Morning Fewbie Desert Drive - Bab Al Shams - Dubai - 27 Aug 2021

[Islam Soliman]

General Info

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
• Ban from Carnity Off-road Club
• Two Way Radio Guidelines

 

Drive details

Level:  Fewbie and Above

When: 27 Aug 2021, Friday.

Meeting time: 05:00 AM SHARP

Meeting Point:   https://goo.gl/maps/4UiLiier2aPomBdz6 

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), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 09:00 AM

End Point: 

THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. WE WILL  ENDING THE DRIVE A POINT, WHICH IS NOT CLOSE TO AN AIR LINE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. 

 

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• Limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 3:00pm
  • 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.
• 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.
   

RSVP Below: 

 

[Islam Soliman]

Dear @Aisha S @Anoop Nair @Daniel Yang @Gregory @Zixuan Huang - Charlie.. we have a short convoy which is an amazing opportunity for a sweet and fun drive tomorrow morning 🤩 

Pre-drive details below:

1- It is already hot and we want to have an early start hoping to cover majority of the track by 9:00am before heading to the exit to inflate by 9:30am before we get roasted.

2- This requires prompt presence at the meeting point by 5:00am and be ready to move max by 5:30am (deflated, flag erected, 4H on, radio on and set, airbags/traction/abs all set....) 

3- Please ensure your radio is on, fully charged, and set to the right frequency: channel 4 (446,081.25) upon arrival to do a quick radio check

4- briefing will be done on on the sand before we start moving

5- once you arrive please try to take your correct spot behind the right car as per the convoy order below (if possible)

6- please ensure you come with a full tank (as much as possible) in addition to all necessary gear for this drive level

 

Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/4UiLiier2aPomBdz6 

See you all on the sand 😎

 

Convoy order:

 

[Gregory]

Wow, what a drive! Or should I say an extended practical tutorial 

After several weeks of smooth, and mostly stuck/refusal free drives, I was expecting something similar today on the Bab al Shams morning. I also had in my mind that with a small group, we would be able to increase the pace and cover more ground. It shows that in life, one should always expect the unexpected! 

@Aisha S had a wish - to be able to dig, and to be part of / assist with recoveries as far as possible. Within 30 minutes of our very humid start, her wish was granted... I was the first to get stuck. As second lead, I wanted to ensure I kept up with @Islam Soliman, and fulfil my duty - I ended up too close.  I was generously assisted by all, and the situation was treated as a learning experience. 

One after the next, others granted her her wish too, either in the form of refusals or stucks - at one time we had 3 of the cars stuck at the same time. This included @Islam Solimanon occasion. Lots of digging, tow ropes and creative thinking/strategies in the super soft sand. Beautiful dunes but such soft sand. I decided to keep my tow rope inside my car (as opposed to the trunk) from that point on as it seemed to be a very popular piece of equipment during the drive. In between these stucks, we did some ridge riding. 

What was fantastic was how the group members assisted each other in finding solutions, and the participating (all Covid guidelines observed), and this was patiently and graciously facilitated by @Islam Soliman This is how people learn their strategies - from a practical perspective, which increases their confidence and skill. Patience was tested in the (by now) hot sun. @Aisha S 's wish allowed us to enjoy a very different drive to the one that most of us may be used to. 

On the way to the exit, @Islam Soliman returned to the back of the convoy to assist with a stuck situation. When he called for fire extinguishers, I originally thought that he was inviting us back for some barbecued Kofta - it was actually some vegetation under his car that had caught alight/was smoking. Quick thinking (and use of his fire extinguisher) by @Zixuan Huang - Charlie ensured the danger was controlled, and Islam's Yukon prevailed. @Anoop Nair followed up by using his shovel to remove any further vegetation from under the vehicle, lessening the risk. Islam needed a pull-out, and @Daniel Yang obliged, as V8 power was needed in the crazy soft sand. 

Close to the exit, we were blessed to come across a herd of Gazelles - I thought of the barbecue again 🤣 (and the connection between Gazelle and barbecue), but decided we had had enough excitement for the day, and left it at that.

Jokes aside, a great learning experience for us all - the day had turned out differently. My son commented that this was his favourite drive (and he comes on almost all of the drives with me) - as he said he spent more time outside the car witnessing recoveries, than in it 🤣

@Islam Soliman thanks for giving me the second lead position - I'll keep more distance next time. Great teamwork and company this morning @Anoop Nair @Zixuan Huang - Charlie @Daniel Yang @Aisha S

Will post some pics tomorrow. 

[Aisha S]

1 hour ago, Gregory said:

Wow, what a drive! Or should I say an extended practical tutorial 

After several weeks of smooth, and mostly stuck/refusal free drives, I was expecting something similar today on the Bab al Shams morning. I also had in my mind that with a small group, we would be able to increase the pace and cover more ground. It shows that in life, one should always expect the unexpected! 

