Morning Intermediate Desert Drive - Salamat Non Stop - Abu Dhabi - 21 Feb 2026

[ChrisW]

4 hours ago, Luke K P said:

Calendar is locked. Drive is ON.
See you bright and early for briefing. Convoy order attached.

 

Live scenes from in my Jeep

[Glenn W]

Hi @Luke K P I'm 50/50 at the moment if I can join tomorrow or not. I’ve got work commitments tonight and I’m not sure what time I’m going to get done. So I’ll keep you posted if that’s ok. 

[_luke_]

Ok mate just post here before start of you can make it or not. Good luck wrapping up work

[Glenn W]

Hi @Luke K P unfortunately I’ve just wrapped up work. Got a lovely 1.5 hour drive home and it’s been a very long day as it is. So I’m going to have to pull out of the drive. Have a great morning all!! 

[_luke_]

Ah that's no good! 

Drive safely and get some rest mate

[_luke_]

We rolled out just after sunrise— @Luke K P @ChrisW @Beide Worku @Alexanderrr @Jessica Lambert—heading straight toward a horizon stacked with massive, inviting dunes. The kind of morning where the sand feels alive and the air carries that quiet promise of a good session.

The warm-up didn’t last long. Jess’s car suddenly refused to put out any power, a frustrating issue that forced her to bow out early. Never a fun moment, but were able to find a relatively flat way out, then waved goodbye, and the rest of us regrouped and pushed on.

Once we were back in formation, the dunes opened up beautifully. We started attacking a series of bowls, each one bigger and more playful than the last. Chris had a flashing CEL at one point—one of those “just jeep things” moments—but it seemed to sort itself out enough for him to continue.

Throughout the morning we kept crossing paths with an FJ Cruiser group.  taking turns on the big bowls, sharing lines, and watching each other carve up the faces.

The highlight of the drive was the flow. We found a stretch where multiple bowls linked together, letting us switch in and out of lines and stitch long, smooth sequences into a single continuous action. It felt like surfing the desert—effortless, fast, and deeply satisfying.

Eventually, we caught a burning smell from under Beide’s car and spotted splatter of grease where it shouldn’t be. That was our cue. No point pushing a (maybe?) mechanical issue after such a solid run. We made the call to exit while spirits were still high and the cars (mostly) intact.

All in all, an excellent drive—clean lines, good teamwork, and a morning full of those moments that remind you why you wake up early for this. Hopefully the footage does it justice.

See you all again soon!