Leaderboard

Dear Desert Wanderers, the RVSP for this drive is closed. As anticipated, we have defined TWO convoys, one led by myself (convoy 1) and one led by @Anish S (convoy 2). Kindly make sure you know which convoy you have been assigned to, as the meeting points will be different: @Lawrence_Chehimi, @Russ, @Antoz, @Magellan, @Dodi Syahdar, @Kenneth Bollhardt, @JeromeFJ, @Batuhan Kulac, @topgear@Lakshmi Narasimhan, @GauravSoni, the meeting point for Convoy 1 led by myself will be at Mahafiz Trees Shade https://goo.gl/maps/dtw94UrW6Kn99YB18, approx. 200 meters inside the desert on the east side of Mahafiz - Faya Road. @luis mantecon, @Chinthaka Ruwan, @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil, @Adhir Saxena, @Ranjan Das, @Darren Brooke, @Rawad Bahsas, @Chris Wing, @Probir Mukherjee, @Islam Soliman, the meeting point for Convoy 2 led by @Anish S will be directly on the west side of Mahafiz - Faya Road https://goo.gl/maps/oZRTdHTDF4Bt3tYm6, i.e. on the opposite side than that of Convoy 1, but close enough for anyone joining the wrong convoy due to lack of caffeine at 5am to quickly move to the right one. The terrain in this area can be tricky, with many bushes (in the initial part, when we will drive in the twilight) and patches of very soft sand and some technical passages. Accordingly, this drive will require your full and undivided concentration at every step, so make sure you come well rested and fully hydrated and that you don’t have any reason for being distracted. Also, please consider carefully if you wish to bring passengers along with you. Convoy 1 will be using Carnity Channel 1 (446.00625Mhz), while Convoy 2 will be using Carnity Channel 2 (446.03125MHz). I was tempted to invert the channels as a way to test how awake all drivers are, but I finally thought it's better to spend 15 more minutes driving rather than sorting out our radios.. See tomorrow morning, ready to go (i.e. already caffeinated, deflated, flagged and briefed) by no later 5:15am (sharp), so make sure you make it to the meeting point at least by 5:00am.

@Ale Vallecchi thanks for encouragement all through . @Craig Finlaysonthanks for manual 2 tip , helped a lot . @Gaurav Soni @Lakshmi Narasimhanand the amazing co drivers many thanks for digging me out . Some one has my shovel . Any way I will get a new one .

Dear Desertnauts. @Thomas Varghese, @imranaasghar81, @GauravSoni, @Mario Cornejo, @varunmehndiratta, @amir amiri, @Arda Yagcioglu and @N@ved, welcome to this drive. This Wednesday we'll be joining two itineraries - Western Qudra's long range dunes, and the Ganthoot drive - to create an almost seamless playing field, where criss-crossing will be the main dish on the menu. Conditions will vary slightly between the two segments, with longer, wider cordons during most of the first one, and closer, more bowl-like dunes in the second half of the drive. In between, a couple of technical dune fields, including one close to the planned exit point. The convoy is expected to move as smoothly as possible, concentrating on choosing the right angles to approach the crests, ride them as permitted by their length and smoothness (or lack of), and exit safely on the other side. Most of the approaches will be from the hard-face, as we'll progress following the wind's prevailing direction. Convoy order will be out tomorrow, but, as already done before in the case of IM drives, each driver will be responsible for supporting the recoveries of the car just in front or behind his own. Last minute info tomorrow. Have a great day.

