Enrico - Mountain

Hi Looper, I saw you cancelled this event so hopped over to the FB+ drive tomorrow morning in Sweihan. I removed myself from the RSVP list.

Today was a great day of Carnity desert off-roading! Thank you @DP1011 for organising a great drive with a fantastic support team (which was everyone on the drive). The event that happened twice ('popouts') is the thing we shall not mention, as it seems speaking about it only makes it a reality - a mistake I made last week, and a hypothesis we confirmed today. Glad to have been able to assist with my Air Jack and @Gaurav Soni for demonstrating how to use it so effectively, he even gave me a second opportunity to practice on 'purpose'. Everyone drove so well, especially when tackling the longer flowing dunes and ridges! But the key take-away today is the Carnity Club spirit and comradery that turns every trip into a life-long memory. I uploaded a few pictures to today's gallery.

Thank you @ChrisW, your drive makes it look so effortless, while we are behind you flailing away between the feelings of exhilaration and pure frenzy. @Infaz helped me understand the importance of manually down-shifting to maintain RPM's, something I will need to practise, switching over to manual selections from the start (which I will focus on the next drive). Such faster paced, flowing, and larger dunes will require me to become a more conscientious driver. FB+ will definately challenge my abilities (which I am looking forward to), as I cannot just power through, but need to develop the necessary skill - to make it look as beautiful as you guys.

Today was definately a day, and a day of firsts. My first FB+, double-bowl (G-Force inducing), and pop-out. Thank you @ChrisW for your patience, @Beide Worku for bringing the tyre workshop to the desert, @Danie for some sound advice on crossings, @Infaz for being my mentor for the day, and everyone in the convoy who welcomed me so warmly to the FB+ experience. FB+ is definitely a step up from FB, with lots of new learning, technique mastering, and experience building that lie ahead. My apologies for the refusals that broke the flowing rhythm of the drive. Hopefully with more such drives my abilities will improve bit by bit with your guidance and support. My take-aways this drive: 1) Keeping momentum and good lines is crucial when tackling longer and steeper dunes. A single break in that momentum such as hitting dips or second-guessing yourself can quickly lead to momentum 'stall'. I think fearing for my 'vehicle' at times made me extra hesitant to push where necessary - but now I know the skid plates can handle the bashing. 2) Mastering following distance is an art, not too close but not to far (understanding the terrain is important). This also comes with trust and confidence in those in front and behind you - which will improve with more drives together. Too many times I hesitated for a second when seeing the vehicle in front of me 'struggle' (or rather me thinking it won't make it), which instantly affected my accelerator foot, reducing power and loosing momentum. 3) Knowing your vehicle through experience and practice, not turning too sharply at speed and pressing power at the wrong time. I was lucky to be able to recognise the pop-out quickly and stop immediately (saving my tyre, rim, and wheel assembly). Striking a balance between bead grip and directional force, and how that feels, should improve with more practice on such demanding dunes. The comradery, friendliness, and support today is really appreciated.