COVID19 compliant - Saturday Afternoon - Fewbie Plus Desert drive - Nazwa to Big Red via Pink Rock - 27 Mar 2021

[Foxtrot Oscar]

13 hours ago, Matt.T said:

Bring your A game....... no.pressure then 😁

No pressure for you at all @Matt.T You always bring your A game 😜

[Matt.T]

@Foxtrot Oscar running late had prob finding fuel racing now

[Varun Mehndiratta]

Thanks @Foxtrot Oscar for the lovely drive... The bowls were simply awesome... 

Enjoyed every bit of drive with the team . I guess the machines were no match to teams enthusiasm n skills - we had our share of minor niggles over radio and had to let go the Pajero, TJ and Patrol. @armaan @Lucky sAm and @asifkhope you guys could or would get it fixed for next drive, looking forward to see you back in action.

Thanks to @Ahab Shamaa for cracking the code to Camel Rock and to @AlexPol and @Islam Soliman for keeping the convoy togather through the labyrinth of bowls...

I experienced and truly enjoyed  the awesome aura of Raptor and HEMI, both have mastered the art of seduction..😀 - a bit of distance and they were the energy  boosters and everytime  I tried venturing into the inner circle the heat was a bit too much for even my Jeepto handle, leading to couple of refusals. Lesson learnt - some things are better cherished with eyes only. @Shehab Alawadhi @Paul ZeitounZe

Was my first drive with @Ashok chaturvedi was fun meeting you hope to catch up again once you are back from India.

 

Thanks guys for the nice evening, looking forward to drive with all again soon.

 

Edited March 27, 2021 by varunmehndiratta

[Matt.T]

@Foxtrot Oscar   @Ahab Shamaa

@AlexPol @Islam Soliman

Great drive today led by Angela, my 1st Fewbie Plus drive and I felt suitably challenged on some awesome dunes. Thanks Ahab for a bit of guidance at times and the team for keeping it all safe.

Cracking drive Foxtrot thoroughly enjoyed it 

[Foxtrot Oscar]

Drive Report

We started off in the low dunes in Nazwa and practiced our angles, ridge riding, crossing and criss cross maneuvers. It’s always nice to start with a warm up and get into desert driving mode. Everyone was handling the challenges but as we began to motor @Lucky sAmreported an issue with his car, we had a look and there was nothing easily identifiable therefore in order not to risk any damage to his car I exited him to the nearest road. Not long before @asifk also noted that his car was overheating, @asifk applied the water spray to the transmission cooler and had his heat on full and was ready to drive again.

We had one challenging low ridge ride and cross over to navigate which presented some issues for @Matt.T but a quick self recovery and @Matt.T was back on it. Well done, nice recovery. @asifk also got stuck on the same ridge, and again managed to self recovery even with one wheel in the air. Great recovery from you there Asif.

As we headed towards Pink Rock , we continued to play in the smaller dunes readying ourselves for the bigger challenges that lay ahead. @Arman was next to report an issue, it seems his front right bush had gone, given the terrain we were going to encounter we thought it best to exit @Arman to prevent damage to the front springs. I took him to the nearest road which was at the 2^nd of December Café, at this point @asifkhad decided it was also best to exit his car from the drive.

Three down and we hadn’t even gotten into fully yet. We made our way to Pink Rock and as we did so the dunes and bowls became more challenging, having already assessed our Fewbie drivers’ skills on the lower dunes I was sure they wouldn’t have any issues, and they didn’t let me down, sweeping in and around those bowls with aplomb. Great work.

I asked if the convoy wanted to climb Pink Rock with it’s scarred sands and hidden speed bumps and they did. I checked the terrain and finally, on the third attempt. found the best approach which would have minimal impact from cross tracks and bumps, but not after my car had taken a bit of a hit. Haha Told you I’d take the hits for you 😉 All drive leads do.

@Ahab Shamaa showed the way and the convoy followed his path to the top of Pink Rock. Once they had all finished flexing their respective cars' muscles I decided to cross over and head through cowboy country, I was looking for Apaches and John Wayne as we went through. I can’t recall who said it was more Mad Max than Fistful of Dollars, but @Shehab Alawadhisaid it was more likely to be Mahmoud Max…🤣.It was certainly The Good, The Bad and The Ugly hee hee.

We passed Pink Rock and went onto another play area, with a labyrinth of bowls  and ridges which we all swept around with ease as we continued towards our final destination. I asked the convoy , as I always do, if they were happy with the pace, if they felt they could be challenged more. The call came to be challenged more so I did. The pace was raised a little and we enjoyed sweeping around all the wonderful dunes like a helter skelter ride . We had a couple of refusals but nothing major.

With the convoy coping so admirably I kept going and we arrived at the back of Big Red, I asked for total concentration from everyone as the back of Big Red has some nasty surprises. The convoy didn’t disappoint, and we made it to the top at around 6:10pm. We weren’t alone, we had a couple in love who had red roses all around them declaring their love for each other. Or was it a photoshoot? Whatever it was I was sure they didn’t want Carnity invading them.

We headed down, only after I had gone back up twice to see if there were any issues, and when we had finally gotten all back together, we went up and over and down the other side. Again the convoy was asked if they wanted to head back in and see the sunset away from the romantic scene. We tried, but it was all proving too much for @Paul Zeitoun son and with what seemed like a total breakdown in comms and convoy discipline I decided to end the drive before we had some more issues.

