Gaurav

Trip Report - Finally after a long delay.

A day started with drizzling had a good indication that it's going to be the best day for many of us.

Following recent culture of being on time, everyone showed up at meeting point before I showed up. With little distant greetings, we started SHARP at 8:00 AM and head over to the deflation point. As I had all the intermediate and advance drivers so I wanted to up the challenge little bit by starting the drive without the deflation. Off course without deflation, we wouldn't be able to make it very far, but the actual idea was to show the importance of deflation and also how you can manage your vehicle if you have to step in sand without deflation. With proper instructions, precise control and careful approach we all did good dunes, side sloping, crossing the crest at 35 PSI for first 15-20 minutes.

After the deflation, I gave up the lead to our new leaders and @Shamil was the first one to get in line to test his leading skills. He started bit on a shy note, but picked up very well and reached the pylon track within 30-40 minutes. Shamil had a pretty commendable and confident pace to lead and he knew where he is heading. He had a good sand reading and judgment of dunes to enter and exit safely. He need to work on keeping a close eye on the convoy behind and also time management skills.

Overall @Shamil scored 7 out of 10.

Next comes the "under cover" Raptor - @Xaf. He got the instruction to take all of us back to the starting point from pylon track, which will be facing the slip face on most of the dunes (tough battle for a new lead). But he was super cautious, well planned in using steps/stairs technique without me explaining or teaching anything on that. After a little while he was given a green signal from my side to boost the level the best he can and then lower down accordingly if any of us get stuck or refusal. After this instruction we all have seen new Velociraptor in making. Amazing sideys, ridge riding and tall climbs he plan and manage to sneak the whole convoy safely under his wings. He needed a very little fine touch to tweak the lead or alternate path by using the second lead effectively and hone his leading skills even better. He needs to practice this more with a free mindset and learn to make interesting spaghetti routes through the dunes.

Overall @Xaf scored 8 out of 10.

Then we have given the chance to lead to our "Youngest Off-roader" - @Jeepie (as per he experience). Initially she thought of giving it up - may be she genuinely wanted or prepping our mind for her first lead - genuine first lead, unlike Shamil and Xaf who have done the lead before. So we got to start with Matrix example that no one has made in the first attempt. Luckily she could see the Fossil rock on a clear day and she was instructed to take the convoy there. As a first time lead, she decided to stick to the tracks and did couple of sideys and chosen the very safe and doable path for all the cars behind. Her leadership skills is far too great than she actually realizes it. As a good leader she is open for evaluating all the suggestions and then decide her path. Unfortunately she has beaten the Matrix example - to made through the whole stretch without any stucks or refusal. She need to believe on herself and try more leading drives to get accustom to the idea that she can find her own path.

Overall @Jeepie scored 6 out 10.

Last but not least comes @Ale Vallecchi with his trusted FJC, that is waiting to be pushed to the next level. He has got the most difficult patch to lead from pylon track to the top of the fossil rock. His navigational skills are quiet good and he manage to circle the convoy to right side for an exploratory purpose. We recovered couple of locals there and find our way to the top of Fossil Rock, of course with an hour of delay due to extra recoveries. Ale needs to work hard on connecting the dots on what he sees on the navigational screen and where he drives. He also need to realize that his FJC holds lot more potential than what he is realizing it currently.

Overall @Ale Vallecchi scored 7 out of 10.

All four new leaders did amazing job and exceeded all my expectations that I had in the morning. They all need to hone their skills and practice the lead more often under supervision. They all need to get involve and start leading all recoveries and have their first say on the technical recoveries. They have learned the importance of angles, precision, physics and weight than just speed and full throttle tug. Hope they continue to learn and advance further to master this amazing art of off-roading and help others to learn more from their knowledge and experience.

Apart from regular clean up, organizing and tidy up your house, car, PC, phone, camera, what unusual stuff you have done during this stay at home period, which "you have never done before"?

• I dance with my 5 YO son and wife like I have never danced before.
  • Started with kiddo's dance - as usual
  • Then he picked up our moves and we dance on regular music for an hour with good volume and bass.

Surprisingly we never think/expect that kid at such an age will like / adapt to our music or moves but when given been a chance they really surprise us beyond our expectations.

Trip Report: Al Qudra - 20 Mar 2020

It is indeed a great moment to drive to a meeting point (ahead of time) seeing the majority of cars have already lined up "UNDERSTANDING" the importance of time and respecting each other time. Almost everyone was on time and within less than 10 minutes of distant meet and greet we head towards the deflation point under the shade.

Really appreciate that everyone understand the importance of social distancing and also continue reminding each other, when needed. 

The idea of cutting short the briefing to save time is also helping now in COVID days to spend half the time in briefing, so we can get started faster. After a quick briefing and helping a hatchback to get out from the sand (Qudra - trademark), we assigned the convoy numbering.

@Ale Vallecchi has been a fantastic support to help and manage the whole convoy from start to finish. As I started moving, Ale has made sure that all 15 cars line up in the correct order and keep on maintaining the order through out the drive. He was also the first responder to all the stuck and refusals and he manage to recover all of them with a great efforts and teamwork.

@Jamy B. has been very calm and confident in her second lead for the first time and she totally understood the gravity and responsibility of this convoy position. She successfully manage to lead, detour (when needed) or hold the convoy in place together during the whole drive. Really well done.

@Chaitanya D and his newly armored Patrol Y62 was keeping an eagle eye from sweep position to make sure that almost everyone (more on that later) was in convoy position and following the convoy discipline at all the time. Really well done.

As we progress through I was quite impress to see @Colin Jordan getting used with his pickup truck and he was truly excited at times to push it more and more. I'm sure he will have his fill in Sweihan next week. @Cara Jordan has been patiently riding with Colin with her fingers crossed that Colin learn his truck well, so that Cara can get back her wrangler.

@asifk being the only absolute newbie in this drive was quiet forthcoming and knowledgeable with his vehicle dynamics and offroading. He was also well prepared with his briefing, COVID precautions and carrying his own radio with the correct frequency setup.

@sheri Incident update - Extreme recovery

After almost half way through the drive, I got a call from Ale that Sheri has been stuck on the side slope at a very weird angle. After analyzing the situation, it seems that @sheri didn't follow the convoy discipline and went to do the side sloping on a very dangerous dune that has a solid sand formation (almost rocks) at the base of that dune. With the help of @Ale Vallecchi, @luwaimn and few others we manage to break that rocks to almost flat bed instead of spikes.

While winching Sheri's LWB Pajero backwards it started sliding down and almost after half way it was about to hit the rock at a tilted angle, that it has a greater chance of flipping on to the rocky bed. At this time, we took a step back and decided to anchor the Pajero front wheel with Ale's FJ Cruiser on top of the dune with 3 straps that we have had, so that it won't flip. Using of strap in such scenario is highly advisable as we dont want the flex of viking or synthetic ropes that might stretch when car lift off to flip and worsen the situation with its inherent elasticity.

During this whole recovery process Jeepers were very helpful to let us do what we want to do and how we want to do the recovery - as that was my main fear when initially I was reluctant in taking their help, because in such extreme recoveries if too many people start leading and guiding then chances of failure increases multi-fold.

We have removed Ale FJC and used Jeeper's jeep on top with synthetic rope tied with straps to Sheri's Pajero front alloy wheel and spooled the winch to max twice (to contain the flex). Another Jeepr whose name was J or Jeh helped me down in reversing the Pajero with a very well controlled and coordinated efforts with 3 cars involved and within few minutes Pajero was on flat ground without any damage.

Thanks everyone for your wonderful support and patience to manage such extreme recovery with a very cool and calm approach.