Ale Vallecchi

Hi @Vaibhav. Just checking if it would be OK for you to be accommodated in Convoy 2, the one meeting at 4:30 pm in Ghantoot, and driving to Qudra. Thanks

Thanks @varunmehndiratta. You were already confirmed in convoy 1.

@PacificI'll do my best.

Confirmed @Anoop Nair Confirmed @Ranjan Das

PS. This format will remain available, and open to confirmation until this evening at 8PM. After this time I will finalise the convoy (or convoys), and confirm meeting time and point. Thanks for your consideration

Dear Desertnauts. I thank you all for the enthusiastic participation to Rush Hour 4. While looking at the waiting list I have had an idea that I would like to present to all drivers, the conformed signed up ones, and the waitlisted. If all, or most, agree, I will proceed as below: I will extend the drive to 10 cars, hence confirming the following CONVOY 1: @Zixuan Huang - Charlie, @Vaibhav, @Daniel Rodas, @varunmehndiratta, @Prakash Anoop, @topgear, @Rob S, @Alexanderrr PLUS @KAMALIO and @Chinthaka Ruwan I will open up the drive to the next 10 waitlisted drivers, hence creating a new CONVOY 2: @Naim Aoun, @Ashok chaturvedi, @munkybizness, @Simon Dawood, @Shaker, @ASAD., @Waqas Parvez, @Pacific, @Anoop Nair and @Ranjan Das Convoy 1 will: meet up at Qudra's Last Exit at 2:00 PM, and will "rush" to reach Ghantoot's exit point start the drive exactly at 2:30 PM plan to end the drive at 4:30 PM sharp in case the full distance between Qudra and Ghantoot has not been covered, there is a track on a sabkha available for a quick exit to Ghantoot Convoy 2 will: meet up at Ghantoot starting point at 4:30 PM, corresponding the Convoy 1's exit, and will "rush back" to Qudra's Last Exit start the drive exactly at 5:00 PM plan to end the drive at 7:00 PM also, if the drive will not have reached Qudra's Last Exit, we'll take the closest exit on Bab al Shams Road This will allow 2 convoys to drive within the "Rush Hour" format, on the Qudra to Ghantoot route and vice versa, with only me commuting back and forth. It will be a relay of sorts, with the goal of accommodating all drivers into this exciting format. I would like to ask each of you, both confirmed and waitlisted drivers, to please acknowledge the above idea, and confirm your presence in the allocated convoy. I will proceed to open up the drive to all those who agree with the above format, hence confirming the convoys above (or part of them, if not all agree). Thanks a lot for your prompt consideration and reply. Have a great Sunday.

@Paolo Morresi the App is called My Trails.

Dear Desertnauts. Welcome to this drive. Our goal will be to move alongside the western border of Al Marmoon's Conservation Area, entering just off the road to Bab al Shams Resort, reaching the Solar Park's pylon lines, and proceeding south from there, until we'll reach a large enclosure and feeding area populated (usually) by a great deal of Oryx. The Oryx Express will test a mix of skills, needed to overcome a couple of technical areas with tall, sharp, ridges and deep soft bowls, as well as long range, more open, dunes. Considering we plan to exit on E14, inland from Sheik Zayed Road, not too close to any gas stations (21 km to the nearest one), it's recommended that you start with a full tank (fill up at Qudra's Last Exit ADNOC station). The convoy order, chosen to alternate Internediates with Fewbie drivers, will be as follows: @JeromeFJ in Second Lead @Ashutosh Garg at #3 @Paolo Pellegrini #4 @Vaibhav at #5 @Paolo Morresi #6 @RiaanJH at #7 @Davie Chase at Center Forward @DP1011 , Deepak wrangler at #9 @Waqas Parvez #10 @Pascal at #11 @Harshal #12, and @munkybizness will Sweep. Looking forward to see you tomorrow morning, ready to leave as close to 6:30 am as possible. Have a nice evening.

