JeromeFJ

1 hour ago, Amr A said:

Hello @JeromeFJ

 

Apologies for the last-minute confirmation, but I will need to drop this one and won't be able to join you guys tomorrow.

Enjoy all.

Sorry to miss you @Amr A. Enjoy the weekend and see you next time.

Dear Desert Drivers, 

Thank you for signing up for the drive on Saturday. Please double check your agenda, as we still have 4 drivers in wait list, and there is another FB+ drive Saturday morning with a lot of space available in Lisaili.

Whatever drive you decide to join, please ensure your car is in top condition. Please remove also unnecessary items from the back of the car, and ensure your off road  gears are securely strapped strapped in the trunk.

I will update tomorrow with the final attendance list, and convoy order.

14 hours ago, Mahesh_ said:

Hi @JeromeFJ I have waitlisted on the other drive and if it gets confirmed I can free my slot on this drive. 

Good morning @Mahesh_, I have shifted you to the other drive. You are now signed in for @Simon D's in Lisaili.

See you next time !

Dear Desert Drivers, 

We have currently 15 candidates for the drive, and unfortunately,  I will not be able to accommodate everyone.

I'm bringing to your attention another Fewbie Plus drive at the same timing, lead by @Simon D.

https://carnity.com/events/event/2113-morning-fewbie-plus-desert-drive-lisalli-technical-madness-drive-dubai-17-feb-2024/

You may want to consider this one to secure your desert time for the weekend !

We 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 Plus and above
When: 17 February 2024, Saturday
Meeting time:  7:00 AM - Sharp
Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eTX8wtibrfhsXS6D6
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.
What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

RECOMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR:

• Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge
• Compressor (MANDATORY)
• Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY)
• Off-road flag (MANDATORY)
• 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 - 12 PM.
• 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 THE CALENDAR

Great drive indeed, a bit short, but quite intense. This area of Ramlat Sweihan is very special because of the density of big bowls and sharp ridges. The beginning was a bit chaotic, with a near pop out of @Alexanderrr, due to the wet heavy sand, and shortly after @Ranjan Das's Jeep facing a fence pole from above, in the middle of a steep slip face. Both were solved with a combined support from @Zed, @Sunil and @Looper. 

This warm-up done, everyone was ready for bigger things, .... and bigger things were coming! The first bowl was not the best, with the flat bottom surface, and a bumpy entry, but was giving the dimension of the environment. and the Jeeps of @Zed and @Naveen Raj were already showing muscles.

The second one, with a perfect circular shape, was more accommodating. The convoy gathered in the middle, and one by one the cars could circle around. We restarted climbing again, crossed the ridge and continued along the ridges until reaching the famous Death Bow. Perfect circle again, but requiring climbing up and down to follow the ridge. Everyone tackled it with determination, @Mohit Gurnani taking an extra challenge going down to the bottom, and spiralling up to exit. 

Another steep climb and the next bowl was already there, more open and with a regular shape,  easier to handle, after the previous challenges. The last one was looking smooth and regular, even if the dimensions were impressive, but was hiding a few traps: a bumpy entry point, and a huge steep slip face, requiring to be light as feather on the brakes and steering to control the descend to the flat hard bottom. Everyone managed very well, even if @Alexanderrr had his scary moment.

Time was flying already, so we reached the exit track, leaving the remaining bowls for the next time.

We all had great learning opportunities, selecting the entry point, managing gears to have the right combination of torque and speed, controlling the line in the bowl itself, considering bumps and cross-tracks, controlling the descent or the deceleration, releasing smoothly all the energy accumulated by the car. You have seen that at this level, full concentration is needed, and every small detail becomes important. Nobody wants to be distracted by things flying in the trunk if you jump on a bump in the middle of your acceleration.

Great driving everyone, thank you @Looper for the SL, and the videos to come  @Mohit Gurnani, @Patrick van der Loo, very well done, each one with the capabilities of your cars, @Gary F @Mark B the gladiators were on the test bench today, @Zed you are always a great asset in the convoy, @Alexanderrr, you pushed the Pajero to the highest, @Sunil, my Toyota partner among the Jeeps, @Ranjan Das, thank you for the seep ! Enjoy the rest of the weekend !

