COVID19 Compliant - Afternoon Newbie Desert Drive - Margham - Dubai - 28 May 2021

[Foxtrot Oscar]

Due to unforeseen circumstances a space has opened. @Goutamyou're next on the waitlist. Do you want to join?

[Looper]

Yes definitely I am In. Can’t thank my stars. 

[Foxtrot Oscar]

5 minutes ago, Goutam said:

Yes definitely I am In. Can’t thank my stars. 

You are my sweep, thank you for joining at short notice, always happy to accommodate 😎 

[Foxtrot Oscar]

Drive Report

Where’s a car thief when you need one? Ha!! It could have been an absolute disaster when my car freakishly decided to lock with the keys inside. We tried all the tricks we had seen on tv but , I guess we should be thankful that no one in the convoy knew how to break into a car. Hee hee

1 million thanks to @Desert Dweller who literally saved the day by giving up her car which allowed me to take the convoy into the sand.  Her actions verted an absolute disaster as the only other alternative was to cancel the drive. I’m sure the entire convoy was as grateful as I was

And so we headed in around 4pm and made our way to the play area. We started off gently, the convoy taking turns to navigate a gentle side slope which everyone handled really well, there was no fishtailing , and everyone applied the correct amount of power.

We continued into the dunes and had a couple of refusals along the way which @Goutamhelped resolve. At one point I let @Desert Dwellerout of the car to assist @Rory Ashman who was having some issues with the gears on his wrangler. I think that was the only time we had to get the rope out.

As we continued, I increased the challenge, we had another delightful area for the convoy to  practice some gentle side sloping, Once again, the entire convoy stepped up to the challenge and every driver completed the task with aplomb with not a fishtail in sight and applying the correct amount of gas to give just enough momentum. BRAVO!

It was hard to believe that for many this was their first newbie drive given how well everyone was coping. As such I decided to increase the level ever so slightly, not the pace, but the technical aspect and we headed into some nice dunes that saw the convoy  cross some low level , round ridges. Aside from a couple of refusals at the back in the churned-up sand (to be expected) the convoy kept moving.

And so it continued as we played around the bowls of Margham, enjoying the cool evening breeze and watching the sunset as we drove up and around in and out of the many dunes . We even had a pop out in a great location which allowed the entire convoy to circle their cars around and watch as the issue was resolved with ease.

It was such a great fun drive, and that is all down to you guys! @shu yang you handle that Y62 very well, but perhaps your son disagrees haha. @JamesThorn, a flawless drive, well done. Likewise @Larry Cadden you had a great drive. @Rory Ashman you found your desert wheels and did well after a sticky start. @Aisha S well done, nice driving and thanks for the pop out learning opportunity., @Saddaquat Tanvir well done you handle the LC well. @Charbel Yazbeck amazed at the progress you have made in just a couple of weeks, well done! @Sunil Mathew, flawless drive, likewise @Simon Hope and @WaYan, both of you had flawless drives at the back of a very long convoy. Bravo!

Many many thanks to @Ammar Naji who was the perfect second lead , thank you for listening and diverting when I needed you to. You did an amazing job. Also to @Wade Pat2 who anchored the middle of the convoy for me as a very last minute CF and to @Goutamwho swept at the back, helped keep everything moving and was great helping with recoveries when needed. Of course , thanks again to @Desert Dweller,without whom, this drive would never have happened and for the support when needed.

Finally, a massive thanks to the entire convoy, not only for your great driving,  but that you all listened to instructions and clearly communicated via the radio all of which helped make  this a great, fun and safe  drive.

Until our next adventure 😊

[Charbel]

dear @Foxtrot Oscar, thank you for the lovely ride, and indeed we are all grateful for @Desert Dweller for saving the day  . big thanks to Carnity for the opportunity to meet with amazing groups of off-road enthusiasts every week.

I uploaded few photos in the gallery for the beautiful memories of that afternoon !

[Looper]

Immediately after@Foxtrot Oscar lock herself out, I knew where my car keys are going to be. Safely in the pocket.

I then went and helped recover a mini truck carrying some camel feed. I saw him struggle and was waiting for him to ask for help but he would not come forward, while looking at us thinking "they could help". In the process I put a knot on my recovery rope. The novices-ness does show off in annoying ways.

As a newbie, I had problem determining how much gas to apply - too much gas when stuck and too little when it is needed. As the day progressed convoy to figured out how it is done and it was a smooth sailing quite soon into the drive.

Kudos to Angela @Foxtrot Oscar to mix a verity of driving challenges to hone the skills and end it off with a night technical drive towards the exit. A few pictures I snapped are in gallery for everyone to enjoy. See you all in the next drive. 

[Arman]

Looked like a fun drive that slowly ramped up in intensity as everyone got more comfortable with their cars, was nice to see @Rory Ashman get into a good rhythm after a couple stucks at the beginning, it might be worth a try to drive with some of the manual car owners in carnity although they are sparce like @Srikumar and @Jeepie, im sure they'll have some great insights about driving stick in the desert, particularly around trying not to burn your clutch as that's a very common issue here.

I was MEGA excited about that popped out 🤣 the moment i felt the distinct rumbling and pull of a pop out the little boy in me had a moment of pure joy! So much so that i jumped out of the car an celebrated. This is a great thing to experience early in your drives as getting your first pop out much later would've mad for a harsher learning experience.

Also @Desert Dweller you may or may not still have my spare radio😅

Edited May 30, 2021 by Arman
tagged the wrong person oops

[Sunil Mathew]

Thank you @Foxtrot Oscar for the nice and relaxed drive and @Goutam for the supporting role.

Great opportunity to practice skills learned in previous drives.

Had a close range view of  fixing a pop out, with Angela explaining the procedure over radio - which was a first for me.

Nice to have had the time and opportunity for some chit chat with @Charbel Yazbeck who was driving in front of me and @WaYan 's partner Yanni, when we had the breaks. (Off course with masks on and social distancing - no violation of Covid protocols  here !!! )

Here is my first try with Relive, taking cue from some others in the forum

Animation  - https://www.relive.cc/view/vwq1wQ3yJBO

Interactive Route  - https://www.relive.cc/view/vwq1wQ3yJBO/explore

Not sure if these work  ..Enjoy if working, else ignore

[Larry Cadden]

Thanks @Foxtrot Oscarfor a great drive, was good fun and I learned a lot. Hopefully see you out in the sand again soon.

[Jeepie]

2 hours ago, Arman said:

Looked like a fun drive that slowly ramped up in intensity as everyone got more comfortable with their cars, was nice to see @Rory Ashman get into a good rhythm after a couple stucks at the beginning, it might be worth a try to drive with some of the manual car owners in carnity although they are sparce like @Srikumar and @Jeepie, im sure they'll have some great insights about driving stick in the desert, particularly around trying not to burn your clutch as that's a very common issue here.

I was MEGA excited about that popped out 🤣 the moment i felt the distinct rumbling and pull of a pop out the little boy in me had a moment of pure joy! So much so that i jumped out of the car an celebrated. This is a great thing to experience early in your drives as getting your first pop out much later would've mad for a harsher learning experience.

Also @Desert Dweller you may or may not still have my spare radio😅

Sorry to disappoint you,  but I don't drive a manual 😉