Niki

13 hours ago, Wrangeld said:

• munkybizness @munkybizness
• Josh T. @Josh T.
• Alain Canivet-Abikhalil @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil
• Zixuan Huang - Charlie @Zixuan Huang - Charlie
• Alexander Holodny @Alexander Holodny
• Niki @Niki
• Pacific @Pacific
• Ben84 @Ben84
• Gregory @Gregory
• Daniel Rodas @Daniel Rodas

W/L @Thomas Varghese

Looking forward to starting off the holiday weekend with all of you. Sweihan on Thursday will be a blast. 

As you can see, we have a waitlist starting - so if by chance your plans change ( like you are reminded that it's your anniversary, or you're working) step out early to make way for our W/L. 

See you soon in the sand.  

I sadly have to drop @Wrangeld however promise it’s not a forgotten anniversary/birthday .. have the privilege to support Srikumar.  Have a wonderful drive  

Many congrats @Lawrence_Chehimi 🎉🎉

4 minutes ago, Wrangeld said:

@Niki you have nothing about which to worry. At least brickable thinks your car worthy of a model. Unless you are driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, there's NOTHING - 

@Wrangeld you get a proper Lego Technic version which is RC also!! and lets not forget you are also a proud TJ owner  .. you are in the 'spoilt' group!  

28 minutes ago, Wrangeld said:

This is amazing Felix - and don't worry. All of us have the same problem that our kids like @Alex Raptor's ride more than our own ( @Niki).

@Felix Obst I have had my heart broken more times that I want to admit due to car envy from my kids!! your Jeeps and @Alex Raptor Raptor are the main culprit .... you both are spoilt with Lego, scale models, toy cars .... I have resorted to Rebrickable (see below) who are a great for us 'less desirable' car owners!  Saying that the kid is still expecting a Raptor Lego set for xMas (i am looking forward to disappointing him!)

https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-78963/marcoe14/toyota-fj-cruiser-premium-edition/#details

firstly - @topgear and @Thomas Varghese we missed you both on this stunning drive! Look forward to our next together. 

HUGE thankyou @Ale Vallecchi for the route planning, the markers to explore, the care you took for tracks to get us all through.  That was even more stunning and challenging than I remember and cannot wait to join you again to explore the 'other side' 

@luis mantecon that was not straight forward as SL, with the nature of it being an exploration and you were brilliant! I must also thanks and appreciate you for the support when required - first out with the shovel when ever needed! 

@Chris Wing I appreciated your support a lot - the offer and execution to demo a new line for Max, the support shoveling and demonstrating your new mod - the Tesla Auto Pilot feature on the FJ woke us all up that morning

@JeromeFJ as always, an absolute pleasure being on a drive with you, massive thanks also for supporting for every refusal/stuck!  (the last stock FJ in Carnity) 

finally, huge kudos to @Max Beloenko - who brought 6 passengers (SIX).  If you were to bring passengers to any drive, this is the most scenic in Carnity so great choice (however maybe one of the bumpiest so no surprise seeing all your passengers giving themselves adjustments and stretches' once we finished !  How you managed a full car through the route was impressive and i must share during the final half of the drive you really found the balance between speed and momentum for a fully loaded LC200 - excellent driving!  The concentration required when alone is high, when bringing passengers higher and when having a full car, extreme.  Pls thank your passengers as they were full of good spirit, willing to help and always smiling/laughing throughout. 

Hi @Ale Vallecchi happy to support you on this drive - if so feel free to move me to the manage tab. 

allow me to share the maintenance schedule I use for my car (as a fellow novice who has this passion sparked since joining Carnity) - i was one of the few that read the owners manual and it did have recommendations for routine maintenance based on type of driving (including offroad).  Am thinking your Jeep owners manual will have the same and then you can quickly put together a schedule similar to below (i got this from the owners forum).

Hth and soon you'll be doing work on your own car (hopefully through choice )

Here is todays… inspired by recent ‘support team’ and ‘advisor’ graduates! 

8 minutes ago, Frederic said:

Lmao - i previously believed the “it’s okay” … 16th year I am now wiser (and have the war wounds) 

Sad to also have to drop out!  I was just reminded it’s my wedding anniversary 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ I am a little embarrassed that I had to be reminded!  Have a great trip all and cannot wait for the mid winter bbq 

16 hours ago, Ale Vallecchi said:

did the drive provide the expected challenges, or was it too easy, in the attempt to last longer? Should we have delved longer in play-areas, and providing more challenges in terms of specific skills, at the expense of completing the planned itinerary? Your view will help me perfect my future FB+ and IM drives. 