@Matt.T you had a great drive, I know I pushed you, but you handled absolutely everything . Your self recovery too, no issues. Great to have you in the convoy. @Shehab Alawadhi, I don’t think you had a single issue the entire day and were big enough to admit when you hadn’t executed a cross correctly. Always a pleasure to have you with me on a drive and I am pleased your lady enjoyed it too. I hope to see her soon …buy her a wrangler haha Likewise @Paul Zeitoun, first time I’d driven with you, I was impressed with how you handle the Ram, great driving, great fun too.  Now that I’ve seen you drive that thing, I am sticking you at the back of the convoy. @varunmehndiratta I know it wasn’t easy being behind the behemoth dune wreckers but you handled it all with aplomb, great drive. Well done too @Ashok chaturvedi, enjoy your holiday.

Finally, a mega big thanks to @Ahab Shamaa who executed the second lead perfectly, honestly love having you at my back. I know you’ll reroute and keep the convoy safe. Thank you for getting the winch out when it was needed. It was a difficult scenario. @AlexPol I wanted you involved in recoveries like you had asked , but they all drove so well haha. You too had a great drive. Well done. @Islam Soliman thank you for sweeping everything at the back.

I volunteer my time to lead people on drives because I genuinely love it. It's not just the driving itself and  passing on knowledge. but driving with you guys. It’s great to have such a responsive and committed convoy. Thank you. I had tremendous fun today,  

[Ashok chaturvedi]

@Foxtrot Oscar thanks as always for an awesome drive today.. I am been in the near same area before but the wind swept dunes keep changing and some sections become a bit of challenge. We reached the pink rock and I for the first time saw an ancient almost man made stone wall near 500 mts long protruding in the sand and could be longer below. Would love to go back and take some fotos of this wall.. there were plenty of volcanic rocks and fossilised magma scattered around. The area appeared a fotographer paradise in the ignorance of Covid scare and foto shoots were happening  and plenty of tourist on dune buggies.. we did have some stucks and retrieval. I enjoyed watching the white pajero @asifk near perched on a crest retrieve itself thanks to Angela talking him through.. what best lesson for all of us is never to panic and be calm rather not digging oneself @asifk we'll done. @Ahab Shamaa  my dear friend always comes in play when needed. @Islam Soliman was doing the sweep and couple of times missed the tracks but a great comfort to have him behind us. My FJ actual floats  and has from the day I brought it into the desert  has never let me down. We did have some sort of  radio trouble and the frequency was changed from 3 to 4 by Angela, my radio also behaved strangling. It was like holding a baby put it down and the squelch screams but hold it in hand it will stop.  I am off on a 3 weeks break to India and shall miss the drives very much.. specially the anxious wait every Sunday for 7pm to press the button. Final here I do find myself under used by some trip leads.... regardless I enjoy all/any position in the convoy. 

[Shehab Alawadhi]

@Foxtrot Oscar first thank you for the amazing drive, I really love Badayir/nazwa area the dunes that just flow into on another that don't need much power just momentum. I had 1 refusal where I was stopped in a bad place but by the time I announced it I was already out. I will always admit when I'm wrong or when I messed up, no shame in that. 

Yes ill do my best to buy my lady a wrangler and get her to join Carnity 🤣

Thank you @Foxtrot Oscar for being a fun and amazing lead, @Ahab Shamaa love the car first of all and great job being second lead, @Islam Soliman as usual amazing sweep didn't leave anyone behind 🤣.

@varunmehndiratta pickup are different in the desert, not many people expect such a large car to be twisting and turning in these types of dunes and when you see one its basically like seeing a flying whale (that is a reference to a heavy metal song by Gojira, @Paul Zeitoun check out the song  Flying Whales - Gojira) hopefully the track wasn't too destroyed for you and I'm glad you enjoyed the show the two giants in the convoy were putting on! 

See you all in the next one and thank you for not making us shovel in the heat I'm so happy everyone dealt with their refusals/stucks by themselves!

Edited March 28, 2021 by Shehab Alawadhi

[Thomas Varghese]

I always love @Foxtrot Oscar's drives. Unfortunately I had to leave due to an emergency. Will see you all soon in the sands. 

[Paul Zeitoun]

Hahahaa, so it seems this one is a "reporting" drive 😂😂😂. My turn then.

@Foxtrot Oscar Definitely one of the most amazing drives i've been in, the adrenalin rush didn't stop. Makes me eager to join one of your drives again.

And just to get you to recognize the voice and the craziness, i was the one who brought up Madmax. I guess added some burning metal to the spice of the beats that were being discussed during the drives @Shehab Alawadhi, @Ahab Shamaa

It was sad to see @Arman, @Lucky sAm and @asifk leave us, hope your issues are easily sorted guys.

@varunmehndirattaThe 3T weight of the green whale did try to take me off course on a few interconnecting bowls, and it was difficult to launch it on soft sand a couple of times,  but this is where the Hemi power comes to rescue. I really enjoyed every bit.

@Ahab Shamaa, @AlexPol, @Islam Soliman, thank you for the support and for ensuring we all were safe in a tricky environment. You were so prompt to jump to the rescue every time you sensed someone in need.

@Shehab Alawadhi, you are totally right, this is the best area to enjoy our whales, though some surprise dips and bumps do hurt. Always a pleasure driving with you bro.

Enjoy your week all, and till next time

 

 

[Varun Mehndiratta]

True @Paul Zeitoun and @Shehab Alawadhi... It was first time for me to.witness the sheer swag of these two vehicles.... On many occasions through the drive I was absolutely sure that one of you are having a refusal, but then you guys just pulled it through out of no where.... These are super awesome machines and you guys rock them with style.