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Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:50 am
by Johanna
Hello Almosters,

this was the second night drive this Ramadan - and I think the best night drive I had so far since I am with the club. We met in Al Faqaa, just behind the petrol station at the Al Ain Road.
I never drove on this side of the E14, there are some farms and construction sides in the area, but according to [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] its ok to sneak in during the night as they cant see our number plates grin

After we got divided in two convoys and enjoyed some birthday cake for [mention]Daggerfall[/mention] who turned 24 that day, we started our trip.

I joined [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] convoy as car no.4, and as we had more intermediate drivers than newbies, an intermediate driver drove behind every newbie. The plan was to have a fast drive - and it definitely was! We started without any warm up, just straight into the dunes - and bushes!

There are lots of bushes in this area, even if you try to avoid the big ones, you cannot avoid them all and I had a bumpy ride, dreaming of better suspensions omg
The combination of bushes and soft sand throw some challenges at the drivers, but the convoy handled it very well. Just a couple of second tries and two stucks I guess, but no pop out!. I think the convoy order of 1 newbie - 1 intermediate ensured a nicely flowing convoy most of the time.

When leading a convoy, first car takes all the risks and we heard couple of times a warning from [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] to the second lead, not to follow or to change the track.
So hats off to our marshals for taking the risks and keeping us safe. in love

The second part took us to the familiar Al Faqaa area on the other side of the E14, with less bushes and some nice safari style. Especially on this part the convoy flow nicely, so I was in "the zone" for a while, this mental state of pure relaxation that clears your mind and gives you peace.

We reached the sitting area at around 1am and while others left us from there some of us sat together for a while enjoying food, coffee, the desert breeze and the night sky. in love
I reached home by 3:30 in the morning, sitting at the office right now and keeping myself awake with liters of strong coffee.

The experience of night drives is special and very unique and in combination with the Ramadan vibes I feel the family spirit of our club more than ever. While our normal drives are for action, adrenaline and training of skills, the night drives are for the soul. in love

Cant wait for the next one.

Thanks everyone and see you all on Friday at the Grand Iftar have a nice day

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:46 am
by Sostick
Hi all, I can only second what [mention]Johanna[/mention] said about the best night drive since I’m in the club! It was a fast paced drive and we covered 45km in a little bit more than 2 hours. I was in [mention]Agalon[/mention] convoy. We had a couple of stops in the first 20min as the lead car found a couple of nasty obstacles... particularly a v-ditch with an electrical box abandoned in the desert. After than, we went really smooth and fast. Some nice side slopes on long dunes. The mix of expertise in the convoy was amazing and that allowed not to have any single pop out or stuck cars. We reached the end of the drive at 1am... home at 2.30am.

Great night, great drive and great company as always!

Thank you Almost4by4!

To the next one!

Sostick

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 5:23 pm
by osman
Hi,

This time I was the first to arrive to the meeting point and after I finished the deflation, I was still alone. I think I did not make the last communication adjustment from the PM and thirst to action set me up for a drive which I am so happy that I participated.

We had two convoys and I was in [mention]Agalon[/mention]'s convoy. The first part of the area we drove was like a mine field and our mine sweepers were [mention]Agalon[/mention] with his passenger [mention]Daggerfall[/mention] followed by [mention]Abu Odai[/mention] with the temporary re-enforcement from the field marshal [mention]Booy[/mention].

The whole drive was fast paced with minimal issues, like only few second tries. At times, the convoy was like a well oiled machine, going through all the motions of climbing up, descending steeply, driving the top of the dunes, swinging from top of one dune to other like a pendulum of a clock. The radio was very quiet giving you the suspicion that the battery went flat. Except the few instances, breaking the radio silence was only the clearance messages. You just needed to focus the car in front of you and enjoy the drive.

Thanks to [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] for organising this great drive and special thanks to [mention]Agalon[/mention] for the smooth lead in the dark.

