Afternoon Fewbie Desert Drive - The Scorch Trials: Ghost Roads (PREMIERE DRIVE) - Abu Dhabi - 02 Aug 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://goo.gl/maps/xDMSw3zrysaiKEE2A

Action Plan: The title of this series of drives, which will alternate with the Summer Sunsets' series, is a must for the month of August. The desert is at its peak, fully displaying one of its most feared traits: scorching heat. An advantage of driving ion August is that very few off-roaders venture in, leaving a very pristine environment at the mercy of the elements, mostly winds and the sun. Driving in the afternoon, at least allows to look forward to the cooler hours of the day and evening. 

This first outing will take us to a yet untraveled part of the Abu Dhabi desert, where we'll venture in with a full convoy for the first time. From an entry point opposite Al Razeen's dune field, we'll aim to reach The Ghost Roads, hidden by the last set of dunes before arriving at E66, South of Al Watbha. On the way we'll drive through an amazing "target practice ground" where tens of containers lay in smithereens, hit by drones' fire. Luckily the area seems to have been abandoned, and the target practice to have been taken elsewhere.

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]

[Andrew John Melvill]

Hi @Ale Vallecchi, have waitlisted myself on the off chance we get an extension to the tender submission date. Drive sounds great, hope i can make it. 

[Ale Vallecchi]

28 minutes ago, Andrew John Melvill said:

Hi @Ale Vallecchi, have waitlisted myself on the off chance we get an extension to the tender submission date. Drive sounds great, hope i can make it. 

Hi @Andrew John Melvill. It looks like you are already signed up for the drive. Looking forward to seeing you. 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts

a few notes about tomorrow's drive.

It'll be a Premiere, on a track just barely tested, in an area of mixed terrain, mostly technical, due especially to soft sand and quite an interesting and unique vegetation. Plus, we'll encounter a couple of very tricky sabkhas, with a very wet ground, quite muddy even during a recent recce drive, where we'll have to drive fast, at the margin between the wet and dry sand. One of these sabkhas will be disseminated with blown up containers, remnants of drone target practice. Truely a scene from a science fiction movie.

The meeting point is quite far, along Razeen Road. The entry is through an automatic gate. For refueling purposes, there are 2 gas stations available nearby: ADNOC Service Station 131 is the closest, while ADNOC Service Station Al Razeen (128) is a little further away, just off E30. Make sure you have a full tank.

The convoy order will be the following:

@Johannes Roux in Second Lead

@Wayne Momsen at #3

@Warbs at #4

@Shary at #5

@Andrew John Melvill in the Center

@B.K. at #7

@Sam Selim at #8

@Diego at #9

@Krinesh at #10 and 

@Giacomo in Sweep

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow a little ahead of 3:00 PM. 
 

[Shary]

@Ale VallecchiSorry Ale, something came up and I have to travel tonight, so I'll have to miss the drive.