JeromeFJ

Thank you for your message @Tareq Al Turq, get well soon. The dunes are still there, we will have other opportunities!

Dear Desert Drivers, thank you for joining the drive today. Wet conditions always offer a lot of surprises, as the behaviour of our cars in the wet sand can be very different from normal conditions. We saw that from the very beginning when leaving the track my car was like sucked into a pocket of heavy sand. We made our way quietly in the initial medium size dunes, taking our chance from time to time to a higher ridge or crossing, and we realised rapidly that the conditions were challenging, and once a few cars have churned the track, it was becoming very slippery for the next cars. I was focused on choosing lines avoiding tight changes of direction, and you were concentrated keeping these lines leaving a suitable track for the next car. After some minor refusals, and a close encounter of @Rk ram with a bush behind a ridge, we reached an area of higher dunes and a large bowl. Our 2nd Lead @Zulfikhar Naiyarhad hesitated on a high crossing, and got crested, giving us a first opportunity of intense shovelling. The first loop around the bowl was superbly executed by each of you, with excellent control of your cars. The second loop to cross to the opposite side was more challenging, and @Zulfikhar Naiyar had the second difficult moment of the day ending up at a weird angle close to a bush half way in the slope. The situation was solved with a combination of careful shovelling and self recovery. We exited the bowl from the opposite side, and continued with a nice set of clean dunes and nice ridges, very well handled by every one, until @FERNANDO SYRIO became a bit too enthusiastic on a ridge and lost the control of his car to end up crested. This was the last shovelling effort of the day. Thanks again @Zulfikhar Naiyar for the 2nd Lead very well managed, with the required anticipation. @Deepak Eswar, @Rk ram @FERNANDO SYRIO @Frans M @Alphin Aloor, very well handled the challenges in the difficult conditions today, keeping control of your car in most situations. @Hugo @Bjoern, you face any difficulty with calm and smiles, you are a precious support in a convoy. Thank you all for the teamwork during recoveries. Enjoy the rest of the weekend !

Dear Desert Drivers, @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Deepak Eswar @Rk ram @FERNANDO SYRIO @Frans M @Tareq Al Turq @Hugo @Alphin Aloor @Bjoern Last update for tomorrow morning. (Expect chilly conditions at the start) Considering the sand will probably still be wet, you can deflate a bit less (1 PSI) than your normal set-up. (Meaning if you usually go to 11 PSI, you can start at 12 PSI). And we will adjust during the drive if needed. Meeting at 6:30 am at https://maps.app.goo.gl/ARUPrUFVMhhMWHPi7 Convoy order will be We will use Carnity Radio Channel 4 Enjoy the evening, take a good rest, and see you tomorrow morning !

Good morning @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Deepak Eswar @Rk ram @FERNANDO SYRIO @Frans M @Tareq Al Turq @Hugo @Alphin Aloor @Bjoern Thank you for signing up for the drive tomorrow. Hopefully the sun will dry the area in the afternoon before we reach. Driving on wet sand is not always "easier" as one might think. We will see the conditions and adjust accordingly. I will confirm the convoy order by the end of the afternoon. Let me know before that in case you changed your plans. Stay tuned !

Congratulations @Waqar Sarwar, continue to enjoy !

DRIVE DESCRIPTION From the small city of Nahel (Abu Dhabi), we will travel North in the direction of Faqa (Dubai). Expect medium size dunes on Abu Dhabi side, and higher long range dune around Faqa, with a few technical patches here and there. We request every member that joins this drive to go through the below information and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities DRIVE DETAILS Level: Fewbie Plus and above When: 18 November 2023, Saturday Meeting time: 06:30 - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ARUPrUFVMhhMWHPi7 Approximate finish time: 10:30 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 gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit, Tow Rope, 2 Shackles and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you find you are unable to join, so your spot can be taken by others in the waitlist. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, if an RSVP attendee removes themselves, you will be moved from the waitlist to the RSVP list as an attendee. A convoy list will be sent out the day prior to the drive. Latecomers will be returned back - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned back - Without any exceptions. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON BELOW CALENDAR

Dear Desert Drivers, I enjoyed a lot driving with you this morning. It was a short convoy, and the conditions were perfect to enjoy the desert. The nice rolling dunes at the beginning as a warm-up were gradually increasing in height, and after the first half hour we could start pushing our engines a bit more. Crossing a sharp ridge, we had the surprise of entering the Ghafeteen bowl; it remains a nice place, even if it is not smooth and regular as before. Exiting the bowl, a challenging technical portion was waiting for us, small narrow dunes and soft patches, and we went through progressing at steady pace, keeping just enough momentum to cross one dune after the other. Then was the "desert life moment" when Joji spotted some locals calling for support. In exchange of some air for their tires, we had a private falcon show! Then after a small portion of track, we entered an area of high dunes, and the last hour was just as a dream for off-roader, empty dunes, almost no tracks, high climbs, endless roller coaster from on side to the other, a few bowls to cross, with the views on the sabkha and farms on one side, and the small city of Nahel on the other side. @Zulfikhar Naiyar, thank you for the second lead, you have corrected my lines when needed, and could anticipate when I was going to get stuck ! @Mahesh_congratulations for your first Fewbie drive. Very well handled. The few crossings where you got stuck are not an issue. you will gain confidence with the number of drives and cross easily. Just remember the cars before you went through, so you can do it also. Remember also to control your speed in the turns and descend, so that your car remains stable. I hope your family enjoyed the ride ! @Waqar Sarwarvery well driven, the jeep remains in control in every situations including the crossings. Check how you can improve your efficiency in the long climbs (slightly lower tire pressure, more gas (progressively), manual gears, better line...) probably a mix of all this. @Joji varghese, thank you for watching the convoy in the back, you are a reliable support and it's always a pleasure to drive with you. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and see you soon. Don't forget to post your best photos in the gallery !

