Looper

@Juan R, @Ben Williams, @Deepak Eswar, @DTG, @Srilakshman Karthikeyan, @Ishak, @Sreenath G, @Zulfikhar Naiyar, @Imran Asghar, @Shiju Raju, @Johannes Roux and @Rob S Hope you are all ready for the drive tomorrow. Let us try to deflate and start the drive at 6:00 am, so you have to arrive a bit early. It is going to be an easy drive, and we will coast on the dunes at a comfortable pace. We will be on channel 2 and following is the convoy order.

Drive Report: There were a couple of missed time calculations for reaching the meeting point. I was early by 45 min and @Rajiv Sam that he arrived about time thanks to @Joji varghese. @Andrei S arrived on time but unfortunately his air conditioner was not working so he had to leave. After the briefing we started our drive at about 6:28 am. The temperature was about 27-28 degrees Celsius but due to humidity which was at 93% it felt like 35 degrees, and it was super sweaty. I have a small gripe. I could see rest of the convoy with their AC on and closed widow glass up but due to poor visibility as it was not only foggy but also slightly overcast which was making it difficult for me to view and differentiate the sand and sky, I had to keep the window down. I was here a couple of times in this area. Once with my wife in a newbie drive last year and again further south with @JeromeFJ on an intermediate drive. But it was the first time I had driven in this area. We spent a lot of time in the first 10 km section at the start because it was so fun. We drove this 10km stretch which is about 1/3rd of the total planned track as crow flies for about 2 hours and then rushed towards the exit in last one hour and ended the drive at 9:35 which included 20 min break for a pop out as well. I found it interesting that the dunes would push me into the narrow technical area repeatedly and I had to keep getting out only to find myself back in the narrow technical area. For me it was an enjoyable drive with the entire convoy driving seamlessly and keeping up with the flow. It was in my opinion an elegant drive where we kept pace and drove as a unit. Thank you very much @Mehmet Volga for your presence and being the 2nd lead. it gave me a lot of confidence to drive the way I did today. Also big thanks to @Rajiv Sam, @Joji varghese and @Pacific for playing the crucial role of supporting the drive. @FERNANDO SYRIO, @Bashar Beasha and @Rk ram you guys were excellent and had a flawless drive. I am very impressed with your driving today. The FJ gang of @Hugo and @Mohit Gurnani did well as usual. All very experienced Jeep gang with @Naveen Raj, @Bjoern and 392 @Gok Krish were excellent as usual at the back. I will be looking forward to your comments on today's drive. Till we loop again in the dunes, have a great week ahead.

Come down straight ahead if you can’t find anyone at the cellular tower. M

Hope you are all ready for the drive. It will be about 28 degrees C when we start and about 35 degrees when we finish the drive. There is however a good chance (up to 80%) that there will be fog. IMPORTANT: IF you get an SMS to reduce the speed limit do reduce the speed limit. In Abu Dhabi they will levy a fine on you. The following are the nearest Fuel Stations Coming from Dubai Side. On Al Faya Road (E75) about 18 km to the destination. https://maps.app.goo.gl/XpCRDACquc4m5ZDs8 On Sweihan Road (E20) 27.5 km to the destination. https://maps.app.goo.gl/sEhkqjzQ7dmuRfNb7 On Al Faya Road (E75) 6 km past the meeting point. https://maps.app.goo.gl/JBcdbNsyJzKU6zyr8 Check what is convenient to you. The following is the convoy order. We will be on Channel 2.

Congratulations @Senthil Kumar on your promotion. Well done!

@Haneef Thayyil it is a very good question. @Dev_ was promoted to FB and therefore he is eligible to drive in the FB drive. On the other hand you were not promoted at the time I had to remove you from the drive. You might be wondering how can he be promoted just after 2 drives! Here we have a system where one can self declare their prior off-roading experience in other clubs and have out of turn promotion to FB. If not one has to do 5 Newbie drives and apply for promotion. please also note that promotion at any level is not automatic. There is a feedback loop through which every application is run through provided also that all the necessary equipment for the new level are with the applicant. hope it helps. Do not hesitate to ask if you have any more questions.

I have added you to the drive.

@Ishak, @DTG, @Shiju Raju, @Johannes Roux, @Sreenath G, @Zulfikhar Naiyar, @Ben Williams, @Deepak Eswar & @Juan R This is your mid-week reminder to check your availability towards the end of the week. The theme of this drive is to drive at slightly slower pace. As you drive in the dunes of Qudra and Lisaili, I encourage you to challenge yourself to drive with intentionality. Feel the gentle press of the pedal, the subtle shifts of the steering wheel, and the rhythm of your breath syncing with the track we draw on the desert canvas. So, let this upcoming Sunday be a celebration of you, your vehicle, and the road ahead a Dopamine Drive.

@Hugo as this is your first drive of the week, I will add you to the drive. Please confirm your availability. @Jona & @Bjoern - this will be the second drive of the week for you. Please let me know your availability in case someone drops out and we are able to extend. @Mohit Gurnani, @Ahmad Nerat, @FERNANDO SYRIO, @Bashar Beasha, @Rk ram, @Andrei S, @Naveen Raj, @Gok Krish - just a mid-week reminder to check your calendars; that they are clear, else you can exit and don't take up slots. @Mehmet Volga, @Rajiv Sam, @Joji varghese, @Pacific looking forward to your support in this drive.

@Abhilash Kottakkal all your issues are from your inexperience and overthinking about the situation. Don’t worry much about anything. Every incident is a learning experience and just go on with the newfound knowledge. Just keep driving and you will find the balance with the experience you will gain. In Newbie drives I often start at 12 just continue with it till the drive end. I can see they being at 14-15 psi. It always depends on the terrain and the intensity of the drive. Specifically Badayer and Tawi Nazwa my opinion is that those areas are well traverses and so the areas are often compacted, you should ideally not face any issues. Having said that if you remember the one time I pulled you, I did so - only to move you out of the situation you yourself put into by digging into to the sand and after that you - YOU Yourself - self recovered. And post that I drove much more aggressively and in much more difficult terrain but we didn’t had any refusals. Often it is just mind game rather than anything else. Be chill about it and just enjoy. Over time you will have the experience to manage the situations you WILL find yourself and looking back on these trivial issues you will have a good laugh.

There is always a non-zero chance of extending the drive 😇, There is also the chance of many dropping out before the D Day comes & it is not a very long waitlist. I, however, will leave the decision up to you.