 

Hi @Ale Vallecchi - I have joined a number of your long range patrols and happy to offer my view as requested.

Specific to your questions: 

• challenges & ease: Yes and Yes.  I personally joint the drives knowing this was not a drive for the obstacles/challenges, rather a long range, cross Emirate exploration.  The challenge was different, the ease was necessary else we would not achieve the objective to cross almost the entire emirate of Dubai off-road
• should we delve longer in the play areas: No, not for me.  The joy of the longer trip was the exploration and variation in terrain, obstacles and speeds.  It felt as if we tackled dunes for the purpose of crossing them vs playing and this i liked as it kept to the theme of the drive.

My personal feedback on this type of drive:

Each lead brings their own character to a drive, as such, not all would enjoy or make enjoyable such a trip so I would resist from changing the formulae as the route combined with your approach on these trips is what makes it special.  I Enjoy the running commentary, learning about the geology and geography of the regions we pass, intentionally looking for fauna and wildlife, having someone who has crossed/explored the vast deserts of Africa giving a guided tour of our sandpit - you are the special potion that makes this trip work (not the obstacles, challenges or distance). 

If you decide to adapt/evolve/change these long range patrols - we are happy to experiment with you.

Thank you for reaching out for feedback - i look forward to joining a future 'patrol' soon. 

@Gaurav pls can you change my preference to a ‘fewbie’ drive.   I will now be coming alone.  Thanks 

This one was inspired by a Marshal in our club.. not going to name and shame him!

What a drive!  >60km in the desert, 1.5 hours in the dark! Stunning white endless dunes with us seemingly the only people in the desert, driving into the sunset and then experiencing a night drive in a sea of tight technical dunes! @Foxtrot Oscar you upgraded all of us a level and the drive brief didn't do the trip justice - thankyou again for being ambitious and sticking to it - i can only imagine how exhausting it was as the thought and care upfront vs us following is considerably different. 

@Wade Pat2 was flawless and gave all of us so much confidence following him. 

the first half of the drive, if it wasn't for a faulty Diff-Loc - every refusal was self recovered!  Ending the drive and looked around, i have a suspicion there are a few seniors' badged as 'newbies'  - for those of you that want to transfer past off-road experience and move to 'fewbie' sooner, have a look here on how to do that: 

@Pacific thank you for all the support at the back and saving me a few trips!  @Zedi will 100% be catching you for a chat in our next drive, love your humor, support and yelling - its why we make a good team! I cannot wait to make my pilgrimage to AD and your home town very soon to return the support!

@Goh KP  (I apologize for addressing you as 'Prado' - i will look to learn names at the start of drives) @Gertjan and @Brendan White you all were incredible for a first 'newbie' drive and I would put the credit for the route we took and the extension down to you 3 giving @Foxtrot Oscar the confidence to keep challenging.

@Mohammed Mansoor @Alexanderrr @salah2u @AlexM @Daniel Rodas @luis mantecon - I saw you all just having fun and making light of the challenges being at the back end of a long convoy!  super driving.

Thank you ALL for the patience as we extended the trip, the support throughout and great communications which made the few challenges we faced a breeze to overcome. 

7PM today next drives are posted - hope to join you all again very soon

@Ale Vallecchi I have secured a drive with Angela Saturday afternoon so will withdraw from the WL.  I wish I could also join your trip, however the family may lock me out if I spent the whole day out on the dunes.  

2 hours ago, Foxtrot Oscar said:

Would really appreciate your support @Niki

@Foxtrot Oscar it’s a pleasure, looking forward to Saturday PM

@Foxtrot Oscar if you would value support for this drive - I will happily remove myself from the WL on Ale's and join here.  

Many congrats @Melenany - we will share this anniversary 🍻

@Alex Raptor what great news!  many congrats and well deserved!  

Inspired by @Islam Soliman & @Wrangeld

Hi @Foxtrot Oscar can you please add me to the waitlist as a 1st drive.  Many thanks 🙏🏽 

@Wrangeld

this one is painfully true