HH Marwan Al Muala Solo Race Round 3 - Pro

[Green Giant]

Thanks to everyone who took part in this event, a great experience to add to my Almost 4x4 Diary.

Met at the Emirates Motorplex where Strawb, FrancisJK, Eric Hummer and Refad were waiting. Had some Chit Chat waiting for the Afternoon Beach stage to finish. Once everyone present, Al Shamsi took the roll call and nominated stage points, I was Rally 10 in Shamsi's group with Eric, Iskander, Francis JK and Hockey. After a huge dinner courtesy of Emirates Motorplex we set out to our respective points. Al Shamsi had generously loaned his Montana to one of the rally drivers hence a change of strategy for getting to our points. Shamsi had each one of us lead the way to our own points, with him as second lead. Everyone did brilliantly and found the points without difficulty. I was second to last point and led Shamsi with Hockey behind to my point. First time in the Desert at Night, and first time leading. VERY Exciting! Once I was within 30m of the point I was left to find a good spot to watch the action. After a bit of exploration, I got myself up to the highest point above the rally track and set up for the evening - hot flask, radio (which didnt have a great signal!!) and my cameras at the ready.

The race started at 1030pm (so I was informed by relay messages!). I didnt see any cars for about 90 minutes and was about to give up hope when the first car came into view. To be honest, the first couple of cars seemed to have a good idea where they were going, then it went a bit crazy - saw the same car (turned out to be No 28) 4 times passing from different directions! At about 1:30, No 28 appeared again and asked me how he could get back to the start - no GPS on board! Showed him the general direction and off he went. Shamsi appeared a little while later and off we went to the Marhsalls point for Karak - chasing a rabbit with Shamsi en-route. We didnt catch it!


Back out to our points ready for the 3:30AM next stage which went a lot smoother and the drivers seemed to knwo where to go this time - apart from the driver of the Polaris who I saw a couple of times in the distance but he never passed my point. The radios went silent for quite a while so I decided to move to where Francis was to see what was going on. Arrived at his point and got the call from Abu Jimmy to return to Marshalls camp. I led Francis back there for Karak, Chit Chat and then back to the Motorplex. I was yearning for more but had to re-inflate and say goodbyes as I had to get back to Dubai.

All in all a great experience. Lessons:
You need GOOD light coverage at Night especially when Solo or lead. I used my new lights for first time (2x4" HID floods on windscreen corners to replace 2 x WARN 4"spots and 2 x 7" HID floods to replace 2xKC Daylighter spots) 1000% improvement.

Always use your GPS and trust what it says. Also, follow the compass pointer - it WILL get you to where you need to go without dramas. BUT - always pick your route carefully and safely.

Stay with the family of ALMOST 4x4 - having seen the antics of some of the professional drivers, and their lack of equipment for self help, the club will be there for you at every opportunity and occasion of needing help and guidance.

Sorry for long report - had to share it. See a few photos I took at Link:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/jeremy.spen ... 414&type=1

See you in the Sand sometime soon. :grin:

[strawb]

[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo12.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo13.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo15.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo16.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo17.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo18.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo19.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo20.jpg[/IMG]

[strawb]

[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo10.png[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo24.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo25.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo26.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo27.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo28.jpg[/img]

Pictures are care off erichummer

[strawb]

[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo11.png[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/facebo29.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/img_2012.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i58.servimg.com/u/f58/14/62/86/87/img_2013.jpg[/img]

NOTE that ALL of the rally cars are sporting the Almost4x4 stickers

[caprihorse]

[quote=Green Giant;33487]
Sorry for long report - had to share it. See a few photos I took at Link:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/jeremy.spen ... 414&type=1

[/quote]
Pls make your album public, so we can share it on our FB page.

[Green Giant]

[quote=caprihorse;33494]Pls make your album public, so we can share it on our FB page.[/quote]

Done Caprihorse.

[Eric Hummer]

And here’s my mine… Sorry also for the long report ……


We arrive in Emirates Motorplex on Friday afternoon around 5 pm and while waiting for the 6 pm meeting we munch few snack, chat we the early birds (Strawb, Jeremy, Francis, Refad) and relax a bit….

The meeting started at around 7:30 pm, Abu salem and the team of senior Marshals provided us the necessary tools and brief us with our task and gave coordinates to locations of marshaling.

The dinner is provided before heading to our location.

Im with Abu Salem team, just before we start heading to the point of marshaling, Abu Salem with his always crave for adventure:playingsmiley: surprise us with a game, the game goes like this we will head to our point of marshaling by leading the other cars till we get into each point.

I was the first car to lead everyone to my point and this how it goes :brigade.baka-wolf.c . Abu Salem brought all of us inside till he advised me to start leading everyone to my point… The pressure is Abu salem will be the second lead…the good thing is he provide me a good lighting with his LED’s Thanks…

So i started leading everyone, Abu Salem a told me not to follow any track instead keep my point either 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock so i did that and end up putting everyone and in very challenging and bumper breaking experience of their lives since i went over and under the sand full of bushes i could not mange to find an easy way…… sorry for that everyone i guess i did not mind other with plastic bumpers.. Peace :048:… Finally reach my point and find the highest point to see the action…

The race started at 10:30 pm, I’ve seen cars passed by my station about 11 pm or so…. Around 12 pm we received a message from that there is one Polaris on the track that is not included in Race and it should be stop and advice him to move away from the track… 15 minutes after I received that message a Polaris is approaching my station and immediately stop him very fortunately he stop so I advice him to move away from the track but he ignored me and went straight racing in the tracks again… 10 minutes pass he came back and asked me who told me to stop him from the race… I let him speak to Abu Salem thru radio and I guess he understand the reason why he was stopped…


The race ended at around 1:30 AM and we were ask to meet at Rally 11 station where we enjoyed a karak and good relaxing chats…3:30 am the stage 2 strated and we head back to our station… the race ended at around pass 5 am….and we headed back again at Rally 11 station and all confusion for me started… the story is so long and so hard to narrate.. just asked me when you meet me… Just needed to ask apology to Iskander though for his effort for fetching me… Sorry Bro :048: Abu Salem please provide with picture of members with their cars…hehehehe…lesson learnt….

All in all was a great experience to remember…. Thank you to everyone who organized and allow us to be part of this.. it’s really amazing….

[bombays]

Hi Guys,
Everything is covered and i Thank Founders, Marshals , Senior Members and members to make this event a huge Success. Had Fun and learnt a lot. Thankyou.