@Aisha S had a wish - to be able to dig, and to be part of / assist with recoveries as far as possible. Within 30 minutes of our very humid start, her wish was granted... I was the first to get stuck. As second lead, I wanted to ensure I kept up with @Islam Soliman, and fulfil my duty - I ended up too close.  I was generously assisted by all, and the situation was treated as a learning experience. 

One after the next, others granted her her wish too, either in the form of refusals or stucks - at one time we had 3 of the cars stuck at the same time. This included @Islam Solimanon occasion. Lots of digging, tow ropes and creative thinking/strategies in the super soft sand. Beautiful dunes but such soft sand. I decided to keep my tow rope inside my car (as opposed to the trunk) from that point on as it seemed to be a very popular piece of equipment during the drive. In between these stucks, we did some ridge riding. 

What was fantastic was how the group members assisted each other in finding solutions, and the participating (all Covid guidelines observed), and this was patiently and graciously facilitated by @Islam Soliman This is how people learn their strategies - from a practical perspective, which increases their confidence and skill. Patience was tested in the (by now) hot sun. @Aisha S 's wish allowed us to enjoy a very different drive to the one that most of us may be used to. 

On the way to the exit, @Islam Soliman returned to the back of the convoy to assist with a stuck situation. When he called for fire extinguishers, I originally thought that he was inviting us back for some barbecued Kofta - it was actually some vegetation under his car that had caught alight/was smoking. Quick thinking (and use of his fire extinguisher) by @Zixuan Huang - Charlie ensured the danger was controlled, and Islam's Yukon prevailed. @Anoop Nair followed up by using his shovel to remove any further vegetation from under the vehicle, lessening the risk. Islam needed a pull-out, and @Daniel Yang obliged, as V8 power was needed in the crazy soft sand. 

Close to the exit, we were blessed to come across a herd of Gazelles - I thought of the barbecue again 🤣 (and the connection between Gazelle and barbecue), but decided we had had enough excitement for the day, and left it at that.

Jokes aside, a great learning experience for us all - the day had turned out differently. My son commented that this was his favourite drive (and he comes on almost all of the drives with me) - as he said he spent more time outside the car witnessing recoveries, than in it 🤣

@Islam Soliman thanks for giving me the second lead position - I'll keep more distance next time. Great teamwork and company this morning @Anoop Nair @Zixuan Huang - Charlie @Daniel Yang @Aisha S

Will post some pics tomorrow. 

I was looking at the off-road club grading structure yesterday and what I needed to accomplish and learn in order to be able to get promoted. One of those was the ability to shovel and dig yourself out of situations and learn some problem solving skills. Seemed simple enough and I ended up asking for it (I seldom get what I ask for) and it ended up being a curse only because the weather is still unbearable and we ended up shoveling for most of the drive. A part of me is glad however because I believe I did a decent amount of learning today thanks to everyone who got stuck, the teamwork and spirit and most importantly, @Islam Soliman. 

I regret nothing, but I will not ask to shovel again until winter I believe. 

I loved how the entire convoy helped each other out, and I'm glad your kid ( @Gregory ) had lots of fun watching us recover ourselves today. 

 

[Islam Soliman]

2 hours ago, Gregory said:

Wow, what a drive! Or should I say an extended practical tutorial 

After several weeks of smooth, and mostly stuck/refusal free drives, I was expecting something similar today on the Bab al Shams morning. I also had in my mind that with a small group, we would be able to increase the pace and cover more ground. It shows that in life, one should always expect the unexpected! 

@Aisha S had a wish - to be able to dig, and to be part of / assist with recoveries as far as possible. Within 30 minutes of our very humid start, her wish was granted... I was the first to get stuck. As second lead, I wanted to ensure I kept up with @Islam Soliman, and fulfil my duty - I ended up too close.  I was generously assisted by all, and the situation was treated as a learning experience. 

One after the next, others granted her her wish too, either in the form of refusals or stucks - at one time we had 3 of the cars stuck at the same time. This included @Islam Solimanon occasion. Lots of digging, tow ropes and creative thinking/strategies in the super soft sand. Beautiful dunes but such soft sand. I decided to keep my tow rope inside my car (as opposed to the trunk) from that point on as it seemed to be a very popular piece of equipment during the drive. In between these stucks, we did some ridge riding. 

What was fantastic was how the group members assisted each other in finding solutions, and the participating (all Covid guidelines observed), and this was patiently and graciously facilitated by @Islam Soliman This is how people learn their strategies - from a practical perspective, which increases their confidence and skill. Patience was tested in the (by now) hot sun. @Aisha S 's wish allowed us to enjoy a very different drive to the one that most of us may be used to. 