Mario Cornejo @Mario Cornejo (Nissan Patrol SWB) [Intermediate] Pacific @Pacific (Jeep Wrangler SWB) [Fewbie] Chris Wing @Chris Wing (Toyota FJ Cruiser) [Fewbie] Nathan Evans @Nathan Evans (Suzuki Jimny) [Fewbie] Jeandre Bezuidenhout @Jeandre Bezuidenhout (Jeep Wrangler SWB) [Intermediate] Thanks for signing up for the SWB drive. @Chris Wing ... The FJ is not a borderline SWB. At 106" it is an MWB, but as you've signed up let's leave it at that for the moment. If the numbers stay at this level, we will use the drive to focus on the following: Ridge riding - we will start at the basics, small low dunes and build up from there as far as the terrain will allow. Criss-crossing - in both directions, i.e. hard face approach and slip face approach. Technical dunes & soft sand - to understand the advantages of the smaller wheelbase. This implies we will not be looking to find long dunes for slide sloping or climbs. If there is something else that you want to add, please use this forum. I am more than happy to try and use the session for us all to learn as much as we can. As you appreciate, I want to use the time to learn/hone skills. If your expectation is different, then it's no problem if you decide that there's a better option over the week that satisfies your adrenalin or other wishes. I will say that if we fall below a 4 car drive, the drive will be cancelled. As a favour to your fellow drivers, and knowing that there is space on other drives this week, if you are in doubt, please make your decision early. The last ting we want is for too few drivers to turn up at the start finding that someone changed their mind. See you soon in the sand.

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and and strictly follow these guidelines in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Off-roader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Fewbie and Above When: 13 May 2021, Thursday Meeting time: 4:30 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/wbkYijNugnag2g1E8 Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 8:30 PM End Point: TBA Please RSVP on below calendar

@Probir Mukherjee I have your shovel….you can collect on tomorrow’s drive with Lorenzo!!

Usually i use EOS 700D, the reason being my lenses are mostly EFS and ease of use of menus plus its lighter than the 5D Classic. I use the 5D occasionally when I want to take portraits as I have the 50mm 1.8 prime & the 75 - 300mm telephoto EF lenses as the bokeh in the full frame is more pronounced. The 5D Mark 1 is good but 700D is equally good. Bought the classic as a second hand because of curiosity for the full frame. I have a 500D also which now has to go for repair, the pictures this camera took was very good in fact slightly better than the 700D as pixel size is more in the sensor but resolution is less. The write speed of the classic is comparatively slower than the 700D and the CF card for the classic is more expensive than the SDXC cards. Minus point of CF cards is they have to be handled very carefully when taking it out and reinserting to the camera due to the number of pins they have or else any wrong action will render your card reader useless and your camera back for the adapter replacement which is expensive. The color science of canon digital cameras right from their inception till now is commendable as is the best in the industry. Ease of menu I suppose no other manufacturer can match.

Hello All, Current wait list 1. Ranjan 2. Luis 3. Richard We will keep you posted, just in case if someone drops out.

Thank you @Frederic, Yes and I will join. my Camera is DSLR Nikon 3200 and the lens is 18-200mm.

Sorry to hear that @Mario Cornejo.See you soon in one of our drives ! @Yousef Alimadadiwould you be able to make it ? If so let me know so i can add you. PS which camera are you bringing ?

Do any of these setups VOID your warranty? I was informed by one garage that additional fan will not VOID it but just seeking more opinions/ knowledge

Waitlist as of 10th May #1 @Probir Mukherjee #2. @Clau Co #3. @Naim Aoun

Thanks @Lorenzo Candelpergher it’s always an amazing experience on drives with you! Securing a spot in itself is 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻… looking forward!

Hi it will be a Nikon D850 with wide angle lens and my iPhone as well just for fun

Can you also wait list me please? Thanks,

Nightriders Watteau @Watteau Gok Krish @Gok Krish Matt.T @Matt.T topgear @topgear Xavier Treasurer @Xavier Treasurer Jeandre Bezuidenhout @Jeandre Bezuidenhout Thomas Varghese @Thomas Varghese JeromeFJ @JeromeFJ Batuhan Kulac @Batuhan Kulac Lakshmi Narasimhan @Lakshmi Narasimhan Good morning. Great you signed up for the twilight drive. What to Expect? From Lisaili we will cover technical lite dunes until we hit the wide dunes on the way to Solar Park/Al Qudra watching the sun set along the way. As it gets dark we will turn on our lights (off road lights are not compulsory) and drive back into Last Exit, or as close as we can get that leave time for us all to go out and enjoy a little bit of the Eid atmosphere after the drive. If you think you might not be able to come, having signed up, please sign out as early as possible. It makes drive planning a bit easier. See you soon in the sand.

