GauravSoni

Here is a link for those who want to relive!!! https://www.relive.com/view/vYvrz9JLyLv

Drive Report – Hidalgo Mode Activated!! We wrapped up an intense and super-satisfying drive today, starting sharp at 7:10 AM from the dirt track at the Bab Al Shams entry for Qudra. After a quick briefing, we headed straight towards Little Sweihan. The track was extremely bushy with barely any clean sand, but we pushed through as a tight convoy — everyone stuck to the pace and stayed fully committed. For nearly an hour, there were zero refusals and pin-drop radio silence, which says a lot about the group’s focus and flow. We reached the crossover point to Al Ajban, took a short break, and then moved into cleaner dunes. That’s where the action picked up — our first ridge stuck showed up. As soon as post-recovery started, I managed to land myself into a tricky stuck of my own 😄, which was quickly and cleanly recovered. Back on the move, we made it to Nahel by 10:00 AM. With flags removed, we drove a few clicks past Nahel ADNOC, re-entered the dunes, and upped the pace. Clean dunes ahead meant momentum, and we played around some big ones, crossing the Nahel dunes in about 20 minutes. By 10:30 AM, we were heading towards Sweihan via the dirt track, squeezing in a couple more dune plays along the way. The final stretch was pure magic — open, clean dunes towards Sweihan (West Africa entry). The next 15 minutes felt like a trance, and we exited to conclude the drive at 11:15 AM. Huge shout-out to @Alexanderrrfor an excellent 2nd lead — despite long gaps, he followed the track brilliantly, corrected lines when needed, and delivered a perfect tug to recover my car 👌 Absolute pleasure watching @nithish468 — apart from the stuck, you drove with confidence and skill. Bravo! There was hardly any radio chatter, which tells me the center and sweep were having a great time too. Thanks @Bjoern @ChrisW and @Sam Selimfor the solid support and guidance keeping the convoy tight! Well done @Glenn W on your first IM recovery — well earned! And as always, a pleasure driving with @Beide Worku and @Zulfikhar Naiyar. I hope you guys enjoyed the drive with your co passengers. Drive stats: • Total distance: 104 km • Total time: 4 hrs 3 mins • Moving time: 3 hrs 40 mins • Average speed: 25.8 km/h A proper Hidalgo-style drive — endurance, speed, discipline, and flow all coming together. Congratulations to the convoy for completing this epic run! This was one route which had been on my bucket list for a very long time!!! See you guys soon on the dunes! waiting to hear your feedbacks @Alexanderrr @nithish468 @Bjoern @ChrisW @Glenn W @Sam Selim @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Beide Worku!

Dune surfers! @Glenn W @Beide Worku @Alexanderrr @Zulfikhar Naiyar @ChrisW @nithish468 @Bjoern @Sam Selim the RSVP is now CLOSED. we have few last minute signups and withdrawals.. welcome all! we will meet at 6.45 am with wheels rolling at 7 am! meeting location : https://maps.app.goo.gl/nTdzDEZWcGyYY7Wf6?g_st=ic the plan is to cover 150+ km in 4 hours of driving. we plan to exit around 11 am however I am keeping a buffer of 30 minutes. This is going to be mentally and physically tough for both man and machine! Rest well! And see you all in sand.

Dune surfers! @Glenn W @Anoop Nair @Beide Worku @Alexanderrr @Zulfikhar Naiyar @ChrisW @Sam Selim Before the engines fire up this Saturday, there’s a quiet tension in the air — this drive will be about speed. About pushing hard when the terrain allows and holding the line when it gets rough, and knowing that endurance only matters if you have the nerve to chase the horizon. Long stretches, fast sections, technical testing ground, and that relentless push forward — every km we drive, where control, concentration , courage and pace come together. Please ensure your car is in good mechanical condition. @Beide Worku hope the issues with the beast is sorted and ready to go! I will post the meeting point soon..

Drive plan: This Drive is crafted for 7 Intermediate drivers who are ready to step up the game where enthusiasm meets endurance and every Kilometer driven demands focus and attention. Do not expect high dunes and endless side slopes. We drive to navigate the desert with an aim to cover as much dunes within 240 minutes (4 hours) with minimal Radio chatter. Do not expect frequent bio break stops, or rest breaks. A single rest break for 5 minutes during this 4 hour is planned. Our Final pit stop will be in AUH as close to Al Saad. 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 When: Saturday 31 Jan 2025 Meeting time: 6:45 AM Meeting Point: Somewhere in Al Qudra DXB 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 lunch, smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 11:30 AM Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. 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

Hi @Abdullah A. UNICHIP works for me quite well to overcome the challenge that u are currently facing. You can approach the UNICHIP authorized dealer. They do the work quite well. alternately you could also try to get in touch with few tuners who do ECU remapping. I would tend to be biased with UNICHIP as I have been using it for last 4 years.. gave me issues with MAF sensor, but once I fixed the intake (snorkel) , it kinda fixed the issue.

That’s a good call @khlief… we will drive again sometime soon..

@Faraz94 @Sherry Jacob you have been added to the drive list… see you tomorrow at 7 am..

