Looper

There are 3 different items to consider for an ARB. ARB Twin Compressor itself (a base set up) - Having this means that you have graduated as a seasoned off-roader and is a proud display of the same. As @Frederic has already mentioned it is more convenient with regard to all the wiring etc. It is definitely built better than the dragon mart compressor. It also has a 100% duty cycle. Many use a 4-way hose to fill up all four tires simultaneously. While i bought the 4-way hose it now lives in @DP1011's jeep. A Tank - There are two options here. The ARB tank will be more expensive and alternatively you can use Via Air as well. it is approx. AED 1500-2500 additional cost. The benefit of the tank is that it reduces the time it takes to fill tires and puts slightly less pressure on the compressor. Another plus is that you can use air tool with it. I was trying to do it in car, but it's puny trunk doesn't allow it. A Bluetooth Module: I have it. I use it to set up the desired pressure on the phone and it helps to get correct pressure on all 4 tires without me having to monitor or run around to disconnect the air hose from the tire. I will recommend it for its convenience. Will cost about 1000.

@Cristian & @Ignacio Quindós we will have a drive as long as we have a minimum of 3-member convoy.

I am not going to make this one my usual "Looper Drive" where my objective is to maintain high speeds and reach the end point in a hurry and try to beat the time records, I maintain in my spreadsheet. This drive is going to be a deliberate choice not to give an adrenaline rush, there is no rush hour chaos. Instead, it will attempt to be a dopamine rush, a drive that aims to awaken a sense of joy and contentment, not by racing against time, but by savoring every moment along the way. I will compare the objectives of the drive akin to Tai Chi. Tai Chi, known for its graceful and effortless movements, teaches us the value of balance and harmony. Similarly, this drive is a chance to harmonize with the desert, to flow with the curves and bends like a serene dance. Your accelerator becomes your brush, and the dune is your canvas—painting strokes of mindfulness and peace. Join for a Dopamine Drive; a mindful expedition that promises not just to take you places, but to bring you closer to yourself.

Telal gets a lot of business because of Fred. I have been there twice, camped both times, but they were both in winter.

Congratulations @Issam Atra on your promotion

Congratulations @Faraz94 on your promotion

Congratulations @Srilakshman Karthikeyan on your promotion.

Congratulations @Ben Williams on your promotion.

Congratulations @Stumpy Paj on your promotion. Well deserved- well done 👏

DRIVE PLAN End the Weekend at Lisaili. We start at Qudra and trace our way back on the tracks from past back to Lisaili on a relaxed drive. Expect a leisurely drive through the deserts of Qudra and Lisaili. It will be mostly technical at the start followed by some long range dunes ending with another set of technical dunes. Request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities DRIVE DETAILS Level: Fewbie and above When: 3 September 2023, Sunday Meeting time: 5:30 AM - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/wFdBEJrXsqk47PyG6 Approximate finish time: 9:30 AM 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, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. MANDATORY OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor Walkie-talkie radio Off-road flag Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - 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 BELOW CALENDAR

Sorry I didn’t get redbull in this drive. So couldn’t get any wings to fly.

Drive Report I was actually planning to take a break this week. But when @M.Seidam said it is going to be a fast-paced drive and that I should join, I signed up as soon as the drive was posted. I was supposed to be the second lead, but it turned out to be a different type of second lead (i.e. to lead a second convoy). Obviously, it was going to be an exciting drive as shown in the long waiting list. PS: A long waiting list is always a good sign you know - it means the convoy most likely than not was going to be split. As I am blind in the dark, I wasn't going to be chasing Night Hawk @M.Seidam at that time. I was planning to catch up to him later in the drive. After the departure of the first convoy toward Big Red (F) we started to move immediately at 5:30 am in a slightly different direction (A). Gaia GPS decided to play trick on me today. It had a completely different layout, and I was at odds to understand it at that moment. I have been here many times and have led and supported many a drives, so I was comfortable driving even without the map as well. When we started, I told the convoy that I would like to go to the far end and check out those tricky dunes (C) but as we started to move, I saw the large dune (A) just north of Big Red (F) and started to climb it. We gathered pace on the top of the dune, and I felt that I was stuck there. @Mohamad Anwer correctly identified that we are stuck in a dune vortex, and it is impossible to move out - it was so much fun and addictive. We spent way too much time here, somehow loosing focus on the objective. After about 50 min of nonstop drive, we took a break (B) and gathered our energies and this time we moved towards the far end (C). Those dunes at the far end were soft, and untouched by mankind. The convoy performed excellently in those challenging dunes. After playing a bit there we went towards Pink Rock. It was time to catch up with the other convoy. But, suddenly @Arda Yagcioglu's Xterra developed a snag (D) about 7:25 am and it would not start. The car stopped just one small dune off the exit track to 2nd December Cafe. After trying to figure out a bit of what happened we decided to tug him out. You know Murphy's Law - "if anything can go wrong it will". in one of the corollaries, it also says that "Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence." When I started to pull the Xterra I could have easily looked up my Saved Exit track, but I applied the logic that the most used track there must take me to the exit, and after a few minutes I found myself at an unlikely place instead of exit track - at the foot of a large dune (E). I took a quick U Turn and switched on the Gaia for exit track and exited @Arda Yagcioglu at about 8:30 am. I thought it could be the end of the drive and started preparing to inflate the car. @Hugo did the same as well but @Stumpy Paj, @Bravoecho and @Mohamad Anwer had other ideas. They wanted to go to Big Red. I said why not. It was a convoy of SWB cars - A 2 door Jeep Wrangler JL , A 2 door Pajero, and a couple of 2 door Patrols. We set out to drive for another 20 km at a very fast pace and checked out all the dunes we could find in that area including Big Red and exited at about 9:10 am. It was an unstoppable drive and had boatloads of fun. Thank you @M.Seidam for this opportunity. @Stumpy Paj for second lead, @Arda Yagcioglu for sweep and @Hugo & @Mohamad Anwer for joining the drive.

