TT_Dubai

Hi Lucas you from Singapore right? Nice to see a fellow countryman. 😃 Have you got a pic you can post? I think this is an easy drive (even for newbie standards) so as long as you have the regular ground clearance I think it should be okay.

Ciao@Ale Vallecchiit is fab that your drives have themes running through them and I am looking forward to seeing this new side of Qudra. It will give me a good excuse to dust off the SLR and the telephoto lens! p.s. my Wrangler has been non cooperative on a few drives (i) clutch disintegrated coming down Faya on Rahindad's drive requiring a flatbed to the workshop and (ii) went into limp mode climbing Fossil Rock last week at Frederic's drive requiring an early exit. It's at the workshop (again)... Therefore, am taking my wife's LC200 this weekend (in case it matters for your convoy list). Cheers!

Hi Convoy 1! Thanks @Fredericand great report. So sorry again to the rest of the convoy for the detour as it is becoming very apparent that having a manual Wrangler comes with it's own set of unique issues. On climbing Fossil Rock I made the error of shifting into 2nd at around 5k rpm whereupon it started to lose momentum fast. Then came the refusal and I tried to get out of it but the clutch was protesting... Anyway, second attempt (and a good runway) gave me good momentum in first gear halfway up Fossil Rock when the car stuttered (almost as if the TC intervened) and the check engine light illuminated. I felt as if I had 50% of power as the car went into limp mode. That's when @Wrangeld thought it best to exit as it would not be possible to carry the bowls and other climbs in a reduced capacity. It was definitely the right call and I would not be able to commit to each challenge. Back on E102 the car was fine and happily cruising at 100kph but I still dont have full torque. Am keeping it under observation over the weekend and will get the ECU reset next week if the check engine light is still illuminated. Always had a love affair with a manual Wrangler but our relationship is in urgent need of marriage counselling.... 😊

Hi @Brette thank you and very pleased to confirm that I am in for this Friday!

@Pmaraziti- it's a really nice car with some very tasteful mods. Thanks for letting me check it out at the last drive. The exhaust note is beautiful!

Hello @Brette- may I be added to the waiting list please. The availability for Newbie drives are going like hot cakes! Many thanks.

A very enjoyable drive today with a lot of back to basic refreshers. Some newbie side sloping combined with some technical dunes to keep us all alert. Thanks again to @Ale Vallecchifor the structured itinerary and helping me when I popped my first pop out cherry 😀 and for the support from @Mehmet Volgaand @Shaaz Sha in getting me back into the action in less than 15 minutes! Thank you! Lots of instruction over the radio. At one point I took a call while watching the others and waiting for my turn to climb a tricky soft dune. The walkie talkie was on in the background. The caller asked whether I was outside a mosque with the Imam in full flow...nah it was just Ale giving his instructions to the convoy 😂 Nice to start the weekend with the drive and have a great weekend all!

My very first car in the UAE was a Ford Explorer. Loved it. It was a 2007 but it did have 4LO and proper 4WD. Is that not the case with new Explorers now?

Thank you @Ale Vallecchifor the detailed pre-trip report! I am in and got my car back yesterday from the workshop with a clean bill of health 🙂 Looking forward to the itinerary and to meet everyone again.

Definitely a lesson acknowledged for @Rahimdad's drive and for all future ones. I accept the rules are there for the protection of all so we can enjoy this hobby. My apologies once again. Will certainly reinforce the message on future drives. Stay safe everyone.

@Rahimdad so sorry to hear this. Is there any possibility to appeal? I support rules especially re C19 but blanket application with a ban without a warning is harsh and I think it’s disproportionate. A part of what makes a community special during a desert drive is the camaraderie and the willingness to offer help to others. The last picture is a recovery assist for a stuck and everyone involved is wearing masks and the penultimate pic is an aerial pic and the only two people standing together are married/from the same family. In any event the point is well taken. Please feel free to ride with me at any time as a guest of honour passenger 😊

Evening @Lakshmi Narasimhan. Thanks my dear. It is still in the garage and the clutch needs to be replaced. I should be ready on Wednesday, all going well. If not, then I get to borrow the wife's Land Cruiser again 😃 Have a good week ahead!

@Ranjan Pattanaik @Rizwan Waheed@Daniel Fernandez@Lakshmi Narasimhan@Roger K@Rawad Bahsas@Tbone@Chinthaka Ruwan@Pierre de Maigret@Yawa@Richard Franks @Rahimdad Pictures are up on the Gallery - hope I got everyone 😃