Ale Vallecchi

Hello guys. The site at the moment is not working well, so I have not yet been able to post the meeting point. FIND IT BELOW: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pTM91phzbnomZvGr7. I'll keI'll trying to post it. See you all tomorrow.

Thanks @Jack Thomas. Hope to see you soon. Thanks for letting me know @Yahya Munir. Hope to see you soon. Hi @Francois Germishuys. You will drive with my convoy tomorrow. 😁

Sorry @Francois Germishuys 🤓 I corrected. Saturday it is!

Dear Desertnauts. The mystery is about to be solved. We have chosen a meeting point, which will soon be published on the drive's post. PLEASE CHECK THE PAGE AFTER 7PM TOMORROW EVENING. Once you reach it, please position yourself on separate sides of the road, according to which convoy you belong to. @Ale Vallecchi's convoy will be on the right hand side of the road, and will be composed of: @Ahab Shamaa, @Goutam, @Islam Soliman, @Jack Thomas, @Kenneth Bollhardt, @kolinrrj, @Malachy McGrogan, @Nihal17, @Rizwan Waheed, @VipinShetty and @Yahya Munir. The radio channel selected for this convoy is Carnity Channel #2 (446.031). @Wrangeld (Richard)'s convoy will line up on the left side of the road, and will include: @Francois Germishuys, @Humayun Ghias, @Mobeen Anwar, @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ, @Niki Patel, @Rob Harper, @sheri, @Sreejith Sreenivasan, @stavros papachristos, @Thomas Varghese @Watteau and @Yousef Alimadadi. The radio channel selected for this convoy is Carnity Channel #1 (446.006). These lists are in alphabetical order, so the exact convoys' orders will be unveiled tomorrow. They have been composed so to keep into account a balanced mix of drivers, in terms or ranks, experience and type of cars. As far as the itinerary is concerned, we will be entering an area of large, long dunes (tall but not too sharp), spend some time playing in their shadows, then cross a sabkha and approach another area of long range cordons (although possibly accessed through a small set of more technical dunes). Initially our general direction will be west, with the sun at our backs, but eventually we plan to turn around, toward a yet undecided exit point, in an easterly position with respect to Downtown Dubai. All skills will be practiced: side sloping, some ridge riding and criss-crossing, as well as driving along canyons, and in and out of sand bowls as well. Meeting time is confirmed at 6:00 AM on Saturday Morning, sharp. Enjoy your end of the week, and have a good Friday.

Hello @Francois Germishuys. You are IN. See you on Saturday

Dear @Arun Nair, @ARAGON, @Russ, @Chinthaka Ruwan, @Pierre Jan and @Nitin Thomas. Time to receive more information about tomorrow's Absolute Newbie drive. First of all, thanks for sending me the info regarding your past experiences, and available equipment. I will check the tow points when you reach the meeting point, just to make sure they are in good conditions. Those who have flags, please mount them, while I will assist you with deflating. Please, remember to come with a full tank. Regarding the meeting point, I have chosen a spot which is a bit out of the way from the tarmac road, as in the proximity of the turn-off there are a lot of road works, and we may not have enough space. As advised, please follow the Google Map directions. Once you turn off the tarmac (after circling 360 degrees around a roundabout) you will pass through an opening in the roadworks, and head toward an opening in the fence you'll see in front of you. One between myself (with a grey FJ) and @Shamil (with a black Xterra) will be waiting there, to point you in the right direction. Please take that gravel road into the area, and drive for less than 3 Km before finding the meeting point. Either myself or Shamil will be already parked there: stop in a line on the side of the track, and wait to receive further instructions. Those of you with radios, please tune into Carnity Channel #1 (446.006). It would be best if you manage to have this frequency pre-programmed, or activate the dial-in function of your radio, so you may manually tune into it. After deflating I will announce the order in which each car will be driving in the convoy. Everything else you'll have to know we'll discuss and introduce you to, just before and during the drive. Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow morning at 6:00AM sharp. Hello @Nitin Thomas. I don't have your name as signed up anymore. Did you just withdraw from the drive, or is it a mistake? Thanks for updating.

See you tomorrow @Arun Nair Hello @Nitin Thomas. Come as you are 😃.... no worries. See you tomorrow

Welcome @Pierre Jan. See you on Friday.

Hi @Russ. Eyelets are usually mounted on Jeeps, and take the place of tow points. It's normally either one or the other. Shackles are the tools used to tie the recovery rope to the tow points. We'll discuss all these items during Friday's briefing. Thanks a lot for asking.

No worries @Russ. You can come to the drive. See you Friday.

Thank you @Chinthaka Ruwan. See you Friday.