On the way to the exit, @Islam Soliman returned to the back of the convoy to assist with a stuck situation. When he called for fire extinguishers, I originally thought that he was inviting us back for some barbecued Kofta - it was actually some vegetation under his car that had caught alight/was smoking. Quick thinking (and use of his fire extinguisher) by @Zixuan Huang - Charlie ensured the danger was controlled, and Islam's Yukon prevailed. @Anoop Nair followed up by using his shovel to remove any further vegetation from under the vehicle, lessening the risk. Islam needed a pull-out, and @Daniel Yang obliged, as V8 power was needed in the crazy soft sand. 

Close to the exit, we were blessed to come across a herd of Gazelles - I thought of the barbecue again 🤣 (and the connection between Gazelle and barbecue), but decided we had had enough excitement for the day, and left it at that.

Jokes aside, a great learning experience for us all - the day had turned out differently. My son commented that this was his favourite drive (and he comes on almost all of the drives with me) - as he said he spent more time outside the car witnessing recoveries, than in it 🤣

@Islam Soliman thanks for giving me the second lead position - I'll keep more distance next time. Great teamwork and company this morning @Anoop Nair @Zixuan Huang - Charlie @Daniel Yang @Aisha S

Will post some pics tomorrow. 

so it turns out that you are only a good SL but also a talented writer.. great summary @Gregory... you captured almost all the highlights of today's drive. As I said in the drive debrief, we plan for the drive but on sand you have to go with the flow and as you rightly said expect the unexpected.

 

I am glad you, your son, and the rest of the convoy enjoyed the experience and all the skills practiced.. I believe the key takeaways from today can be summarized to:

- a shovel and a tug robe are your best companion on the sand.. specially a proper shovel 😉

- teamwork is key, despite of how tough and challenging the drive looked, we all had fun and came out better drivers because we worked together as a TEAM

- in tough situations, staying cool and thinking and acting fast is key to safe outcome, @Zixuan Huang - Charlie you demonstrated all today and can't thank you enough for your quick grab of the fire distinguisher and correct use of it.. I have seen before people struggling in panic and unable to remove the safety pin and properly direct it to the source of fire.. you ticked all the boxes on this item today.. well done and THANK YOU🙏

- having the "RIGHT" distance is key to avoid tricky situations.. today's last stuck with 3 cars was the lead example

- momentum and tight control of steering is key.. in today's drive most of you did very well in the technical tight dunes which means you have very good control on the steering when moving in low speeds... next is to start doing the same with the speed ramping up and that what will get you to enjoy the long range dunes without high risks of stocks or God forbid rolls

 

Again, thank you all for the wonderful company today.. hope to see you soon on the sand

[Islam Soliman]

50 minutes ago, Aisha S said:

I was looking at the off-road club grading structure yesterday and what I needed to accomplish and learn in order to be able to get promoted. One of those was the ability to shovel and dig yourself out of situations and learn some problem solving skills. Seemed simple enough and I ended up asking for it (I seldom get what I ask for) and it ended up being a curse only because the weather is still unbearable and we ended up shoveling for most of the drive. A part of me is glad however because I believe I did a decent amount of learning today thanks to everyone who got stuck, the teamwork and spirit and most importantly, @Islam Soliman. 

I regret nothing, but I will not ask to shovel again until winter I believe. 

I loved how the entire convoy helped each other out, and I'm glad your kid ( @Gregory ) had lots of fun watching us recover ourselves today. 

 

You did great today @Aisha S.. impressed with your driving skills and how good you managed your capable ride.. in addition for sure to your great team work and unmatched passion for shoveling 😉

 

What is your next wish?!🤣

[Aisha S]

24 minutes ago, Islam Soliman said:

You did great today @Aisha S.. impressed with your driving skills and how good you managed your capable ride.. in addition for sure to your great team work and unmatched passion for shoveling 😉

 

What is your next wish?!🤣

Thank you very much 😄😂

I will have to think carefully about my next wish to avoid future curses 🤣

[Cha]

I certainly made use of all my shoveling skills learnt from previous drives this time, never felt my shovel is this heavy before, and big thank to everyone, where we all showed the team spirit @Islam Soliman @Gregory @Daniel Yang @Aisha S @Anoop Nair

I never expected that I would be using the fire extinguisher anywhere in desert drive, I only brought it because of the grading requirement. The fire started by crawling in the sand with dry bush under the engine, maybe both the friction and the heat produced by the running engine with 4low engaged made the fire. @Islam Soliman Perhaps we should bring this to ppl's attention by post a topic? and I believe you have the pictures taken.

I had 2 stucks and several refusals, I guess I was too relaxed at the back that my level of attention wasn't enough for the technicals, thank you @Islam Soliman for always covering my ass

 

The winner of the day @Aisha S, the only one who did not get single stuck (my jinx didnt go well), and drove very well.

Apologies for not saying goodbye face to face to everyone at the end of the drive, (I did announce in the radio but only Anoop copied the message) I was really behind my schedule and had to run for my other commitment, Thanks God I wasn's too late.

Till next time!