@Looper @Mohit Gurnani @Patrick van der Loo @Gary F @Mark B @Zed @Alexanderrr @Sunil Mathew @Naveen Raj @Ranjan Das

Dear Desert Drivers, 

Last updates for tomorrow

Meeting at 07:00 am at  https://maps.app.goo.gl/sFLVqbKmpcfLhqVY6

The convoy order will be

We will use Carnity radio Channel 4

Enjoy the evening, and get as much sleep as you can. You will need all your awareness tomorrow morning !

@Zed, yes indeed, be prepared for a nice series of bowls, if the conditions are there !

@Gary F @Mark B, lets see those upgrades 😀

Dear Desert Drivers, 

In preparation for the drive on Saturday morning, please ensure that your car is in top condition.

Check and remove any loose item in the back seat and trunk areas. Your off-road equipment shall be securely strapped to avoid flying objects in the cabin in case of jumps of big bumps. 

I will indicate the convoy order tomorrow by the end of the afternoon. Please let me know before that if you changed your plans. Thank you !

We 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:  Intermediate and above
When: 10 Feb 2024, Saturday
Meeting time:  7:00 AM - Sharp
Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sFLVqbKmpcfLhqVY6
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.
What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

RECOMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR:

• Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge
• Compressor (MANDATORY)
• Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY)
• Off-road flag (MANDATORY)
• 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 - 12 PM.
• 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 THE CALENDAR

Dear Desert Drivers, 

Thank you for joining the drive today, with a spirit of adventure and discovery. We were lucky to have very nice sand conditions, slightly compacted by the rain of the previous days, and the dunes were clean, with very little cross tracks. 

After the entrance track, we started smoothly riding the dunes, passing from one side to the other, testing the grip of the tyres, giving a bit of gas to climb a steeper dune. We tested the first crossing, trying to get sufficient momentum to cross, but not too much to avoid flying. We had all the configurations, with a few cars crested, good opportunities to test shovelling, and recovery with a rope. Every one improved from one crossing to the other.

In the second portion, the dunes were becoming higher, and we did a few nice climbs, pushing the revs, and getting the feeling needed to control the car in the descents. We continued climbing, keeping an accurate line to avoid the deep sand pockets, until I got stuck on a flat patch of soft sand. @Davie Chase helped me out with his winch, and we reversed our way. 

On the way down, a narrow crossing was the challenge of the day. Climbing straight, going down into a V shaped pocket, and pushing straight to exit. @Sviatoslav had a pop out, again an opportunity to understand in which configuration it can happen, and how to fix it ! The next cars crossed one by one, great achievement from each of you.

After a small "educational" break, we finished the descent crossing a technical portion to reach the sabkha, and from there the exit track.

@Sviatoslav thank you for the 2nd lead, and congratulation for your 1st Newbie drive with Carnity. You need to get the feeling of the momentum, but it will come with more drives. Very well done.

@Wilfredo Perez, same here, you were too fast on the first crossing, but for the rest, very well done. You will get used to the different sand conditions. 

@Juzer Talib nice control of the Pajero, you were comfortable in most of the situations.

@Tatsiana Chase very nice handling of the Jeep, perfect adjustment of the power for the crossings, you will get more confident with practice. Continue to enjoy !

@Damian, you made the best use of the LC, a bit too much power in some occasions, but nothing critical. You will enjoy more and more the capabilities of you car.

@Hani Howeedy taking the long truck across sharp ridges is not easy at all. You ticked your 3 crests  ! Well driven along the different challenges of the day. 

@ozgu, smooth  riding with the Y61, continue to enjoy!

@SamBha the second Y61 very well done also. We will find more technical dunes the next time !

@Mehmet Volga it was a pleasure and a great comfort for me to have you in the back, thank you for joining with your new ride !

@Davie Chase, the most helpful passenger of the day ! Thanks again for the great support!

Thank you all for the common effort during the recoveries, your patience when needed, and your willingness to learn ! Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and see you in a next drive !

18 minutes ago, Frederic said:

If you are an absolute beginner (zero off-road experience) it’s not recommended. If you have driven in the desert before and have basic experience, then you should be fine.

Yes you can, as you had already a few drives before. Just ensure they don't distract you during driving, and they are ready to remain seated in the car for a few hours

8 minutes ago, monkeywrench said:

Hi, I am going to have to drop out of this drive due to last minute work commitments.

