Leaderboard

@ChrisW @Luke K P @Aser @Nizar Shawwa @Cesar Chacon @Andrew John Melvill @Stumpy @Alexander Alcala @RiadJL @Hugo @Wissam @Enrique @Mark B @Gary F @Benjamin @Imran Asghar @JohanE @Bravoecho @Rajiv Sam @Tharun Kumar V @Krishna R @Ahmed Farouk @Zak_ @Bashar Beasha @Mahmoud Taha @Matt - monkeywrench @Jon L @Imteeaz @Davie Chase @JeromeFJ @Gaurav Soni @Asif Hussain @Looper @Albertorres @Zed Desert Champions Trophy - 2024 - Highlights

Congratulations, @davie c smooth operator 🌟 Davie Chase Joins the Ranks of Carnity Offroad Club Marshals! In Sep 2021 Davie Chase arrived in the UAE deserts with his trusted Wrangler and a heart full of curiosity for off-road adventures. From that first drive with me in Tawi Nazwa, Davie's enthusiasm and knack for problem-solving were evident, setting him apart as someone destined to excel. Through 160+ drives spanning all terrains, Davie didn’t just gain experience - he built a reputation. Whether navigating technical dunes or lending a steady hand during recoveries, his sharp instincts and unshakable composure have left an indelible mark on our off-road community. Davie's approach to off-roading goes beyond just skill. His flair for turning challenges into learning moments has empowered countless drivers to overcome their fears and embrace the desert. As a leader, he’s patient, encouraging, and always up for helping others push their boundaries safely. Achieving the Marshal rank isn’t just about driving prowess; it’s about embodying the values that Carnity Offroad Club holds dearly - teamwork, foresight, perseverance, and a passion for sharing knowledge. Davie represents all this and lot more. If you're looking for inspiration on how to grow in this community, look no further than Davie Chase. His ability to balance technical expertise with mentorship is a true example of what makes a Marshal. Follow his lead, and you’ll discover that off-roading is as much about connection and camaraderie as it is about conquering dunes. Congratulations, Davie, on this incredible milestone! The entire Carnity family celebrates your achievement and looks forward to many more epic adventures with you at the helm.

@DP1011 would have loved to visit this amazing area again, But work calls on Sat morning ☹️. So heading back to Razeen to join the hunt for Asif's radio 😀 on Sunday.

@Gaurav bhai you guessed right, radio is a reason Getting ready for next years jungle drive. Gaurav bhai next year you rename the trophy as DJCT

Asif bhai, zoom zoom skills and planning are next-level.

Hi and thanks for the welcome! 1. I have done the Desert Driving Masterclass with Gaurav about a month ago and on Friday morning a friend and I have another morning driving again with Gaurav. So only a few hours experience, in short I'm a complete beginner. 2. 2018 Pajero 3.8L, completely stock and on road tyres (Gaurav told me that they would be fine to start) 3. Standard Pajero two points on the front and a bar with a centre point on the rear. The bar is rated to 5,000KG, Jay from Machine Head 4*4 looked at it for me while I was there getting a flag mount made, he said it was good for the job 4. In terms of kit; I have a flag on a rear mount, a radio programmed to the club channels (if I've done if correctly!), chucks / valve spanners for deflation, a compressor, fire extinguisher and a full size shovel (I got plenty shovelling practice with Gaurav!). This is all in a box strapped down in the back. What I don't yet have is a tow rope and shackles, but I checked on the chat last week and understand that this isn't needed for a newbie drive. Very happy to answer any other questions, looking forward to my first club drive.

Thanks @Srikumar I remember a drive when we had a stuck on a flat area, and I suggested that we get the ropes out as it looked impossible to get the vehicle out, you politely told me no we will get this self-recovered, I was very skeptical to be honest, but man oh man, we shovel and we wiggled and we blipped, and we shoveled some more, and low and behold we got it self recovered. That was one of the most valuable lessons that I received in Carnity, to see how with patience, thought, knowledge and skill we can pretty much self-recover any situation in the desert, I keep reminding myself of this whenever I have a situation today. Appreciate your mentorship and guidance over the last three years that has helped me and pushed me to get to this place in my off roading journey.

