Morning Newbie Desert Drive - Al Qudra Summer Fest - Dubai - 2 Aug 2026

[Frederic]

11 minutes ago, Shane Phillips said:

Hi, 

I just joined Carnity Off Road Club.  I have been offroading for 3 years and am looking forward to driving with you.  I am unable to join any drives. Also not sure if there is anyone I can call to understand how I can join the drives?  My mobile is +971 50 940 7537 if anyone can reach out that would be great or advise who I can call to understand how this works.  I downloaded the app but still can see what to click to join and it says if you show up for a drive they won't let you on it.  

Hi @Shane Phillips welcome to Carnity ! I’ll send you a WhatsApp to help you out, no worries. 

[Shane Phillips]

3 hours ago, Frederic said:

Hi @Shane Phillips welcome to Carnity ! I’ll send you a WhatsApp to help you out, no worries. 

Thanks

 

[Asif Ahamed]

Hello Fred,

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to inform you that I won’t be able to make it tomorrow due to some unexpected work here in Abu Dhabi. Looking forward to seeing you next week. Thanks!

[Frederic]

1 hour ago, Asif Ahamed said:

Hello Fred,

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to inform you that I won’t be able to make it tomorrow due to some unexpected work here in Abu Dhabi. Looking forward to seeing you next week. Thanks!

No worries, thanks for informing @Asif Ahamed!

[DELRIO]

Just woke up to see I'm in! Let's find out if my car or myself survive a second adventure, just maybe, the first one was just pure fluke! See you all tomorrow! 

Sergio del Rio

[Frederic]

Good afternoon @JC_E@Maneesh Madayan@baris@Jakob T@Glenn W@Shane Phillips@DELRIO@Artur Davtyan@Anish S@Esteban Ayala@Sandeep Padhi@Vanessa8580

Thank you all for signing up! This will be a gentle beginner level drive with the aim of getting comfortable of driving in the dunes and with the great support that signed up this means we will be by your side every step of the way.

Some pointers for tomorrow:

1. Please try to arrive by 5.45AM. Then you have enough time to deflate your tires (14psi if HT tires, 12psi if AT tires) and set up your flag. Latecomers will be sent back. 

2. If this is your very first drive, please watch the newbie briefing video attached in this drive topic. This way you'll be ahead of the curve even before starting  

3. Feel free to bring passengers but make sure everyone is always strapped in during the drive. No exceptions.

4. We will be using Channel 10 on the walkie talkies: 446.231 Mhz. We will test each radio before heading out. If you struggle how to program it, you can just put the radio in VFO mode and enter this frequency. If you do not have a radio yet we will carry a spare you can lend for your first drive.

No doubt it will be a fun morning out. Bring enough to drink and some protection from the sun. 

See you soon!

[Yerem Davtyan]

It was a very nice drive this morning, thank you everyone! 

Thanks @Frederic for choosing routes to keep my bumper intact

Also Tahoe demonstrated quite a decent fuel consumption:-)

[Jakob T]

Thanks to all for recovery , guidance and support 🙏 🙏. Vanessa, Fred...

Is there any badge for most stuck ups

[Diego]

Had a pleasant time today, thanks Fred and welcome to the new guys! Well done everyone!

[DELRIO]

In the year of our Lord, at the ungodly hour of 5:45 a.m., a brave band of explorers assembled at the edge of the Arabian wilderness. Sleepy eyes, steaming coffee cups, deflators in hand, and the unwavering conviction that nothing could possibly go wrong.

We were wrong.

After what historians will undoubtedly remember as Fred’s Great Briefing of 2026, we finally departed at 6:30 a.m. Rumour has it that Fred had intended to continue speaking for another hour, but the sun, the dunes and perhaps even nature itself urged us onward.

The desert welcomed us with breathtaking views. Golden light stretched across the horizon as our convoy marched into the unknown like an armoured caravan setting out to conquer an endless sea of sand.

Leading us was Fred, whose wisdom was rivalled only by his love of lengthy explanations.

Close behind was JC, our fearless support lead, who repeatedly demonstrated that experience is what prevents enthusiasm from becoming an expensive repair bill. On more than one occasion, he tactfully adjusted Fred’s chosen route in the interest of keeping the entire convoy alive and reasonably intact.

Then fate turned its gaze towards Jakob.

Positioned fifth in the convoy, Jakob displayed extraordinary courage and an unwavering determination to investigate every possible method of becoming stuck. Again and again, the desert embraced him as one of its own.

At one dramatic moment, the dunes demanded a sacrifice, and a portion of Jakob’s front bumper was offered to the desert gods. Yet the man refused to surrender. The vehicle endured. The convoy persevered. Lessons were learned.

Meanwhile, Glen stood beside him like a loyal brother in arms, displaying the patience, commitment and good humour of a man who had accepted that this was going to be a very long morning.

Yarem and Arthur, his young son, attacked the drive with tremendous energy. Arthur, in particular, spent much of the morning filling my rear-view mirror, following so closely and so relentlessly that I began to wonder whether he intended to overtake me, challenge me to a duel or simply remind me that youth fears nothing.

Esteban, Diego and I proudly carried the banner of the Latin contingent, bringing warmth, enthusiasm, laughter and, from time to time, a somewhat flexible interpretation of radio communications.

Then there was Vanessa, our marshal.

To say that she enjoyed the drive would be an understatement. The truth is that she longed for greater challenges. Bigger dunes. Steeper climbs. Greater danger. Her Wrangler, meanwhile, seemed determined to remind everyone of its legendary status.

And, naturally, so did Vanessa.

The final section of the route was magnificent. Technical, demanding and utterly beautiful. Sharp ridges rose before us like the walls of ancient fortresses, while the convoy twisted and turned through the sands with elegance, courage and the occasional cry of, “Careful!”

At last, we reached the break point.

There was no shade.

Not a tree.

Not a cloud.

Not even the faintest suggestion of mercy.

The stop was therefore kept to the absolute minimum required to prevent us from being transformed into perfectly seasoned barbecues beneath the relentless Arabian sun.

As the expedition finally came to an end, exhausted adventurers emerged from their vehicles. Faces were covered in sand, radios were falling silent and everyone wore the unmistakable smile of people who had once again shared something extraordinary.

The desert had tested our skill, our courage and our patience.

It had strengthened friendships.

It had humbled egos.

And it had claimed a bumper.

A fair exchange, perhaps.

Until the next adventure.