Ciao @Paolo Pellegrini. Thanks for signing up. They drive is a Fewbie Plus one: have you just been promoted? Please let me know so I may confirm your presence. Thanks

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 strictly follow these guidelines. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions Mandatory Safety Requirements Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Fewbie Plus and above Meeting time: 2:30 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fcb5A5FkxFUGS95Y8 Action Plan: NEW PLAN: The Rush Hour saga continues, this time doubling up the track, going first from Qudra to Ghantoot, then retracing the way from Ghantoot back to Qudra Station. This second episode may, at times, be more challenging, as we could have to cross from the slip-faces. As all other editions, the drive plan is to cover at least 60 Km in 2 hours IN EACH SEGMENT. Departure is scheduled exactly at 3:00 PM (meeting time will be from 2:30 PM onward, so that we'll be all ready to start precisely at 3PM). The drive will end, wherever we'll be (with exit points planned nearby our route), at exactly 7:00 PM, or upon covering 60+60 Km, whichever comes first. The goal is to drive at a minimum average moving speed of 30Km/h. 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: 7:00 PM (including the possibility of a 30 minute extension to reach the exit) P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 8 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Monday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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

Rush Hour 3: Qudra to Ghantoot - Drive Report " I need a big suite, two beds, two showers, a massage therapist, some new clothes and a case of Old Spice" - Chris Tucker / Rush Hour 3 That's how some may feel after the Rush Hour: tired from the effort to stay concentrated, sore from holding the wheel, dusty from eating the sand. The third installment of the saga saw the convoy leave 5 minutes ahead of time, in the 36 degree heat of Qudra, headed across the "Bab al Shams" segment, across the Solar Park's western pylon line, through the long range dunes reaching the E14 Faqa Road on the outskirts of Ghantoot. As promised, the Oryx Express managed to find the noble beats, roaming just outside their compound. Nonetheless, a couple of episodes prevented the convoy from accomplishing the goal of covering 60 Km in the 2 hours of the drive. In fact, after an outstanding start, driven at an average speed of 35 Km/hour, the beginning of the second hour saw the convoy run into unexpected trouble, in the form of two nasty stucks requiring quite an effort to be solved. The first, in all honesty, was yours truly's fault: after a sharp criss-crossing we ended into a tight bowl, from which the attempt to climb and crossing it straight on, caused the lead to slow down, and the second lead to get stuck on the ridge. The tug from the slip face required a double rope, due to the tallness of the crest, with quite a loss of time needed to join the ropes and attach them by climbing the very soft sand. The second stuck, although it seemed harmless and needing only a self recovery, become a joint recovery effort, after the stuck car's diff-lock failed to engage, leading to an even more deep stuck on a soft side-slope. All in all, 22 minutes were spent with the two recoveries, negating the valiant effort to reach the goal of 60 Km in the 2 allocated hours. In fact, while the convoy maintained a 31 Km/h moving average throughout the drive, the total moving average was "only" 25 Km/h, covering just 43.9 Km. in the 2 hours of the drive. Nothing to be disappointed about, considering, with hindsight, that this Rush Hour episode took place in a much more mixed terrain than the previous two tracks. The Ghantoot segment is constituted by a longer stretch of tighter, soft dunes, closer to each other, following a small patch of steep technical dunes, which require perfect choice of track and immaculate execution, which is at times difficult to achieve with a 13 car convoy. So, hat off to @JeromeFJ in Second Lead, @GauravSoni sweeping, and @Alexanderrr, @Waqas Parvez, @ASAD., @Senthil Kumar, @Gregory, @Tom B, @Shaker, @Ashok chaturvedi, @Gilbert Khalil and @Joseph Raju, for completing this challenging drive. I hope to see you soon out there for the next episode of Rush Hour....soon to come!

Dear Desertnauts, a quick note for all of us. The meeting point will be just beyond ADNOC's gas station at Qudra Parking. It's easily reachable as you exit the gas station, just before reaching the entry to the tarmac and the roundabout. Just enter the gas station to refill, and as you exit you'll have the meeting point in front of you, on the left of the track. You may deflate there, as we'll drive from the meeting point to the entry point on a dirt track. Please deflate considering hot temperatures for at least the first hour, and soft sand conditions during the second hour. Considering the objective of the drive, to keep moving as fast as possible for the whole 2 hours, please bring refreshments to consume in the car, as well as make sure any passenger has had, or has access to, a motion sickness pill (we should try not to exit anybody due to this avoidable occurrence). Final convoy order and radio channel will be provided on site. @Ashok chaturvedi, @JeromeFJ, @Alexanderrr, @Tom B, @ASAD., @Shaker, @Waqas Parvez, @Gilbert Khalil, @Senthil Kumar, @Gregory, and @Joseph Raju (please confirm you'll be able to join), see you all this afternoon. Have a nice day.

