Morning Newbie Desert Drive - Qudra - Dubai - 15 Feb 2025

[B.K.]

@Davie Smooth_Operatorcan you confirm the start time is 0700 or 0800?   It is listed as both times in different parts of this thread.  Thanks! 

[Davie Smooth_Operator]

50 minutes ago, B.K. said:

@Davie Smooth_Operatorcan you confirm the start time is 0700 or 0800?   It is listed as both times in different parts of this thread.  Thanks! 

Apologies it is 0700 

Dear Desert Wanderers @Sandeep N, @Paul eldhose, @Zakir Mohammed, @Chrismayer, @Neha Jain, @B.K., @INSTINCT, @JC_E, @Joji varghese, @Mei ling, @Zsolt,  @Yury, @vinayak n, @Martin Schwaiger, @Ozgu and @Rajiv Sam, start time is 0700, the calandar said 0800 due to me posting the drive when I was in Saudi, apologies for the confusion 

please be at the meeting point ready to go at 0700

thanks 

[Zakir Mohammed]

Noted

[vinayak n]

Noted

[Ozgu]

@Davie Smooth_OperatorSorry for this late drop out, I will not be able to make it due to health issue.

[JC_E]

Thanks @Davie Smooth_Operator for a great lead, and very informative learning session! Also thanks to all the support crew, @Sandeep N @Joji varghese @Rajiv Sam. Was loads of fun! Cant wait for the next one!😬

[Chrismayer]

Thank you ever so much to everyone for making my first experience such a positive one. What a group. 

[Davie Smooth_Operator]

Dear Desert Wanderers @Sandeep N, @Paul eldhose, @Chrismayer, @Neha Jain, @B.K., @JC_E, @Joji varghese, @Mei ling, @Zsolt,  @Yury, @vinayak n, @Martin Schwaiger, and @Rajiv Sam, Firstly thank you all for making the drive today an amazing start to the weekend, it was an amazing drive, with amazing people full of fun and comradery and team work displayed was second to none. 

To put our drive in perspective we had three absolute newbies and three drivers with only one drive each, but you would not have thought so given the way you all drove. We had some beautiful clean white and in places soft sand to contend with and you all took it in your stride.

We did encounter a couple of refusals and stucks, but hopefully we gave you all a learning experience as we resolved these issues. Please remember that the whole drive was designed as a learning experience, from shoveling techniques, to self-recoveries, mastering sidies to straight up and overs. and by the end of the drive you all had mastered these techniques, now you just need to practice them as practice really does make perfect.

We had a great second lead by @Sandeep N who followed my instructions and smoothed out my lines, well done and thank you for all your help today.

A big shout out and thank you to our Center forward for the day was @Joji varghese who effortlessly handled the middle of the pack and kept the center of the convoy glued together.

and a big thanks to our sweep @Rajiv Sam who kept the convoy safe at rear and together as a whole. great job both of you.

A relive video for you to relive the fun and some stats below for the drive 

NB morning drive 15 Feb 2025 on Relive! https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOp1Qmd1E6

[Rajiv Sam]

When I first saw Al Qudra in the forum, I expected it to be mostly covered in bushes, but the planned track was amazing @Davie Smooth_Operator.  the track was a fresh and well-laid-out route, perfect for drivers at different skill levels, from fewbies to more experienced ones. There were plenty of opportunities for crisscrossing and ridge riding.

 

I really enjoyed driving with such a large convoy. Given that we had 16 team members, I expected more stuck and refusals, but thanks to the excellent drive for complete convoy, the refusal and stuck were minimal considering the size of convoy, We also managed to exit at just the right time, making the experience even better.

thanks to @Sandeep N and @Joji varghese

Edited February 16, 2025 by Rajiv Sam

[vinayak n]

Thanks for the very nice drive!! @Davie Smooth_Operator@Sandeep N@Joji varghese@Rajiv Sam ,loved it !