Dear soon to be Desertnauts. Welcome to Carnity! As you are aware of, this is a drive strictly for who has never been off road with Carnity. In preparation for it, it is important that you inform us if: you have any prior off-road experience; your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks / eyelets. Before joining the drive on Friday morning, you will need to have viewed the introductory videos (links above). Please also make sure you are equipped with you a tire deflator and a tire pressure gauge (sometimes they are all in one tool). You will need these. If you have an off-road flag as well that would he great. In case you do not have a flag mount on your car, you may look for a flag with suction cups, which can be easily placed on one of the rear windows. Even if the drive should end near a gas station, where they have an air compressor, if you have your own please bring it along, as it may be quicker than waiting in line. So, to recap, useful tools to carry would be: tire deflator tire pressure gauge off-road flag air compressor All these items should be available at any ACE or Speedex store, as well as at Dragon Mart. Regarding the area of the drive, we will access the desert from a less used entry point, along the road going from Qudra Parking (where you can use the ADNOC gas station to fill up your tank), toward the Bab al Shams Resort. Follow carefully the Google Maps directions: once you turn off the tarmac road (after circling a roundabout next to a mosque), you will cross an opening through roadworks being done along the bike track. Still following Google Maps' directions, you will go through an open fence, on a dirt track, for a few kilometers, until you'll reach the meeting and deflation point. I will also ask the other Senior member driving with the group to wait at the turn-off from the tarmac, just next to the bike track, and direct you in the proper direction. Once arrived at the meeting point, we'll conduct a final inspection of your cars (sufficient clearance and accessible tow points are a must, without which you'll be turned back). Following a detailed technical briefing, we'll be ready to enter the dunes, and start your off-roading adventure. This area is rarely used by other clubs, and the sand is much cleaner ad smoother, so this is an ideal ground to move your first steps in the desert. @Arun Nair, @ARAGON, @Russ, @Chinthaka Ruwan, and any other enthusiast willing to join the Carnity family, please contact me on this thread for any preparatory question. In the meantime, have a great week.

Yes @Goutam. The drive is still open with 1 more spot after the one you took. Welcome to........ (mystery 😆)!

Thanks @andy_macdxb for the update. Enjoy the trip.

Thanks a lot @Ahab Shamaa for your very welcome recommendations. They are very valuable, especially coming not from a Marshal, but from a loyal member, who has had the opportunity of doing many drives with many leads, and can share a personal, yet well informed, point of view with us and other members. The points you raise are extremely valid, and very important to remember. They do guarantee that all drives are run as smoothly as possible, to the full satisfaction of all members. No harm at all done, in reminding fellow drivers some of the courtesies, as well as the technical requirements, which will ensure the drives are as enjoyable and safe as possible. All members, please take these points seriously, as they are usually not part of our formal briefings, but should actually be kept in mind by all, while preparing for a drive. From the safety point of view, the request to always make sure your car is desert worthy is paramount. This means to constantly listen to the car. notice any strange sounds coming from it, at any time, make sure you always clean your filter after every drive, you regularly check the engine fluids, and periodically take the car in for an all around check-up. The other issues being raised by Ahab are a matter of courtesy, but not less important to insure a pleasant drive. Thanks Ahab, and see you this Saturday.

HI @Lawrence_Chehimi. Copy that. Thanks for informing. Have a safe trip.

Go, @Niki Patel Go!! Well done!

Hello @Lawrence_Chehimi. I am adding you now. Thanks.

@Yahya Munir, you have already been added. Thanks

Copy that @Sreejith Sreenivasan. Thanks

Dear Desertnauts. Evidently mystery attracts! Due to the many requests for the Waiting List, we have decided to reopen the drive, and thanks to @Wrangeld's kind availability we'll have a double convoy roaming the desert, this Saturday morning. Therefore, @Jack Thomas, @Mobeen Anwar, @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ, @Rizwan Waheed, @Malachy McGrogan, @Ahab Shamaa, @Kenneth Bollhardt, @andy_macdxb, @Humayun Ghias and @VipinShetty, remain confirmed as the first batch of 10 members to join the drive. At the same time, @Watteau, @Niki Patel, @Thomas Varghese, @kolinrrj, @stavros papachristos, @sheri and @Yahya Munir have been added, and will compose the second convoy for this drive. At the moment, @Sreejith Sreenivasan is the only originally waitlisted member who still has not confirmed his intention to join: please so d ASAP, if still interested, before we close the drive again. Other than Sreejith's pending confirmation, there are only 2 spot remaining to reach 20 drivers. As mentioned, the two convoys will be led by myself and @Wrangeld, and will be supported by @Islam Soliman and @Yousef Alimadadi. The drive aims to be of the longer, more fluid kind, and its starting location will be announced on Thursday evening (only the meeting point, as the exit area will remain to de decided until we'll be in the middle of the drive. In the meantime, thanks for the enthusiastic response. Enjoy your week.

Hi @sheri. I will add you at #7, and as soon as I get a couple more confirmations, I'll open the drive to 2 convoys. Thanks

Dear @Watteau, @Niki Patel, @Thomas Varghese, @kolinrrj, @Sreejith Sreenivasan, @stavros papachristos, if you are interested in confirming the Mystery drive this Saturday, I'll be happy to open it up again, and double the convoy, with the assistance of @Wrangeld, who will lead the second group. Please confirm here if you are still willing to join, and I'll add you now. Thanks a lot.

Hi @stavros papachristos. You will be #6 on the WL. Thanks.

Hi @Wrangeld. @Niekku has completed her MC with me today. She did very well, and is well equipped for a NB drive, both in terms of driving skills and gear. She'll manage well. Thanks.