Can you please wItlist me for my 2nd drive of the week?

Hi @Niki! Not a problem, we can start with Direct Sunlight and try other options if it is not good enough 😃

hi, can I be in the waiting list in case someone drops?

Sure @Miguel Codes

Thanks , hope to make it , I was not allowed to rsvp when the drives came out due to tech glitch .Gaurav fixed it but I was late .This will be the last drive for the next three months as I go to cairo on 16 /5 and will return on 15 /8;So waiting fingers crossed for acceptance 😊

hello..I have another drive on Saturday. Can you please put me up for second drive of the week on this one? thank you

Please May I go on the wait list

Hi @Janarthan, can you put me on WL? Thanks a lot

Dear Desert Wanderers, In consideration of the enormous waitlist for this drive, @Anish S, who was going to be our Sweep, has kindly made himself available to lead a 2nd convoy, for which I thank him very much. Accordingly, I'm glad to inform that all waitlisted members are now admitted to the drive, which has now a 20 RSVP limit. See you on Tuesday!

Thank you @Jeepie. In case you need help in support I'm here. 🖐️

Working on it.... Stay tuned!

@Ranjan Das, @topgear, @JeromeFJ, @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil, @Magellan, @Chinthaka Ruwan, @Russ, @Antoz, @Lakshmi Narasimhan, @Lawrence_Chehimi, you are all confirmed for the drive. @Chris Wing your are the 5th waitlisted.

Hi @Janarthanplease wait list me for the drive. Thanks

Thanks @Ehab ! amazing recording and film cut ! (To be honest, I was scared in my chair watching the drive haha !)

@Gaurav thank you for the clarification

Hi @Matt.T single drive restriction is off for this long weekend drives.

Full frame cameras have lot of admirers due to its ability to record less noise and the bokeh it creates. APS-C cameras are best for daily rugged use. EFS lenses are cheaper than EF and lighter too. Regarding crop factor and max, min aperture you can multiply the crop factor and get the equivalent. Overall if you are shooting in a controlled environment full frames are better but APS -C's are best for daily use as they are lighter by more than 200 to 300 gms from the camera body itself. Best is to keep both format cameras in your camera bag. You never know what you will get to shoot and when.

Thanks 🙏

@Wrangeld I have signed out from this drive due to family commitments Thank you and see you next time.

@Wrangeldyes I can confirm that I will join this drive. Thank you.

Its good no issues till now. With switch control its much better.

Hi , My vehicle is Toyota prado 2.7 Ltr 4 cylinder, 5 door. Is it good for desert offroading?

@Lorenzo Candelpergher @Batuhan Kulac @Ranjan Das @Lakshmi Narasimhan @JanarthanGuys, added a video of us chasing the sun rise...hope u will like it

@Gaurav Soni i have had to leave the drive and i believe you would have been 1st on the new waitlist so feel free to take that spot! am gutted i cannot make my first mid-week drive! have a great time out there all!

@Lorenzo Candelpergher can you add me as support on the drive!

@Mikhail Lukichev my Nikon3300 doesn't allow custom kelvin setting for White Balance so I will stick to Auto as the presets they have seem not suited for night photography (Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade). Do let me know if any of the presets are closer to the desired 3200-3500 range? Appreciate these pre-trip setting guidance- thankyou!! I have got hold of a remote trigger that allows for multi-shot programming and have downloaded Sequator ready to play with the stacked image (I have a sub for Photoshop so looking forward to playing with the images we capture) Thank you also @Frederic for choosing a great location for the night (I have read its a Bortle 4 site which is impressive considering we are <1hour from most folks homes!)

Dropped pin https://goo.gl/maps/evTYSczdWxRgfTe9A

WL please

Hi @soumyasaklani yes there is a waitlist, so I’m afraid I’ll have to remove you from the RSVP