Congratulations @davie c smooth operator. You are definitely one of the finest leads that Carnity has produced. Starting from your briefing, to route planning to the execution, the friendly banter and to top it off a very cool head even in situations. Wish you all the best on the new journey. This is just the end of the beginning. The journey of exploration and finding new places, doing different things start from here. Congratulations

DRIVE PLAN This would be the first time I would be driving in this area, hence the exploration drive. It is further away than most of our drives, almost near the area where DCT was held, so I would recommend that members arrive the previous evening and camp at the spot however reaching there in the morning is possible as well. If I would camp, I would be on a light camping setup and will update the camping spot on Saturday. GENERAL OVERVIEW We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities DRIVE DETAILS Level: Fewbie Plus and above When: 24 November 24, Sunday Meeting time: 8:00 AM - Sharp Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y5Fz8JJTMWDKmN62A Approximate finish time: 11:30 AM approx. 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, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. RECOMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Hi @Hugo - Like for all drives we do have some potential exits planned - but only in case of exceptions warranting - My intention is to exit either 24°18'02.4"N 55°32'54.1"E or back to where we enter from - All depending on how as a convoy we perform. However, if you have time bound - commitments , I would recommend you to certainly plan for buffer , - We enter as a one convoy and we exit as a one convoy 😎 - although aimed at 10.30 or slightly earlier . See you soon , Been long !

Thank you very much for the detailed answer and you are set perfectly for your first drive in a convoy . Hope you will enjoy and see you Friday afternoon 👍

Great job done @davie c smooth operator ! A big bravo for the route traveled! A well deserved recognition for your outstanding driving and leading skills.

prep for next year

@davie c smooth operator Big congratulations on your promotion to Marshal – you totally deserve it! I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the way you teach and guide everyone. You make every drive so interesting and fun. Honestly, it’s always a blast driving under your lead! Here’s to more great drives and more milestones ahead. Cheers!

Have a read here first: https://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/camera_summary.html Though the Sony A7 is famous for "star-eaters", it's still value for money and can be modified for astro: https://www.astrogear.net/products/sony-mirrorless-full-frame-astrophotography-conversion

Who knows, Radio is an excuse to time different strategies and approaches.

Congrats Davie, very well deserved. With the way you handle yourself I thought you were already Marshall for a long time!

Congratulation ,pure dedication and hard work 👍

@davie c smooth operator massive congrats mate - you truly deserved this promotion, which is based on your skills and talent...... I am sure that you will inspire 'new' sand explorers with your drives. Keep it up mate....

Thanks @Gaurav I really appreciate the opportunity you have given me to grow within the club, the time you have spent mentoring me and empassing knowledge and you have a vast amount of it to pass on. Your patience during LL I, II and III over a year ago, your help and encouragement as we went from novice leads to growing into the title of Expert, which to be fair I did not really feel I deserved at the beginning, and I also thought to myself on those first few leads, oh my goodness what have you done, how are you going to manage this drive and that drive, etc. But with all the training and continued mentoring when supporting your drives it now comes fairly naturally. You have a club that we can all be proud of, it has a solid foundation, a fantastic structure, with Community spirit and safety as its core values. Its a real honor to be a part of this amazing club, that is filled with amazing people from all the other Marshalls (I can say that now ) the other trip leads, the support teams and amazing members that come out and follow us around the desert. I have not driven for any other club since starting my journey with Fred on my master class, and have no intention of doing so. I feel that Carnity is a home away from home and enjoy every minute of it and all that it strives to install in its members. Thanks you for having the faith in me to move through the ranks and look forward to all and any challenges that come my way to help grow the club and mentor future leads support and club members alike. This journey would not have been possible without all of the other Marshalls and support members that give up their time to post drives and share their knowledge, so a big shout out to anyone i have no responded to or mentioned in my posts. The amount of wonderful messages of congratulations received is indeed very humbling...... thank you all Thanks @Vijaya Kumar Doppa appreciated

Thanks @Ranjan Das appreciated Thanks @Emanuel appreciated and look forward to having you in support

Thanks @Frederic cannot express in words the gratitude for that first master class 3+years ago that really got me the bug and started me on the path to go from Master class to Newbie and very humbled in the sand to a confidence that I now have to lead and mentor others. could not have gotten here without yours and all the other crew, marshals, leads and support teams. I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead and more importantly continuing the journey with team Carnity. thanks again and for the mentorship, support and patience thus far moreover, into the future as I continue to grow.

Thanks @M.Seidam appreciate the kind words and all of the encourage and help on this journey, you sir were one of my inspirational leaders and always loved your drives it is a privilege to join the ranks of the Carnity marshals and stand along side those who inspire us all in this sport, thank you and appreciate all of you valuable lessons and your patience. Thanks @Looper appreciate the support and sharing this journey with you.

Yes absolutely. I don’t see us retiring from off-roading soon, but that’s why perhaps we can in the future transition the club into offering a plethora of activities. From hiking to cycling / mountain biking, wadi walking, fishing, and anything in between We just need a few people to take the lead. We have a club, we have members, and we have a platform. With such a fantastic community we can pull off many adventures.

yikes never really done the calcs on CO2 emmissions before its really crazy how much is emitted from burning petrol. Im dropping like 60kg of CO2 when driving with a lead foot in desert on per 100km.