COVID 19 Compliant - Afternoon Intermediate Desert Drive - Al Faqaa - Dubai - 22 Jan 2021

[Emmanuel]

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:  Intermediate and above

Meeting time: 2:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/JVTZn57kETeBFJRn8

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with low gear, 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: 6:00 PM

P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM.
  • 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 

 

[Emmanuel]

@Lucky sAm if I’m not mistaken you’re not at intermediate level yet. Time will come for sure, but for this drive, sorry, I removed you. 

[Lucky sAm]

Dear @Emanuel,

 

I have done my 4 Fewbie Plus successfully and very easily, plz advice when i can be promote to next level. 🙏

[Emmanuel]

Dear @Lucky sAm, I invite you to go through the grading structure and if you feel that you ticked all the boxes, then you can apply for a promotion : 

 

 

[M.Seidam]

@Emmanuel please put me on wait list as second drive . Just for info my first drive is with Richard same day morning . If I am lucky I will have the pleasure meeting you for the first time live 🙏🏻

Edited January 18, 2021 by Mohamed Seidam

[Emmanuel]

@Christian Andras please pick one drive between mine and Sertac’s, and, if you want, add your name on the other drive’s WL, as requested on WhatsApp notification:

*NEW CHANGE/REQUEST*

To prevent all drives getting full on Sunday by multiple RSVP, we would like to request everyone to please RSVP ONE DRIVE (for the weekend: Friday OR Saturday) initially and then book your second or third drive from Wednesday onward. 

Sun - Tuesday - Limiting one drive per member (for the weekend: Friday OR Saturday)
Wednesday onward - RSVP on multiple drives

*P.S. You can waitlist your name anytime for multiple drives too, like below.*
Example: Gaurav - Second drive waitlist.”

21 minutes ago, Mohamed Seidam said:

@Emmanuel please put me on wait list as second drive . Just for info my first drive is with Richard same day morning . If I am lucky I will have the pleasure meeting you for the first time live 🙏🏻

Done @Mohamed Seidam. I also hope to meet you!

[M.Seidam]

Dear @Emmanuel it looks like our first meeting is not this Friday afternoon I am afraid , please remove me from the wait list . Hope to catch up in some another time 😔

[Christian Andras]

@Emmanuel sorry for this, but changed family plans doesn’t allow me to go in the afternoon, so I have to give up this...I thought I could make it somehow, but have had no luck...

[Emmanuel]

RSVP is now closed

@Islam Soliman, @Ahab Shamaa, @Mukundan Nair, @Abu Muhammad, @Jorge Stepniak Felippe, @Goutam, @Tero Vallas, @Kalahari, very happy to see you tomorrow at 2 PM.  

We will use Carnity radio channel 4. 

Here is our convoy numbering:  

1. Emmanuel (White Xterra) - lead

2. Islam Soliman (GMC Yukon) - 2nd lead

3. Ahab Shamaa (White FJ)

4. Goutam (Yellow Wrangler)   

5. Abu Muhammad (Secundra)

6. Pancho (red Wrangler) 

7. Jorge Stepniak Felippe (White Wrangler) 

8. Mukundan Nair (White Xterra)

9. Tero Vallas (Prado)

10. Kalahari (Red Xterra) - sweep

[Emmanuel]

Drive report

Yesterday's drive was a pure joy, the kind of joy you can only find in Al Faqaa, these days, as it is one of the very few areas in Dubai and Sharjah where you can expect to find a real desert, literally, without seeing anyone around. Only breathtaking views, amazing long range high dunes, gazels... 

Pure joy also because I had a very strong convoy, drivers with whom you know from the beginning that you won't need to ask yourself when you do a difficult crossing : Is everyone going to make it? Safely? Yes. Can I increase the pace a bit more? Safely? Yes. Can I consider crossing 5-10 km of continuous slip faces? With no pop out? Yes, no prob. Can I...? Answer is always, or let's say at 95%: yes. Well done everyone, @Ahab Shamaa, @Goutam, @Abu Muhammad, @Jorge Stepniak Felippe, @Mukundan Nair, @Tero Vallas. Of course we couldn't have had such a good drive without the support of @Islam Soliman (fantastic 2nd lead), @Pancho and @Kalahari.    

This time I introduced a small change in our convoy numbering system. Considering that all intermediates members need to be trained for recoveries, I decided not to put anyone at "Center Forward" position and to make each driver responsible of the car in front of him. The few recoveries we had to do yesterday have been done by regular intermediate drivers under Pancho's and/or Kalahari's supervision. I think that this system works well, but please @Kalahari and @Pancho do share your opinion.

Yesterday I also wanted to try a new entry point and explore a specific set of dunes at the beginning. Not a good idea: they were too soft and technical and I got myself crested while trying to crisscross my first ridge... Soon, we left this area behind and reached the first long range dunes where we were able to stretch our legs and follow the rest of the plan, which was to drive along the AD border and exit from the South of Little Sweihan, by the track to Solar Park.

The only unfortunate event we had occurred at the end of the drive, when @Ahab Shamaa got an engine light and sudden lack of power in his FJ, but thanks to an incredible team work, we could avoid what I was afraid of: having to tow the vehicle through on several kilometers by night. Cleaning the air filter (strangely covered with sand), disconnecting and reconnecting the battery worked. Engine light was still on but Ahab decided to go with it and drove with no issue till home. Ahab, fingers crossed for your FJ, we all hope it's nothing bad. Please keep us updated. 

Everyone, thank you. And hope to see you soon.