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Friday comes but once a week - and the terrible truth is that if all plans go as we want, our drive will be over by this time tomorrow morning! That's why the drive is now closed. You are all confirmed and expected tomorrow morning. Here are the convoy positions. We will reconfirm these in the morning. Morning Fewbie Friday 27 Nov - Angel's Anniversary Attendees Level Car Radio Pos # Wrangeld Marshal Mitsubishi Pajero SWB Y 1 Anand Nataraj @Anand Nataraj Fewbie Nissan Xterra Y 2 Shaaz Sha @Shaaz Sha Fewbie Jeep Wrangler SWB Y 3 Mahmoud Asar @Mahmoud Asar Fewbie Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Y 4 Ashok Chaturvedi @Ashok chaturvedi Fewbie Mitsubishi Pajero LWB y 5 Hennie Schoeman @Hennie Schoeman Fewbie Jeep Wrangler Y 6 Nivin @Nivin Intermediate Nissan Xterra Y 7 Abu Muhammed @Abu Muhammad Fewbie Toyota Sequndra Y 8 Ranjan Das @Ranjan Das Fewbie LR Discovery Y 9 Tamas Hoffmann @Tamas Hoffmann Intermediate Mitsubishi Pajero LWB Y 10 Francois Germishuys @Francois Germishuys Fewbie Ford F150 Y 11 Jeepie @Jeepie Expert Jeep Wrangler Y 12 We will also be checking that everyone has the equipment expected for a Fewbie drive - because shovels will be needed tomorrow morning. See you soon in the sand.

RSVP is now closed. Below is the convoy order for the drive tomorrow and we will be using channel 2, 446.031-25. @Rizwanm2@Veedooshee @Vineeth John Joseph @Rajeevan Vickneswaran @Lucky sAm @Ahab Shamaa @Archibald Jurdi @Sajit Modiyil @DANIEL NOGUEIRA @Foxtrot Oscar 1 Brette JGC Lead 2 Veedooshee Pajero 2nd Lead 3 Ahab Shamaa FJ 4 Daniel Nogueira RAM 5 Lucky Sam Patrol 6 Rajeevan Vickneswaran Wrangler CF 7 Archibald Jurdi Wrangler 8 Vineeth John Joseph Xterra 9 Sajit Modiyil Xterra 10 Rizwanm2 Xterra 11 Foxtrot Oscar ( Angela ) Xterra Sweep See you'll tomorrow. Once you reach the meeting point please deflate immediately and turn on your radios to channel 2. We plan to start at sharp 6 am. Please make sure you have a compressor as we may not end near a fuel station.

Dear @Gaurav Soni I am afraid I have to advise you not to join this drive. As there is a system in place , once you finish the required number of drives you need to apply for promotion online which will be reviewed by all the Marshal's and senior members to process, which takes time as it is a holiday and all will be busy doing their drives. Hence after you are promoted you will be eligible for fewbie drive. Appreciate your understanding

DRIVE RSVP IS NOW CLOSED We are having a nice convoy with lots of capable cars, and a very strong support with @sertac being my sweep to keep an eye on the convoy. Please make sure to bring a tyre deflator and pressure gauge. We will be deflating our tyres when we arrive to about 14-15psi to make sure the car is "floating" on the sand instead of digging in it. For the ones that have a radio, we will be using Carnity Channel 1: 446.00625 Mhz. We have spare radios for the members that do not have a radio yet. Please arrive on time 06:00AM SHARP or preferably a bit earlier. Most people on the drive arrive 15-20mins earlier so they have ample time to deflate and put their flag on. Make sure you and your passengers are wearing a mask when you are outside the vehicle, this is a strict rule and makes sure we can all keep safe and according to the government regulations. In case of emergency, you can reach me on 056 504 2632. See you guys tomorrow !

Please find your convoy positions for tomorrow drive: Gaurav Silver Pajero Kaile Barrameda Grey Wrangler Sai Baskaran White pajero Irshad Alam White Pajero Anvar Sadath Bekal White pajero Nathan Evans Brown Jimny Umar Kamal Grand Cherokee MUHAMMAD Kashif Yellow Wrangler Niki Patel Black FJ Cruiser Prabuddha Madusa Xterra Aus Alzubaidi Black Wrangler Chaitanya D Black Xterra @Kaile Barrameda @Sai Baskaran @Irshad Alam @Anvar Sadath Bekal @Nathan Evans @Umar Kamal @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ @Niki Patel @Prabuddha Madusanka @Aus Alzubaidi @Chaitanya D We will be using Radio Chanel 1 - 446.006'25 for all drive communication. MUST READ AND CLICK TOTALLY AGREE ON THE BELOW COVID19 PRECAUTIONS Some important pointers: 1) Please watch the Newbie Video Briefing in case you have not done it before. 2) Please go through the COVID regulations and abide by them during the drive. 3) Please fully charge your Radio and set to Carnity frequency, channel 1 - 446.006'25. 4) Please make sure you have a safety flag and know how to fix it firmly on your car. 5) Make sure your front and back towpoints are in perfect condition. We will need them to recover you safely. In case of any emergency, you can contact me on 050 5258706. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING