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 6:16 pm
by alshamsi_m
Hello Everyone

The idea of Sugar Rush is a fast pack drive with safari style. by the time I did the design of the route it felt so fast and easy so when I deflated my tires I made it only 10 psi thinking that it is just another newbie drive, how hard it can be ?? ORLY

The area proven not to be under estimated because of the soft sand and some power line construction everywhere. killzonesmiley We did 49 km in two sections of the desert and each had it is own beauty. the plan was to finish by 12 but there was no way that we could finish at that time but by looking at the members it felt that no one wanted to stop driving.

By the time we reached the camp site we discovered that we are having another cool night in the open where the temperature around 24 Celsius . We had a great time chit chatting at the end of the drive but unfortunately, " Good times FLY like fruits "

Thank you all who supported this event and Happy Birth Day to [mention]Daggerfall[/mention] for turning 24 grin .

I will be seeing you on Grand Iftar which is going to be another beautiful gathering .

Cheers
Shamsi

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 2:26 pm
by Barish
Still nice weather..still can drive at night windows open..!

It is really a nice area and track is very exciting for a night drive. There was almost no single time that you think what to do or where to head..soft sand and some obstacles on the way requiring continous concentration and focus during a night drive.

If i am not mistaken, some the first site crests of some drivers are marked during this drive..well done guys! Besides, we should keep in mind always radio comms as essential and driving distance as crucial.

We had a great time of food and chit chat after the drive and star of the night was again Harees; once more thanks to [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention]..!

See you on the sand at the earliest.

Dont forget; change it if your target is to improve.

Barish

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 2:40 pm
by Mohanad
i will not repeat what's written above.

i was sweeping in [mention]Agalon[/mention] convoy. i was excited to drive behind our new explorer to see his style of driving and i must say that he did not disappoint us. the first section of the drive was full of bushes and ditches so it wasn't fun at all. but then mr. Agalon decided to give us some nice safari style drive. we drove approx. 40 minutes non stop and with radio silence. maybe only 2 times i heard the guys calling the clear message but apart from that we did not stop.

i really dont know how Agalon was able to drive having [mention]Daggerfall[/mention] as his passenger wtfsmilie , no offense but Daggerfall can be a real pain :lol: :lol: :lol:

the drive ended perfectly with a nice weather and tasty food from Bu Salem.

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 4:44 pm
by Jasper
Hello everyone!

We had a kick of sugar rush from the cake for our beloved 24 year old Marshall [mention]Daggerfall[/mention] grin before we started the drive. Happy birthday again!

The drive was full of adrenaline and fast. I was with [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention]’s convoy. Same setup last week – alternating intermediate and newbie. The sand is very soft and full of obstacles. We were driving faster than the previous week. I was full focus on the track to make sure to keep up and not to have any accidental pop outs. If you don’t position the tires properly then for sure you’ll get a pop out. The convoy did very well – few stucks and second tries. No major issue happened. We’ve completed the planned drive but not in the 2 hours planned (about 3 hours). We’ve arrived in the sitting area, where the other convoy already there chit chatting and enjoying the night. I’ve stayed for about 5 mins then heard [mention]Booy[/mention] leaving and ask if anyone wants to go. We’ve followed him out to road, inflated and went home.

After the last week’s drive you get more confidence. This time we were treated to a rally drive in the night! Thanks a million [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] for this and looking forward to the next one. grin Thanks also to [mention]Solmaz[/mention] and [mention]Barish[/mention] for floating and keeping the convoy in place. Also to [mention]Rooies[/mention] for sweeping.

Take care and till next time!

Jasper

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 7:25 pm
by Rooies
Jasper wrote: Thu May 16, 2019 4:44 pm Hello everyone!

We had a kick of sugar rush from the cake for our beloved 24 year old Marshall @Daggerfall grin before we started the drive. Happy birthday again!

