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@Ale Vallecchi really fun drive with some great ridge riding and criss crossing and then a bit of tecky stuff thrown in for good measure Love these mid week drives - just breaks the week up 😃 Well done @Chinthaka Ruwanat 2nd lead and as always reassuring to have @Gaurav Soniat sweep Cant finish this post without mention of my first pop out - having seen a few being fixed before it was good to be able to do this one for myself. Thanks to everyone who assisted and expert guidance from @Ale Vallecchiand @Gaurav Soni. Will keep and extra PSI or 2 in the tyres going forward 💪 See you all in the sand soon

Escape from Lisaili - Midweek Drive Report "From the moment you entered this world of existence, a ladder was put in front of you so you could escape" - Rumi Dear Desertanuts, Escaping was the plan: first of all, from the routine of our weekdays, and once given that opportunity, escaping from one of the most diverse desert areas in Dubai, through its technical areas, via its furthest reaches, across a mix of technical dunes, long range cordons, and sabkhas, all the way to Murqab's mosque. The plan was to reach it at sunset, and so we did. This itinerary was almost entirely an exploration drive, and indeed it "flowed" a little less smoothly than more practiced tracks. Entering the area from the Three Trees side, we went in towards Solar Park, instead of in Lisaili's direction. Then turned north-east, to reach an area with lots of trees, well away from the pylon track (closer to the "chimney" area of Solar Park's new phases), from there we aimed back in toward Lisaili, but turned east again, upon running into an area of large sabkhas and low dunes, which was the gateway to reaching Murqab's tall, bushy, long range dunes and bowls. Most of the terrain was quite technical, with the added challenge of having to ride and cross ridges made soft and shifty by the strong wind, which had created an accumulation of fine sand forming a "step" on the hard-face of the dunes. This was an unusual situation, which I found myself facing for the first time, and which clearly was "designed" to make our escape a little more difficult. The convoy behaved extremely well, responding to each different environment with minimal refusals, and with just the need to stop three times, for a pop-out repair, and for a couple of tugs. Thanks to @Chinthaka Ruwan for a clean Second Lead, to @GauravSoni for a very reassuring Sweep, and a very well deserved thanks to the rest of the convoy - @Lakshmi Narasimhan, @Zixuan Huang - Charlie, @JeromeFJ, @PaoloMaraziti, @Darren Brooke, and @Zed. Great driving, and ability to adapt to the different terrains. See you soon out there. Enjoy the rest of your week.

@GauravSoni @Farouq Owdeh @Ruan van den Heever @Zed @Mus_hus78 @Xavier Treasurer @Hasan Wahlan @Lakshmi Narasimhan Now, this is what I called a Super Strong FB Convoy. So famous are the Sweihan boys, that we have quite a few drivers coming all the way from Dubai and Sharjah to see what the hype is all about. So here's hoping for another rocking drive in Sweihan 🤞 With the able support of the flying Italian @Lorenzo Candelpergher, I will be more than happy to push the pace and increase the challenge during the drive. See you all at the meeting point tomorrow at 9 PM. Convoy numbering would be announced tomorrow morning.

@Ale Vallecchiyour drive brief, pre brief, drive directions, post drive report are equally eye catching like your leading the drive on sand. I love all your exploratory drive theam, planning, execution and exit. As usual it was wonderful and refreshing mid week drive. It is assured that your mid week drives defeats the heat of the sun and is full of fun, thrill and learning. Thanks to the entire convoy for being part of the fun drive.