Dune surfers! @khlief @Abhishek Chikara @Jose Luis Campos @W a q a r @Sam Selim @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Giacomo @Glenn W @Anoop Nair @Cristian please confirm your presence for the drive.(you can simply click totally agree to confirm) . It would be unfair for waitlisted to go without drive if you have any plans of cancellation. we have @Faraz94 @Sherry Jacob (for his 1st IM) waitlisted. Please let me know if you both have made any alternate plans.

DRIVE PLAN Last edition of this drive was cut short due to some unforeseen reasons. We are now back in Action continuing from where we left last time. Expect a fast-paced desert drive featuring long criss-crosses across Sweihan’s big dunes, controlled ridge riding, and sharp side slants through technical slipfaces. The route will involve high climbs with committed crests, deep bowls that require momentum and precision, and soft patches near Nagra that will test vehicle control. Team coordination will be essential as we maintain a consistent pace with minimal stops. Overall, this challenge drive will push both skill and endurance, offering wide open sections for speed, demanding terrains for technique, and a strong sense of achievement when we complete the full loop back to Sweihan. Route Plan We start from Sweihan and push straight toward the iconic Nagra Dune, taking on: Criss-crossing long slip faces High-speed ridge riding This is a challenge drive – expect: Sharp side slants Fast-paced ridge runs Controlled cresting Momentum-based climbs After reaching Nagra, we loop back toward Sweihan with an even more exciting return route. 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 When: 10 Jan 2026 Meeting time: 7 AM Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nyjJZLJRYpiysoKb8 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 lunch, smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 11:00 AM Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. 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

Dune Surfers rsvp is now closed. @Giacomo @Jose Luis Campos @Abhishek Chikara @Gautam Banka @W a q a r @khlief @Faraz94 @Cristian @Sam Selim @Emanuel to the next edition of sweihan challenge. As the drive plan suggests, we shall be doing a run up to Nagra and back. i will announce the convoy order later tonight. See you all tomorrow at 7 AM

Please read the drive post carefully… everything is mentioned clearly

Trip Report: We completed a memorable Sunday drive starting from the Al-Qua Milky Way Galaxy viewpoint and ending at ADNOC Hameem, covering an area that was extremely soft, technical, and completely new to us—something similar to Yellow Truck but with its own surprises. Our convoy of five—myself, Sam, Giacomo, Nithish and Glenn—began around 8:10 AM, delayed only by the incredibly scenic and fog-filled route leading to the start point. From the outset, the terrain demanded full attention: endless soft patches, first-gear crawling and long stretches of technical driving. Despite the difficulty, the landscape was stunning, and we paused at a few spots to take photos. Midway through, we picked up an unexpected radio call from someone sounding stuck, but the communication vanished immediately. Moments later, we spotted a stranded Nissan Patrol with a local driver and some farm workers trying unsuccessfully to free it. Surprisingly, he had no radio, yet we reached him right on time. Sam pulled him out effortlessly, and we continued our route still wondering who the voice on the radio had actually been. After a short break and lunch near the halfway mark, we pushed forward—but soon discovered that Nitesh’s earlier wrist injury had flared up, making it difficult for him to keep driving. We guided him out safely through an ADNOC-used gatch track before continuing toward our final waypoint. The rest of the journey remained soft and technical, but we made the most of it by diverting into dunes and slipfaces whenever possible to break the monotony. @Giacomoand @Glenn Wdrove exceptionally well—precise, controlled, and disciplined throughout their first intermediate run, showing great skill and endurance. @Sam Selim provided constant support, pulling me out of some crests and nasty popout as I was the only one who managed to get stuck multiple times, including a pop-out on a climb, while the others handled the terrain beautifully. In the end, we rolled into ADNOC Hameem tired but satisfied. It was a challenging but rewarding drive, made even better by the company and the commitment everyone showed from start to finish. well done @Giacomo @Glenn W on your first IM.Hope you recover @nithish468 for the coming drive. see you all soon on sand!

DRIVE PLAN Get ready, Dune Surfers We’re heading into the big dunes of Sweihan for a thrilling challenge drive designed to test skill, control, and endurance. Expect a fast-paced desert drive featuring long criss-crosses across Sweihan’s big dunes, controlled ridge riding, and sharp side slants through technical slipfaces. The route will involve high climbs with committed crests, deep bowls that require momentum and precision, and soft patches near Nagra that will test vehicle control. Team coordination will be essential as we maintain a consistent pace with minimal stops. Overall, this challenge drive will push both skill and endurance, offering wide open sections for speed, demanding terrains for technique, and a strong sense of achievement when we complete the full loop back to Sweihan. Route Plan We start from Sweihan and push straight toward the iconic Nagra Dune, taking on: Criss-crossing long slip faces High-speed ridge riding This is a challenge drive – expect: Sharp side slants Fast-paced ridge runs Controlled cresting Momentum-based climbs After reaching Nagra, we loop back toward Sweihan with an even more exciting return route. 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 When: 13 Dec 2025, Meeting time: 7 AM Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nyjJZLJRYpiysoKb8 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 lunch, 20 liter Extra Fuel ( for cars <60 liter tank), smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 10:30 AM Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. 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