Kalahari, @Anish S, @Shiju Manuel, @Lorenzo Candelpergher, @Chaitanya D, @Lucky sAm, @Salarios, @Jolly Abraham, @Rinelle Sanaani

As described in the drive's presentation post, we are looking to have as long a drive as possible, exploring the western side of the Qudra basin, passing through Solar park, and all the way to Little Swehian. The terrain will be mostly made of long dune ranges, but we will also find some areas of technical dunes. Plus, the more we'll head south, the more the sand will become soft and unstable. This is due to the cordon of dunes finding themselves in between sabkhas, which make the sand travel through these flat areas, and accumulate in the slip-sides and pockets of the dunes to the south of each sabkha. The result may be a drive with refusals and stucks that will become more likely the more we progress toward our goal of reaching Little Swehian.

Because of these technical challenges, the length of the convoy (including, at the moment 12 cars), and the duration of the drive (likely to be over 3 hours), I would like to recommend, as in all Fewbie PLUS and above drives, to prepare yourselves in the following area: 

• MENTAL READINESS AND CONCENTRATION - to make sure that all our energies and focus go to the characteristics of the terrain, our driving skills, and the security of the convoy, please be ready to concentrate yourselves on the drive alone. Kindly try to reduce all possible distractions, including bringing along too many passengers. If you bring along somebody, please explain that it will not be possible to converse while driving, or distract the driver from his duties. This recommendation aims to reduce the potential for refusals, stucks, and any other type of incident that may be caused by a distracted driver.
• AVAILABILITY OF PROPER EQUIPMENT - being at Fewbie Plus and above level means to have fully understood the need to carry the proper equipment in the car. This MUST include to say the least 1) a good shovel, 2) a tow rope (preferably with soft shackles), and 3) a compressor. Proper equipment also incudes a very important car accessory: tested, robust, tow hooks in good conditions. I will take care to verify the availability of all of the above equipment for all attendees, and will be forced to refuse participation for those who do not carry these essential items.
• COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS - there are two elements to our ability to communicate in the desert. The technical aspect demands that 1) your radios are fully charged, 2) that each driver always identifies himself when speaking, so to allow the convoy to react speedily to any predicament, and 3) that all respond when questions or instructions are directed at them, in order to acknowledge that all is clear and understood. The psychological aspect has to do with the willingness to communicate. Please, do not be afraid or ashamed to inform the convoy leader that one may not feel like making some maneuver, taking a seemingly risky approach, or doing anything beyond one's perceived skills, or physical conditions. When no communication of this kind takes place, the leader and the rest of the convoy will assume that all is well, and will not be able to address any concern of second-thoughts a driver may have.

Kindly acknowledge the above information, so that we may look forward to a challenging, yet pleasant drive.

Luckily, we'll have @Frederic and @Wrangeld assisting us on the drive, and bringing their expertise and flair to an already "star studded" convoy.

See you all Friday (convoy order and radio channel will be published on Thursday evening).

5 hours ago, asifk said:

Apologies but I will have to drop out of this drive. You guys enjoy ! 

Dear @asifk, well noted. Sorry you will not be able to join. Hope to see you soon.

 

[Salarios]

Thank you for investing the time and energy @Ale Vallecchi and outlining the essentials of a safe and enjoyable drive for all.