Dear Desertnauts. Let's gear up for this interesting Premiere of the Ganthoot Blitz. As mentioned in the drive's description, we'll be aiming to reach the outskirts of Ganthoot, and the border with Abu Dhabi. We'll be facing different challenges in terms of terrain, from technical dunes to open cordons, from hard smooth surfaces to gluey, soft sand, from controlled "finesse' driving, to faster more exciting pace. We'll be required to adopt several driving styles, with the more difficult parts of the itinerary being on technical dunes, at the beginning and toward the end of the drive. Here, even in this time of the year, the sand can turn very soft, with these stickier patches becoming treacherously invisible, as they are generated by wind accumulation which wipes the dunes clear of most signs. This mix of driving styles, and the possibility of having to patiently and skillfully find our way around some difficult areas, make this drive an Intermediate one, with plenty of opportunities to exploit your acquired skills, and test more advanced ones. Convoy order will be as follows: @Luca Palanca Falsini will be the Second Lead @Mehmet Volga will drive in 3rd place @Tero Vallas at #4 @Nabil Bishara in the #5 position @marks at #6 @Heisem will be #7 @Kailas #8 @Alexander Alcala will take #9, and @Pancho will Sweep the convoy Please reach the meeting place, a couple of Kms along the dirt track off the road to Bab al Shams, as close to 6AM as possible, so that we may start promptly, even if we'll drive the first few minutes in the low light preceding the sunrise. Tune into Carnity Channel #1 (446.006), and be ready to enjoy a new, interesting and diverse track. Have a great Friday, and see you Saturday morning.

DRIVE RSVP IS CLOSED NOW @Aus Alzubaidi and @Sreenath Giridharan sorry but no drop outs. Better luck next time. Here is the final convoy list 1. Rahimdad - Pathfinder 2. Atif - Prado (Second Lead) 3. Rizwan Waheed - Pajero 4. Syed Raza Hussain - Pajero 5. Ali Almoumar - Prado 6. Luca Bregni - JK 7. Aravind Padmaraju - Xterra 8. Shamil - Xterra (Centre Forward) 9. Ken Huudma - Patrol 10. Federico Dechiro - Pajero 3.8 11. Gaurav Soni - Pajero 3.8 12. Horsham Masaad - FJC 13. Shyam Karat - JKU 14. Arun Mathew - JK 15. Picket Singh - FJC (Sweep) @Atif @Rizwan Waheed @Syed Raza Hussain @ALI ALMOUMAR @Luca Bregni @Aravind Padmaraju @Shamil @Ken Hüüdma @Federico De Chirico @Gaurav Soni @Hisham Masaad @Shyam Karat @Arun Mathew @Pickey Singh Please be on time, sharp at 6:00 AM, little early is always better. Please tune to Carnity Channel 2 Deflate your tires to as soon as you reach to the meeting point. Be inside your car - AT ALL TIMES - after the deflation.

Great to read @Francois Germishuys ... let's see what we can find to throw at it.

Hi Frederic, I'm Thomas Varghese, Aged 53. I'm driving a 2008 Nissan Xterra 4 X 4 Stock. I have a compressor but never used and tire deflator I will try to get 1 today. Going off roading at the desert for the 1st time. See you tomorrow.

Hi @Emmanuel Thankyou, confirmed for the drive. Mukundan

Noted @Ashy. Hope you get well soon

How to download "Offline Maps" in Gaia. When you are travelling in areas where there is a lack of mobile data (3G/4G), your gps device (smartphone) will not be able to show you the sattelite maps of your area. Hence, you will need to use the offline-map functionality which allows you to download a selected area and save it on your phone. If you are using a gps device (smartphone) without a data SIM, you can use this same option. Below video shows you how to download offline maps in gaia: 1) Select your base map first 2) Click on the + symbol and select "download maps" 3) with the blue dots, create your square area and make sure not to exceed 10,000 tiles. 4) Click on save. The download might take a while, depending on the size of the area. It is recommended to put the zoom level on 15, this gives a good detailed overview without taking up too much space.