Noted @Alphin Aloor, see you next time

Dear Desert Drivers @Zulfikhar Naiyar, @Mahesh_ @Waqar Sarwar @Alphin Aloor @Joji varghese Last indications for the drive tomorrow Meeting at 6:30 am at https://maps.app.goo.gl/XqZc3rydA9G1fASv5 PLEASE LOOK CAREFULLY THIS IS NOT THE INITIAL MEETING POINT Convoy order will be We will use Carnity Radio Channel 4. Enjoy the evening, take a good rest, and see you tomorrow morning !

Sorry about that @Mohammad Sayawoush Azad, thank you for informing me. Sorry to miss you @Pacific, you can still join if you become available

@Hisham Masaad Thank you for the inspiration and learning, it was always a pleasure to drive with you All the best !

Thank you Mahesh, see you on Saturday

Dear Desert Drivers @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Mahesh_ @Mohammad Sayawoush Azad @Pacific @Waqar Sarwar @Alphin Aloor @Joji varghese THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NOTICE There is a professional off-road event this weekend Dubai Baja International taking place in the area of Qudra - Solar Park - Faqa. Not sure of their exact track, but for sure they need space, and I don't want to have one of them flying into the convoy from behind a dune. I will relocate the starting point further South, close to Nahel https://maps.app.goo.gl/XqZc3rydA9G1fASv5 It is a bit further away from Dubai, but it is a very nice area where we can approach bigger dunes. However, I totally understand if it doesn't match your plans for the day, and I will not blame you if you choose another drive or remove your RSVP. Please acknowledge reading this post by reacting or sending a message. Thank you for your understanding.

Good afternoon @was003 Yes indeed, we request every new joiner to start with a Newbie drive as a minimum, and from there, after discussion with the Lead or Marshal, you can apply to have your previous experience transferred, and if accepted, join Fewbie drives. This is to ensure our minimum rules for safely driving in convoy are well understood, and as you can guess "previous experience" can mean anything from family picnic to expert driving... Thank you for your understanding, and I hope to see you soon in a next drive.

DRIVE DESCRIPTION Faqa area can offer the best of both worlds, tricky technical portions and long range dunes. We will try to take advantage of both, possibly using the sabkha to connect between different areas. We request every member that joins this drive to go through the below information and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities DRIVE DETAILS Level: Fewbie and above When: 11 November 2023, Saturday Meeting time: 06:30 - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XqZc3rydA9G1fASv5 Approximate finish time: 10:30 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 gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit, Tow Rope, 2 Shackles and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you find you are unable to join, so your spot can be taken by others in the waitlist. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, if an RSVP attendee removes themselves, you will be moved from the waitlist to the RSVP list as an attendee. A convoy list will be sent out the day prior to the drive. Latecomers will be returned back - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned back - Without any exceptions. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON BELOW CALENDAR

Dear Desert Drivers Thank you for joining the drive early today. It was a great morning out in the sand. Ok let me skip immediately the last hour where you helped me changing my wheel after a tire burst on the track. We went through the different ways of lifting a car, and at the end the lesson learned is here. I cannot change a wheel on a flat hard surface (gatch track or road), I need sand to be able to dig below the wheel. Thank you for your support and patience. For the rest, excellent drive from all of you. As expected the area was empty, and with a small convoy, we where really able to enjoy these fluid roller coaster through the immaculate dunes, and a few of these big climbs that allow to push our cars and raise the adrenaline level. Managing the soft sand was the second learning of the day, as we had many occasions to see that the difficulties are not always obvious, when cars where stuck in an apparently inoffensive flat surface, or sliding in a nasty pocket or blocked at a weird angle. @Emanuel, thank you for the 2nd lead. You have this understanding of the track that allows you to anticipate when I might get suck and hold or adjust the track as needed. @DanielN, you are taking the best out of the FJ, in the technical areas and the climbs. Be attentive on your control at higher speed, either in descent or on a ridge. @Abhilash Kottakkal, with more practice, you will continue to discover the capabilities of your car. Try to relax, avoid sharp turns or accelerations, and be attentive to the grip and traction of your car, you will get more fluidity, ... and enjoyment! @Gautam Banka thank you for sweeping the convoy today. It is a responsibility, and you endorsed it very seriously, thanks again. Similarly, be attentive to the grip and momentum of your car, adjust the tire pressure, and you will raise safely your confidence level. Personally I enjoyed the drive a lot. this area is never disappointing. Thanks again for joining and see you soon hopefully

Too bad Fabien...

Updated list below