Dear Desertnauts. Just a quick few words about what's to come this Friday. As mentioned in the drive's post, the goal is to show that Qudra, the place usually chosen because of the possibility to enjoy its low dunes at sunset, and its lakes for picnics, our usual introductory ground to off-roading, has several surprises to offer, even for the more advanced drivers. Most of the itinerary, surely the first part, will be the same as the one we use for the Absolute Newbie drives. The differences, here, will be the speed and the skills we'll adopt: faster, and including criss-crossing and ridge riding. With the goal of completing the AN drive in a much shorter time, what will be left of our planned 3 or so hours, will still be driven in challenging terrain, likely to the south of the bike track, close to the pylons, and possibly all the way to Solar Park, or even beyond it. Welcome to @Paolo Pellegrini, @Sunil Mathew, @Chinthaka Ruwan, @Tareck, @Ben84, @Chris Wing, @luis mantecon, @TT_Dubai, @Alfred Alinazar and @JeromeFJ. The convoy order will follow tomorrow, as well as the final instructions about the meeting point, and the radio channel. Have a nice evening.

@Ale Vallecchi Thanks for another great drive. Wonderful terrain. Everyone did great. Thanks @Lakshmi Narasimhan and @GauravSoni for your advices. Its always happy to see all the familiar faces on the sand again. See you all form next drive.

Because of this drive (9pm to 1am), I made a special mod to the LC: 4 amber offroad lights (amber goes well against dust & fog). I hope I don't blind the car in front of me 😂 PS: ignore the 2 on bonnets, they will be turned 45° to help cornering/seeing before turning ☺️

Thank you @Ale Vallecchi for the drive yesterday. The perfect afternoon escape in the middle of the week ! These double sided soft crests were tricky, but excellent opportunity to exercise balance and momentum. And the timing was perfect, with the arrival at the Murqab mosque in the evening light! @PaoloMaraziti, thank you for the footage, that little grey FJ looks like a toy car having a lot of fun 😄😂 !!

thanks again @Ale Vallecchi for lead @GauravSoni for sweep. Thanks both for accomodating an exit, looking back I think it was perfect timing: 1. If my son wasn't sea-sick, I wouldn't have stopped. Stopping made me realize I had a flat tyre (this morning PSI still intact meaning no soft puncture - hey I guess Method's BeadGrip works well and prevented me a pop-out 😂 cc @Mus_hus78 for more fire to fuel 🔥) 2. If I didn't ask to exit, this might continue to be a Night Drive 😂😂 Thank you Everyone too, you all did great as we come home on time ☺️

You are most welcome @Zed, you are now free to join your second, third or fourth drive for the week. @Zed, @Lakshmi Narasimhan and @GauravSoni you guys better sleep in the desert and don't walk like zombies, or I will wake you up with tons of recoveries and shoveling.

And so, it happens

@Lorenzo Candelpergher Thanks for the great drive - This shd be part of a course, "How to ridge drive comfortably in 2 hours" . Posted my video here. Starts with my cresting within the first 5 minutes , tug - thanks to @Gaurav Soni @Ashok chaturvedi for showelling. As time passed by with more and more ridges, the time I could spend on the ridges increased from say 3-5 seconds to 40 seconds at one stretch that too with curves and elevation changed. Great Learning experience. Good to see Richard @Wrangeld, hope car is Good Great to see u guys, @varunmehndiratta, @Ahab Shamaa, @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ,@Dodi Syahdar, @Kailas, awesome convoy ...pumped up all the time...

@samamara I've recently fitted both front (which extends to cover the area just under the number plate) and rear plates, and happy to have done so especially during my fewbie drives. I had to look at the cost of the plates, versus potentially damaging expensive engine parts during the drives - and in hindsight was a good decision. Great comments above, especially the explanations from @Gaurav and @Frederic, as usual. The rear bumper in particular is vulnerable, basically acting as a scoop at the wrong angle, so this needs attention. For me personally, a kill switch is not a priority at the moment. I have the same car as you. We don't share workshop names/details on the portal, but if you'd like to discuss further/including workshop contact, feel free to contact me - 050 734 5801.

I do work continuously for 2-3 days I am used to waking for long hours. Body and mind has to be tuned for that. If you can manage no problem will see you!!! If you feel tired then please head back home thats what I will do.

@Shaz Shahvery well deserved, looking forward to our next drive together.