My apologies 

Thank you for informing ahead. See you next time 

@Abdul Hannan @Sviatoslav @monkeywrench @Wilfredo Perez @Juzer Talib @Tatsiana Chase @Damian @Hani Howeedy @ozgu @SamBha @Mehmet Volga

Dear Desert Drivers, 

Last update for tomorrow

Meeting at 7:00 am at  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LHbFHb1WQUtA55kV7

The convoy order will be 

We will use Carnity Radio Channel 4.

Enjoy the evening, take as much sleep as you can, and see you tomorrow morning !

@Abdul Hannan @Sviatoslav @monkeywrench @Wilfredo Perez @Juzer Talib @Tatsiana Chase @Damian @Hani Howeedy @ozgu @SamBha @Mehmet Volga

Dear Desert Drivers, 

Thank you for signing up for the drive tomorrow morning. The weather is a bit uncertain, but nothing to prevent driving. So the drive will happen anyway, we will adjust if needed if we find wet places. If you are delayed on the road to the meeting point by the weather conditions (fog, rain...) don't worry and drive safely, we will wait for you.

Please check your route to reach the meeting point. Coming from Nahel, about 300m before the final location, you will see a road to your right, with a sign "...Winter Camp..." Take that road. It is closed by a fence. Reach slowly by the fence, it will open by itself. Then continue until you see the other cars.

I will indicate the convoy order and the radio channel by the end of the afternoon.

Good morning all, 

In preparation for the drive on Saturday, please make sure your vehicle will be ready.

For your own preparation, get familiar with your radio if it is not already the case.

Please make sure you program in advance the 10 Carnity frequencies. It is much easier to do it quietly at home than in a rush in the desert. The post below is very helpful.

13 hours ago, Sviatoslav said:

Hi Jerome!

Yeah, I'm planning to join you on Saturday if my car leaves the garage on time - will recall my RSVP tomorrow if they fail the deadline 😅

• Had 3 desert drives in a convoy (as part of a desert drive course, majorly Al-Qudra) and a few very simple solo drives (Big red / Fossil rock areas)
• Have stock Pajero tow hooks - hopefully they are sufficient
• All necessary equipment is there

Looking forward to join you!

Great, thank you !

Dear @Sviatoslav, you were on the wait list and have been added to the drive.

Can you please confirm you still have it in your schedule for Saturday morning.

Also, as it will be your first drive with us, can you please

• indicate your previous off road experience, if any
• check and confirm the presence of tow hooks front and back of your car
• confirm you have a flag, radio, and shovel
• watch the video mentioned above, before the drive

Looking forward to meeting you for this first drive.

Level:  Newbie and above (all levels)

Meeting time: 7:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LHbFHb1WQUtA55kV7

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, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 11:00 AM

P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• This drive is limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 6 PM.
• 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 back - Without any exceptions.
• Members without RSVP will be returned back - 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

Sincere congratulations @Simon D, yes it is an all new start, and I'm sure you will do great and enjoy !

Hi Davie @Davie Chase, please check this post

https://carnity.com/forums/topic/18895-morning-intermediate-desert-drive-sweihan-abu-dhabi-27-jan-2024/?do=findComment&comment=133152

as you will be in the area tomorrow . It might be more busy than usual.

Thanks @Zed for the heads up.

As it is already late we will keep the same meeting time and location, and will advise tomorrow morning 

Meeting at 7:00 am at  https://maps.app.goo.gl/6Ggs62b9yGEzyZi26

Convoy Order

Take a good rest and see you tomorrow morning !

11 hours ago, Mohit Gurnani said:

Hi @JeromeFJ just got new tires fitted, so I think I’ll skip this one safe side- hope it’s a good one!

Thank you @Mohit Gurnani. Yes indeed it is a reasonable decision to start with 1 or 2 drives at lower level until you get used to the new tires. I hope you will enjoy the improvement !

Dear Desert Drivers, 

Thank you for signing up to the drive on Saturday Morning. 

I have updated the meeting point. The intent is to avoid spending too much time in the crowded area close to the road, move East in the direction of the Old Lady Dune, and from there, if we have sufficient time and good conditions, cross to the Al Ain Airport area and exit South on the E22.

I will issue the convoy order tomorrow by the end of the afternoon. Let me know before that in case you changed your plans