Actually getting stuck especially in the first two steps of our ladder , I would say , is necessary and unavoidable opportunity to learn it , ( I am not saying to surrender to it easily ) but baby dunes and narrow passages in between that even for LWB vehicles can be challenging , I would admire the energy and welling of the heavy long base vehicles drivers like @Abu Muhammad, accepting the more challenge 💪. I wished to be driving with you in qudra this Friday ( my favorite spot ) , but in the next weeks after Liwa is over I will . God well best of luck and cheers all @Wrangeld catch you soon dear friend with much thrill and technical soft baby dunes

Sorry Dr Chaitanya , I’m not sure to make it back on time , so to avoid a last minute cancellation, I will live my place open , Really looking forward to at least ride the dunes with you on Saturday !!

Dear Friends @Jon M, @Mikhail Lukichev, @Anish S, @Tariq Carrimjee, @Probir Mukherjee, @Goutam, @David Ortells, @Janarthan, @Mahmoud Hamzawy, @Mahmoud Asar and @Pancho Please go through the links below for you to refresh and understand safe practices in desert driving. This information is of great help for you to come well informed and prepared to drive confidently. Of course every desert drive is a learning experience for everyone including me, but we all should stick to the basics mentioned in the links Dune Crossing Tutorial and Techniques - Discussions - Carnity.com Every off-roader must know: What Went Wrong? - Page 36 - Discussions - Carnity.com We will be driving from Southern part of Qudra where (hopefully) we will find cleaner long range dunes ,play as much as possible there and head towards the road beside Hamari well for exit. Enjoy your week!

Hi Fredaric and others, I do not have radio as well, but all other items in order. See you guys there!

@SrikumarI have opted out of the drive for Aamir

Yes there was one slot open , I will add you to the drive . See you tomorrow afternoon

@Chaitanya D is there an open spot on this drive? I see an open one and Interested to join but not sure if there are any WL

Thanks Frederi didnt have time to find radio so will borrow one for this please... looking forward to it!

Dear Friends Below is the convoy numbering for tomorrows drive Position Name Car Level 1 Chaitanya Black Xterra Exp 2nd lead @Pancho Red Wrangler Adv 3 @Probir Mukherjee White LC FB 4 @Jon M Black Montero FB 5 @Mikhail Lukichev White Prado FB CF6 @Janarthan Silver Xterra Adv 7 @Mahmoud Hamzawy Grey Prado FB 8 @Goutam Yellow Wrangler FB 9 @Tariq Carrimjee Grey Wrangler FB 10 @DANIEL NOGUEIRA Black Ram FB Sweep11 @Anish S Silver Pajero IM We will use Chanel 2 for Radio Communication Janarthan will be center forward , Anish S will sweep. Myself, Pancho ,Jana and Anish S will be involved/managing recoveries if any. Please arrive few min early and prep yourself so that we start driving on time Cheers!

@Ashy get well soon buddy 🙏🏻

Please find your convoy positions for tomorrow drive: Gaurav Silver Pajero Mukundan Nair White Xterra Bhaskar Montero Badar Tariq Pajero patrick noack Green Defender frederic demolder Discovery Sreenath Giridharan White Fortuner Desert Dweller Black Xterra bassel el rafei White Land Cruiser Nithin Vaidir White Land Cruiser varunmehndiratta Brown Wrangler Bernd Stucke Jeep Gladiator Tamas Hoffmann Pajero Jeepie Green Wrangler @Mukundan Nair @Bhaskar @Badar Tariq @patrick noack @frederic demolder @Sreenath Giridharan @Desert Dweller @bassel el rafei @Nithin Vaidir @varunmehndiratta @Bernd Stucke @Tamas Hoffmann @Jeepie We will be using Radio Chanel 1 - 446.006'25 for all drive communication. MUST READ AND CLICK TOTALLY AGREE ON THE BELOW COVID19 PRECAUTIONS Some important pointers: 1) Please watch the Newbie Video Briefing in case you have not done it before. 2) Please go through the COVID regulations and abide by them during the drive. 3) Please fully charge your Radio and set to Carnity frequency, channel 1 - 446.006'25. 4) Please make sure you have a safety flag and know how to fix it firmly on your car. 5) Make sure your front and back towpoints are in perfect condition. We will need them to recover you safely. In case of any emergency, you can contact me on 050 5258706. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING

Hi Frederic, My name is Dinesh, looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. 1) Which 4x4 are you driving/bringing to the drive ? 2020 Land Cruiser V8. 2) Do you have any prior off roading experience? No 3) Does your vehicle have front and rear tow points and are they in good condition ? Yes

Confirm from my side

@Islam Soliman your name is added on the drive list.

@Chaitanya D, due to health issues I had to pull out of the drive this week. Apologies for the late notice.

