Ale Vallecchi Posted March 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2021 5 hours ago, Ahab Shamaa said: A huge thanks @Ale Vallecchi and @Wrangeld for leading these drives 😀 You guys are birds of feather when it comes to great write-ups; shrouded with excitement and mystery🤣 To all my fellow drivers, I have a few thoughts to share with you. Here it goes: 1. Please allot ample time for the drive (no early commitments so we don’t have to exit early). Plus you know in desert driving, you control your entry time, but not so much your exit time. 2. Please don’t bring “green” passengers, especially if they haven’t been to the desert before and you are not sure if they will get sick on the drive. Also, I cannot stress enough that it’s your responsibility to have all passengers on the drive seat belted and secured. You are the captain of the car and your rules go. Do not let your passengers talk you into not wearing a seat belt because they feel sick or trapped. Everyone, especially small children should be belted; period. 3. Please make sure your car is desert worthy and free of mechanical problems at the time of the drive. The car is overheating slightly on SZR, translates into an engine blow-up in the desert. The heat and the demanding drives have been amplifying car issues lately. 4.Make sure your radio is fully charged and/or have a spare battery or a spare (charged) radio. Once on the drive, speak clearly into the radio. Start speaking a second or so after you press the PTT button and release the button a second or so after you’ve finished speaking. If you get stuck, please announce your name, your car make and if possible your position in the convoy. 5. Please be at the meeting point at a time you deem is enough for you to get your flag up and your tires deflated and ready for the drive. The pre-drive prep varies from person to person, so operate on your own timeline. Just be in your car, ready to drive with your radio switched on, at the starting time of the drive. Finally, I would like to stress that I say all the above with the utmost respect and love for everyone. Lately, I’ve experienced some or all of the above issues on my drives, and they have made our actual driving time way shorter than anticipated, and diminished the desert experience for most of us. In any event, I hope I’m not overstepping by sharing my two cents. I’m merely expressing my feelings aloud on the forum. With that, if @Ale Vallecchi, @Wrangeldor @Gaurav do not murder me for running my mouth, I will see you all on the sand on Saturday. Otherwise, know I’ll be dead and buried somewhere in “Dubai’s Middle Earth” 🤣 Thanks a lot @Ahab Shamaa for your very welcome recommendations. They are very valuable, especially coming not from a Marshal, but from a loyal member, who has had the opportunity of doing many drives with many leads, and can share a personal, yet well informed, point of view with us and other members. The points you raise are extremely valid, and very important to remember. They do guarantee that all drives are run as smoothly as possible, to the full satisfaction of all members. No harm at all done, in reminding fellow drivers some of the courtesies, as well as the technical requirements, which will ensure the drives are as enjoyable and safe as possible. All members, please take these points seriously, as they are usually not part of our formal briefings, but should actually be kept in mind by all, while preparing for a drive. From the safety point of view, the request to always make sure your car is desert worthy is paramount. This means to constantly listen to the car. notice any strange sounds coming from it, at any time, make sure you always clean your filter after every drive, you regularly check the engine fluids, and periodically take the car in for an all around check-up. The other issues being raised by Ahab are a matter of courtesy, but not less important to insure a pleasant drive. Thanks Ahab, and see you this Saturday. 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_macdxb Posted March 30, 2021 Report Share Posted March 30, 2021 Hey Ale and all others, love the sound of the drive, but I must withdraw as will be out of country on a last minute getaway. Have fun and I will definitely check the debrief to see where you desertnuts end up. Have fun 👍 and drive safe-ish. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale Vallecchi Posted March 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2021 10 hours ago, andy_macdxb said: Hey Ale and all others, love the sound of the drive, but I must withdraw as will be out of country on a last minute getaway. Have fun and I will definitely check the debrief to see where you desertnuts end up. Have fun 👍 and drive safe-ish. Thanks @andy_macdxb for the update. Enjoy the trip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looper Posted March 31, 2021 Report Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) ~snip *If there is a spot available I would like to be waitlisted for this drive please.* Edit: I could join apparently. Edited March 31, 2021 by Goutam 1 don't drive like its your last one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale Vallecchi Posted March 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2021 49 minutes ago, Goutam said: ~snip *If there is a spot available I would like to be waitlisted for this drive please.* Edit: I could join apparently. Yes @Goutam. The drive is still open with 1 more spot after the one you took. Welcome to........ (mystery 😆)! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Varghese Posted March 31, 2021 Report Share Posted March 31, 2021 who will be Sherlock and who will be Dr. Watson in this mystery? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francois Germishuys Posted April 1, 2021 Report Share Posted April 1, 2021 Hi @Ale Vallecchi any spot open for me? First drive and only drive for the weekend. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale Vallecchi Posted April 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2021 4 hours ago, Francois Germishuys said: Hi @Ale Vallecchi any spot open for me? First drive and only drive for the weekend. Hello @Francois Germishuys. You are IN. See you on Saturday 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ale Vallecchi Posted April 1, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted April 1, 2021 Dear Desertnauts. The mystery is about to be solved. We have chosen a meeting point, which will soon be published on the drive's post. PLEASE CHECK THE PAGE AFTER 7PM TOMORROW EVENING. Once you reach it, please position yourself on separate sides of the road, according to which convoy you belong to. @Ale Vallecchi's convoy will be on the right hand side of the road, and will be composed of: @Ahab Shamaa, @Goutam, @Islam Soliman, @Jack Thomas, @Kenneth Bollhardt, @kolinrrj, @Malachy McGrogan, @Nihal17, @Rizwan Waheed, @VipinShetty and @Yahya Munir. The radio channel selected for this convoy is Carnity Channel #2 (446.031). @Wrangeld (Richard)'s convoy will line up on the left side of the road, and will include: @Francois Germishuys, @Humayun Ghias, @Mobeen Anwar, @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ, @Niki Patel, @Rob Harper, @sheri, @Sreejith Sreenivasan, @stavros papachristos, @Thomas Varghese @Watteau and @Yousef Alimadadi. The radio channel selected for this convoy is Carnity Channel #1 (446.006). These lists are in alphabetical order, so the exact convoys' orders will be unveiled tomorrow. They have been composed so to keep into account a balanced mix of drivers, in terms or ranks, experience and type of cars. As far as the itinerary is concerned, we will be entering an area of large, long dunes (tall but not too sharp), spend some time playing in their shadows, then cross a sabkha and approach another area of long range cordons (although possibly accessed through a small set of more technical dunes). Initially our general direction will be west, with the sun at our backs, but eventually we plan to turn around, toward a yet undecided exit point, in an easterly position with respect to Downtown Dubai. All skills will be practiced: side sloping, some ridge riding and criss-crossing, as well as driving along canyons, and in and out of sand bowls as well. Meeting time is confirmed at 6:00 AM on Saturday Morning, sharp. Enjoy your end of the week, and have a good Friday. 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francois Germishuys Posted April 1, 2021 Report Share Posted April 1, 2021 Hi @Ale Vallecchi what do you have planned for us tomorrow? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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