Afternoon Fewbie Desert Drive - Road to Solar Tower: Technical Paradise - 20 July 2024

[Ale Vallecchi]

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Environmental Policy
• Offroad Flag Guideline
• Two Way Radio Guideline
• Off road Driving Etiquettes
• Emergency details for all off roaders
• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities

Drive Details

Level:  Fewbie and above (all levels)

Meeting time:  3:30 PM (departure time)

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ToyncWjScCaFenc77

Action Plan: A drive studied to perfect your skills in a so-called "Technical environment", that is where dunes are tight, irregular, close to each other, with soft pockets in between. This terrain does not call for spectacular maneuvers, nor will favor super-charged motors, but requires the driver to know how the car responds to short bursts of acceleration, how she or him manages a great deal of steering on tight or sinuous lines, and overall, what we call "finesse" driving. The chosen track is a challenging one, where our Crew takes the prospective Leaders to train for leading a convoy in the "Leaders Lead" series. hence, we will be tested in terms of endurance, patience, and very fine skills. If a member does not command these kinds of skills, it only knows half of what off-roading is all about.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 7:30 PM

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

RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR:

• Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge
• Compressor (MANDATORY)
• Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY)
• Off-road flag (MANDATORY)
• Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles
• First-aid kit
• Fire extinguisher.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

• This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM.
• If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list.
• RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list.
• Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions.
• Members without RSVP will be returned - 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.

PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR 

 

[Nicolò]

@Ale Vallecchi there's no "Going" button on the calendar. Can you double check?

[Batuhan Kulac]

FYI @Ale Vallecchi there is no sign up button. Might want to check that out

[Gaurav]

Done

[Abhilash Kottakkal]

@Ale Vallecchi please make me your sl...😀 i will concentrate better and let's see how much I can manage. If I can manage the track with my vehicle I think everyone can manage..🤣

[Ale Vallecchi]

1 hour ago, Abhilash Kottakkal said:

@Ale Vallecchi please make me your sl...😀 i will concentrate better and let's see how much I can manage. If I can manage the track with my vehicle I think everyone can manage..🤣

Sure @Abhilash Kottakkal. Will do

[Abhilash Kottakkal]

@Ale Vallecchi thank you very much, unfortunately i have a medical issue and no sternous activity for two weeks. Sorry about this.😔 see you after two weeks. Enjoy the drive.

[Batuhan Kulac]

@Ale Vallecchi @Frederic Let me know if you need some support for this drive... Fred's drive only seems to be getting more crowded 😆 Plus he already has a bunch of IM boys to back him up  

[Ale Vallecchi]

7 hours ago, Batuhan Kulac said:

@Ale Vallecchi @Frederic Let me know if you need some support for this drive... Fred's drive only seems to be getting more crowded 😆 Plus he already has a bunch of IM boys to back him up  

Dear @Batuhan Kulac you are welcome to join. Just please check with @Frederic if it's OK, in case he needs more support. Thanks a lot.

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts.

in preparation for tomorrow's drive, I ask you to pay the utmost attention to the conditions of your cars. It will probably be one of the hottest days of the summer, and quite humid, so please make sure that your engine fluids are optimal, and your 4x4 is overall in good working conditions. I hope we can start as close to the meeting time of 3:30PM (so please reach a little earlier), so of course the first couple of hours of driving will be quite torrid!! Also, bring as much water as possible, to drink at any possible opportunity (dehydration arrives unannounced).

The drive will be conducted at a slower, but steadier pace, than other less technical drives. The principle of a "technical" drive is to cross complex areas of very tight, irregular, close and soft dunes, which usually abound near sabkhas, and that cannot be avoided (save the presence of a beaten track) if one wants to drive long distances. All elements of off-roading come into play: engine power is important, but with short burst, rather than sustained ones, as well as climbing (short but very soft slopes), ridge-riding (prolonged ones, with a lot of steering involved), as well as criss-crossing (often after very short climbs). We want to manage these skills with patience and endurance. 

The current convoy order is the following:

@Shiju Raju in Second Lead

@Nicolò at #3

@Giacomo at #4

@nithish468 at #5

@Shaun J at #6 and 

@Gurcharan Mehta in Sweep.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.