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 strictly follow these guidelines. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions Mandatory Safety Requirements Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Fewbie Plus and above Meeting time: 3:30 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/UtNHUkqwEpWYxs6U8 Action Plan: After the first two installments of the Rush Hour drives from Solar Park to Faqa and back, the "need for speed" format comes back with its last episode, in a new area. As the first two editions, the drive plan is designed to cover at least 60 Km in 2 hours. Departure is scheduled exactly at 4:00 PM (meeting time will be from 3:30 PM onward, so that we'll be all ready to start precisely at 4PM). The drive will end, wherever we'll be (with exit points planned nearby our route), at exactly 6:00 PM, or upon covering 60Km, whichever comes first. The goal is to drive at a minimum average moving speed of 30Km/h. 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: 6:00 PM (with the possibility of a 30 minute extension to reach the exit) P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Wednesday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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

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 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 Mandatory Safety Requirements Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 6:30 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/DBp7gtVZGFb4mo9e9 Action Plan: A dash from Qudra to Ghantoot, along Al Marmoon's western border, on a mix of long range dunes, with occasional technical areas and blocks of taller dunes with deeper sand bowls. The drive's title hints at the goal of reaching a large feeding station just north of E14 (the road linking Faqa to Ghantoot), where often one can admire huge herds of Oryx roaming the dunes. Based on the convoy's abilities, we may exit at Ghantoot or head back to Qudra's area via sabkhas and some more long range dunes. 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: 10:30 AM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. Please RSVP on below calendar:

Thanks @Andrei S. The meeting point is in the post page, and here below Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/GYpT7yP9bwgaZVaN6 Thanks @DP1011. @Amr Aydin you are automatically in the drive. Please acknowledge. Thanks

Dear Desertnauts in preparation for tomorrow's drive, there is a change in store for you. As I have just returned from travelling abroad with a bit of sore throat and a few lines of fever, I have agreed with @Frederic, who was listed to support the drive, that it will be him leading tomorrow, while I complete my recovery. It would have been an honor for me to have the Legend Fred as support, and it will surely be an honor for you to have him in the lead. You are in the hands of one of the most expert off-roaders in the UAE. The drive will still start from what we call Bab al Shams area (that is where our Absolute Newbie drives start), just off the tarmac road going and coming from the Bab al Shams Resort. Please, park just beyond the bike track, to the right of the exit, being careful of any oncoming bikers while turning off. The drive, as planned, will explore the western and southern area of the Qudra basin, part of the Al Marmoon Reserve (look out for gazelles and oryxes). Frederic will post the convoy order with the next message. @Paolo Pellegrini, @Andrei S, @Anoop Nair, @Ben Lee, @Ron.P, @Ashutosh Garg, @Ignacio Quindos, @Thian, @george charbel, @Yaseen87, @James Lovell and @DP1011, I will be looking forward to driving with you at the next available opportunity. Enjoy the drive.

General Info This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through the below information 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 Mandatory Safety Requirements Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 6:30 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/GYpT7yP9bwgaZVaN6 Action Plan: What better way to spend the Easter morning than hopping around Qudra's most pristine area, jumping from low, open and wavy dunes, to sets of taller long range cordons, through a couple of technical areas, and finally, perhaps. into the southern most reaches of this great Natural Conservation Area, along Solar Parks border. 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: 10:30 AM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE Limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday 2 pm. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list. Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - 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

Hello @Krishna R. You have made it into the drive. Can you please confirm that you will be able to join? Thanks a lot.

Dear @Krishna R, even though you are #1 in the waiting list, precedence goes to those drivers with no scheduled drives during the weekend. As it looks like this would be your second drive, those without drives will move ahead of you, if someone drops out. Let's see if anything opens up, before being able to evaluate. Thanks for asking.

Hi @Paolo Morresi. Yes, my mistake, the correct frequency is as indicated above. Thanks for noticing. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.