Hi Gaurav I confirm. Thank you @Mike Krahersorry for that man

Hi @Srikumar .. can you pls add me to WL .. so far am unable to secure a spot in the Few or Int drives

Current Waitlist: ------Lucky Sam (signed up for Newbie alread) ------Piotr (booked into RSVP, waiting for confirmation 1) Probir 2) David Ortells 3) Siddharth 4) SureshVnair 5) Xavier Treasurer 6- Yousef Alimedadi 7 - Islam Soliman

Another one , fighting gravity in wrong angle ! , in other words let the momentum that you carry ( like up hill climb or side slope ) fight for you cause if you let you engine fight late and not from the beginning it will almost always end like that . I am least experience and hence I say it

@Chaitanya D i already have a drive for 28 sorry my mistake

Words of wisdom from our one and only @Rahimdad 😀 God willing, I’m taking everyone’s advice and resting the night before and I’m showing up with my game face on. And just in case, I’m scheduling massages before and after the drive. I’ve also asked my lovely wife to prepare a hot bath and to check on our supply of Tylenol 😂 In all seriousness though, I’m looking forward to exploring Liwa and to driving its lovely sands with me fellow “Carnityans”😀💪🏻 @Wrangeld, I’ll bring some Panadol for us, just in case 😂

Dear @Abu Muhammad unfortunately Liwa is ain’t on my schedule ; ( work and family ) . I will cross my fingers for you and all the desert lovers who are going to conquer the mighty dunes of Liwa , I still remember it very well ( was my Adam’s age that time ) . Best of luck and I will be watching you from here so far away 😔 inshallah

Yes this is it Dr @Mohamed Seidam Thank you. All we can do is to try our best with positive anergy and lots of patient. Liwa would be a good unforgettable first experience hopefully. It would be pleasure seeing you there.

@Srikumar Appologies, will not be able to make it to the drive. I have chicked on leave event

@Ahab Shamaa we never leave anyone behind. I really appreciate your kind gesture, but I would really like your smile through your amazing FJ. At our age we already face everything with a smile, but Liwa experience like @Wrangeld put it is awesome and with an aching back will leave a smile on everyone's face till we head to Liwa again. Sure it is challenging, but we wouldn't invite all level of drivers if it was not possible. However you have to be aware that it's not a usual day drive, instead it's a journey which will turn boys to men. Thus men like you and I need to pull up our socks and show the boys how it's done.

Hi @Chaitanya D I have completed 4 newbie drives as of today and going for my 5th drive to fossil rock on 27th morning. I request if I can join this drive in afternoon. I have all required gear. Would apply for rank up after the morning newbie drive.

@syed salman raza I am referring to the Liwa drive which is on Dec 2nd (Wednesday). Please confirm your participation.

My single cab is pretty small tho... but anyhow ive been desert driving for many years now so my confidence in handling the tuck is high enough to handle most thrown at it.... please dont hold back ✌🏼

What a fantastic attitude - and yes, you're right. You cannot get the expertise without the practice and the practice has the risk of getting stuck. See you Friday.

As driving back again from LIwa to Abu dhabi on the same day after the drive is tiresome, How about staying back. As hotels are fully booked Is it ok if I come with family and camp in desert for a night and come back very next day. Just a thought and request opinions as I am doing my first drive in Liwa.

Hi @Islam Soliman, sorry, you were n°4 on WL (and now 3). @Mukundan Nair I added you to the drive. Do you confirm? Next on WL: 1. @Jorge Stepniak Felippe 2. @Kailas 3. @Islam Soliman Thanks @asifk. You too.

It's fine, but please take into consideration that more the number of passengers your car would be sluggish and less responsive. You can buy either a plastic or a metal one. Both would be fine

@Emmanuel I see an open place on this drive and not sure of the WL order.. pls let me know if I can join

Hi @Emmanuel I have exited this drive and will join the newbie drive. Good luck and be safe !

@Atif, @Frederic, @topgear, @sertac. have you guys seen the new Rivian yet? It looks pretty cool... https://rivian.com/

I got in the afternoon fewbie drive, please remove me from wait list. Thanks

@Tero Vallas alternatively you can install a kill switch for your Prado at xxxxxx xxxxxxxx, i paid 250AED. Kills the ABS, traction control and airbags. I did that for the FJ i dont think the electronics are that much different. Ah forgot i was not supposed to mention garage names on this forum.. Any good offroad garage will do it. Ras Al Khor area is where i go.

Camping round here is the only realistic option unless you want to spend an arm and a leg. A pice of advice from my side. I have done only one Liwa drive - and I can tell you that it's not the sort of thing I would do if I had also driven 350km from Dubai before the drive in the desert. Driving in the Liwa dunes is not like a morning desert drive in Al Qudra. The dunes are immense, and endless. We will be in a wilderness like you have never seen before. There's no easy quick exits if for some reason you decide it's not for you. There's no way out other than the way in ... and that's likely to be through dunes like you never saw or experienced before. I do not want to put anyone off: the experience is immense, but I also do not want anyone to disregard Fred's comments about preparation. Mentally, physically and your car will all be challenged.