Convoy 2 will start a few min later than the main convoy lets add about 15 mins and looking forward to catching maverick @M.Seidam and team. Let's go... Senthil Kumar @Senthil Kumar Hugo @Hugo Bravoecho @Bravoecho Arda Yagcioglu @Arda Yagcioglu Mohamad Anwer @Mohamad Anwer

Patrols doing their thing since 1991. Source Instagram OldJumeirah

Surprising how you managed to get a speeding ticket with Jeep. I was wondering what @Jaro Tuzinsky was talking on the next drive.

It looked more intense than I felt. This it the time we took the first break and moved towards the second part of the drive. While I was a bit surprised by it I clearly did not expect it to go the way it did. After 200 drives I would think I would know when and where to control speed but it seems I was fast enough to launch me, but not fast enough to land in all four. I am suspecting the uneven dune formation towards the climb. It’s always a learning experience, it never ends and plus is that it was good to learn without much expense.

Thanks. That was a surprise jump as on the other side there was a depression on the top.

Remember there’s always going to be a next time. It’s literally a fender bender so hopefully it gets fixed soon. Looking forward to seeing you soon in the dunes.

The last 200 m is one of the most technical areas in Dubai deserts. I remember our final day on leaders lead @Davie Chase and you led us out. No doubt it took so much time to get out.

Was it a FB+, perhaps more than that. I remember my first Intermediate drive more than two years ago and looking back now, frankly it might not have been this intense. At that time it was super intense no doubt about it. So in that regard it trumps an IM drive as well. Would I change anything from what we did today for a FB or IM drive? - nah, nada nothing changes. It's just an experience, either we chose to cherish or choose to forget about. I tend to keep it for the record and it was a damn good drive for my 200th entry in to the stats. Technically it is 196th drive per se; as there are 4 "drives" that aren't drives as such we will get to it in a month. I think; I will celebrate 3 years and proper 200 drives together with @Carnity in September this year. Coming back to today's drive in my mind there are 4 parts of the drive. Part one: when we started from our starting point we were supposed to head straight ahead, however looking at many many extra long wheel based cars it was prudent to go 10'o clock from the starting point to find some long range dunes. We did well in the start. While it is bushy as a river bed, yet we did find a lot of long range dunes to navigate and we were able to manage a good pace. As I mentioned at the start of the drive, speed was the objective and whatever we find on the way is a bonus. Few refusals here and there did hamper the flow a bit but we all know it is part of the game - nothing can be done about it. Part two: After our first break we started our second part of the drive and in this part we reached the first Sabkha. Towards the end we were supposed to play on some long range dunes but the gps caused some navigational issues. While we did exactly as I planned back at my home; I was having the issue with Gaia GPS to pin point accurate position. Perhaps the phone was too hot to handle so it was hanging a bit. I was at some level driving in the blind and I faced this issue a couple of more times. Part three: After crossing the first Sabkha it was the first technical area followed by long range dunes in this section. By the time we reached to the long range dunes I was lost, as my gps hanged again. I had basic idea where I was but it would have been much better if I knew where exactly I was as I did not want to deviate much from my planed track. If I had better idea we would have played a bit more there. We in the forth phase of the drive cross the second Sabkah to reach Little Swaihan. there was an unfortunate incident but luckily it was not serious. We did a couple of things in this part; for the first half we drove in some super technical areas and towards the exit I kept to edges of the area to find some lost pace that we were looking for. We finished the drive on the dot 9:30 as planned. Thank you all for joining this drive. Thanks @Jaro Tuzinsky for an excellent second lead and @DP1011 for sweeping the convoy.