The drive was full of adrenaline and fast. I was with @alshamsi_m’s convoy. Same setup last week – alternating intermediate and newbie. The sand is very soft and full of obstacles. We were driving faster than the previous week. I was full focus on the track to make sure to keep up and not to have any accidental pop outs. If you don’t position the tires properly then for sure you’ll get a pop out. The convoy did very well – few stucks and second tries. No major issue happened. We’ve completed the planned drive but not in the 2 hours planned (about 3 hours). We’ve arrived in the sitting area, where the other convoy already there chit chatting and enjoying the night. I’ve stayed for about 5 mins then heard @Booy leaving and ask if anyone wants to go. We’ve followed him out to road, inflated and went home.

After the last week’s drive you get more confidence. This time we were treated to a rally drive in the night! Thanks a million @alshamsi_m for this and looking forward to the next one. grin Thanks also to @Solmaz and @Barish for floating and keeping the convoy in place. Also to @Rooies for sweeping.

Take care and till next time!

Jasper
Thank you Jasper thumbsup

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 7:45 pm
by Rooies
It was another beautiful evening, when I got to the meeting point there were already a few drivers. Slow the group got bigger & bigger till everyone was there. We celebrated [mention]Daggerfall[/mention] 's "24th" birthday with some very nice cake, the sugar was there thumbsup . [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] did the briefing & there were two convoys, he took one & [mention]Agalon[/mention] took the other one. I was sweeper with [mention]Barish[/mention] & [mention]Solmaz[/mention] floating around us. The idea was fast safari style with lots of ground to cover.

We started off good with not too many issues, following distance was a problem that resulted in stop starting, distance should be kept to make it a nice flowing drive. I think adrenaline might have been the culprit here grin . We had a few second tries, but was quickly resolved. grin We crossed a tar road & not long after [mention]Barish[/mention] reported a pop out. I turned to go help & we sorted it out within a few minutes. The other convoy passed us at this stage. With the pop out fixed we joined the rest of the convoy & continued.

Later in the drive [mention]Solmaz[/mention] had an issue but we continued, [mention]Barish[/mention] went back to help her. This gave us a chance to have a quick coffee & snacks that [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] brought. It was not very long before they joined us & we continued again. The last part of the drive went fairly well with only one stuck.

It was another good drive with the club & driving as sweeper one can clearly see the following distance & the effect that is has on the convoy if it is to close.

Thank you to [mention]alshamsi[/mention] for a very nice track & to [mention]Daggerfall[/mention] for his birthday so that we could get some cake have a nice day .

Till we meet in the sand again, take care.

Regards
Rooies

Re: Desert Gazing - Sugar Rush

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 7:54 pm
by Daggerfall
Hi Almosters,

Thanks to [mention]Solmaz[/mention] , [mention]Agalon[/mention] and all others very much for the birthday cake and celebration before the drive . I guess eating cake just before the drive was a good match with the name of the drive grin

I was passenger of [mention]Agalon[/mention] in the leading car and its been a while since I was a passenger. It was interesting to deal with the feelings while going through the obstacles during the night into darkness and not having control of the car you're kidding, right

The night had some nasty surprises one after another for us in the beginning of the drive: one giant transformer hiding in a bowl waiting for its victim and another nasty ditch end of a nice and smooth wall you're kidding, right . These kind of incidents usually put the leading person under pressure and makes you more hesitant however [mention]Agalon[/mention] 's reaction was to increase the pace and pushing forward thumbsup

We had great fun during the drive with him and I hope he enjoyed my company too you're kidding, right ( [mention]Mohanad[/mention] ) and the convoy flowed nicely without any major incident.

Siting after the drive was also very nice and relaxing. Thanks to [mention]alshamsi_m[/mention] , [mention]Barish[/mention] and all others cared to share the nice foods and drinks. Nobody wanted to go back home but it was unfortunately a working day TT TT

Thanks to all organized , supported and participated.

It was another great night with the almost4x4 family

Best Regards