@Rawad

Congratulations @Shaaz Sha

Congrats buddy @Shaaz Sha well done! Well deserved!!

Many congrats Nice to see you as Advisor.

Congratulations @Hasan Wahlanfor joining the fewbie plus group , we need more fewbie plus in our drive ….zed and kartikh dude u must join us soon 😇…..

Hi @Gaurav 1. One newbie drive..dats it 2. Yes 3. Pajero LWB 3.5L 2017

Hi @Wrangeld and to all others. 😄 Hope you all are doing well. I'm so excited to be part of this group. I recently purchased a Mitsubishi Pajero 1999 3.0 LWB Manual Trans. It's going to be my first time to hit the dunes and I have no previous off road experiences. The vehicle is already upgraded for off-roading purpose. The suspensions have been upgraded with enough ground clearance, tow hooks both front and back. I have all the necessary accessories such as tow rope, deflator kit, compressor, flag, shovel, sand ladder type grip traction tracks, sand recovery boards, etc. I love driving so much and I really wanted to experience the sand terrain. By joining the club, I'm looking forward to gain more knowledge and experience to ultimately become a professional off-roader. I look forward to meeting you all and have a great time! Thank you.

Hi @Vanessa8580 confirmed from my end.

@samamara i am also driving a pajero. Regarding the kill switch, i experienced a stuck situation during my 1st newbie drive. I was advised by the senior to plug it back as the traction control can help in recovering. It was a pretty hot day and having to open the bonnet to replug it in was a bit of hassle and i guess partly due to inexperience. And after recovering, i had to remove it again.On the hindsight, i considered it would be much more convenient to have a kill switch instead and also avoid the risk of losing the plug if i have to replug and unplug again during the drive, if i get stuck alot lol

Dear @Gaurav bhai, inspired yesterday by @Lakshmi Narasimhan & @GauravSoni's enthusiasm who said they will only sleep for 2 hours after Sri's night drive, please put me in Waiting List as this will be my 3rd drive this week 😂 Besides, I haven't seen you for a long time!

@Lakshmi Narasimhan you have been added to the drive list. Welcome aboard.

@M.Seidam great news!! Very well deserved, see you in the sand soon

You're appsolutly correct we need to test it well, and to be honest, its better to always take extra safety measures while recovering. I have asked them to be there when they connect the pintle hook just to make sure they tighten everything, but you never know The stock recovery point was just hanging too low and it had to be removed. Nevertheless, new recovery points will be installed on the left and right

The pintle hook is still installed to the cross member, that plate was just added in between.

Hi Alfred keep pushing the Pajero! Congratulations and very well done sir!

Congratulations @Alfred Alinazar..

Congratulations @Hasan Wahlan

Congratulations @M.Seidam

Congratulations @Alfred Alinazar

Congratulations @Alfred Alinazar. Great going.

Hi @Lawrence_Chehimi sure i will share. Noise was from the plastic cover which got open due to fender push rivets got broken (it was fixed by cable tie) Transmission was not working due to gear knob sleeve was broken and push button was stuck (after removing knob it can be pushed manually while driving.) And gear shift lever was stuck due to panel rubber moved from its channel (after removing rubber transfer case lever became free to move) See you in next drive

Well done @Abdul Rafay-S ! See you soon

Hi @Kailas just realized that i not only signed for two but did it on same day and same time as well. I will step out of the @Ale Vallecchi one and join for this. Thanks for highlighting

Kindly add me to waiting list

Thank you very much gentlemen, @Ale Vallecchi, there is nothing like the snow mode, great grip in the sand.

Many Congratulations @Shaaz Sha Following u.

@Shaaz Sha amazingly achievement and truly well deserved! 🍻

Thank you Thank you James, trying to do my best while keeping it fun

Congratulazioni @Shaaz Sha. Very well done!! Looking forward to driving with you, and to receiving your valuable contributions to the Club's activities. You are and will be a precious presence for all of us. Enjoy the new rank.

@Hasan Wahlan congrats!