Afternoon Fewbie Desert Drive - Summer Sunsets: The Solar Tower Maze - Dubai - 27 Jul 2025

[Ale Vallecchi]

We request that every member joining this drive 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

Meeting time:  03:00 PM

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QoyGvT4gHMbBh8XC8

Action Plan: Second installment of the Summer Sunsets' series. Looking for beautiful places to enjoy the sunset, this time the spot that has been selected is also pertinent in its name and meaning. We'll drive a loop from the Three Trees (on the side of the road from Qudra to Solar Park) to the Solar Tower and back. We'll aim for the beacon of light, nowadays visible from almost everywhere in Dubai, Sharjah, and parts of Abu Dhabi, through a maze of technical dunes. If the technical area is not enough to make this one a tough drive, a factor posing an extra challenge will be the soft sand we'll encounter at the beginning of the drive. 

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

Approximate finish time: 7:00 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

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts

a short briefing before tomorrow's technical drive.

We'll meet under the pylons, on the road from Qudra's Last Exit toward Solar Park's Innovation Center. We should deflate a bit more than the usual rate (maybe 1 or 2 PSI's), based on your type of tires, due to the likely softer sand surface we are sure to find with these high temperatures. Usually, a lower deflation rate generates concerns with the risk of pop-outs, which can be avoided, or minimized, by paying greater attention to avoiding sliding down from slopes and reaching the bottom of a descent as perpendicular as possible to the slope. Also make sure that heavy cars, such as Prados or Land Cruisers don't take turns too sharply, but with a wider, gentler, angle.

Having made these recommendations, prepare yourselves for a drive where the use of steering will be very important, as well as being able to accelerate from low speeds with short bursts of engine power, to make short climbs out of low bowls, and reach the next dune's ridge. We plan to move along almost straight lines from the Three Trees (our entry point) to the Solar Tower, and back.

The convoy order will be the following:

@Andrew John Melvill in Second Lead

@essam ibrahim at #3

@Shary at #4

@Warbs at #5 and 

@J-P L in Sweep.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon. Enjoy your Saturday evening.

[Andrew John Melvill]

@Ale Vallecchi, as much as I need a drive to regain my sanity, I have too much work to complete before Monday. I will have to withdraw from this drive. The Al Maktoum airport tender is all encompassing at the moment.

Please accept my humble apologies for the late notification. 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Thanks @Andrew John Melvill. You will be missed. See you soon.

[Ale Vallecchi]

Hello @Warbs. Did you accidentally cancel yourself from the drive or you actually wanted to withdraw? Please confirm. Thanks