Welcome to the New Club Members who joined us for their first introduction drive with your new Almost4x4 family.
My afternoon started early - arriving at the meeting point to set up the banners with help from
@Rooies and crew mates
@KIMOz @Gabor
We went to the deflate point to assist the CM’s and point them in the direction of the meeting point.
A big thank you to
@Barish for planning and organizing the introduction drive. The excellent Pre drive safety briefing and introduction to the CM about life in the Almost4x4 family.
As mentioned 3 convoys were set. I was assigned to the convoy led by
@Mabubaker with support from @presa
@Germain @Daggerfall and
@KIMOz
Our drive started off at a nice easy pace to allow the CM’s to settle their nerves and a nice momentum was established for the first 15 - 20min.
@Mabubaker was being very nice to the CM’s taking a very easy line. Once we entered the more technical area there were a lot of 2nd tries and at some points the convoy became disjointed but stragglers were rounded up by
@Daggerfall and
@presa.
Then
@Mabubaker decided to up the level a bit. With a very (for CM’s) steep climb I watched as he climbed and went over the crest with sand flying. Next my turn ! As i approached the crest I didn’t want to “fly” so I let the gas off a fraction to early
so there I was sitting on my belly on the crest. This required
@presa having to pull me from the back successfully dislodging me from the top of the dune. The message over the radio from
@Mabubaker to the CM’s was priceless !! (A campfire story for sure). It was decided not to proceed over this dune with the convoy and a new track was taken. As they say there is no shame in being stuck - but as a Newbie with many drives under my belt this was not going to escape the teasing by the Marshals and I will not be allowed to forget it for a very long time. I am posting the photo here ! The photo is thanks to my crew mate
@KIMOz thank you for capturing it for eternity !
The last section of the drive was again technical and for many of the CM’s the fatigue started to set in and we had many more 2nd and third tries. But everyone made it out just as the sun was starting to set. Lots of smiling faces at the inflate point and Drivers lining up to have their tools checked to gain the first “Newbie” star so we will be seeing many of you again next week to continue your off road journey with Almost4x4.
As always my take ways from the drive
- every drive is a learning experience
- leave your ego at home
-radio communication is essential for a safe trip
- the correct tyre pressure
- following distance not too close not too far.
Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media FB IG and YouTube
Registration for next week will likely open at 6pm on Sunday (keep checking the app for details - snooze you loose ! be fast on the join button as the drives fill up with in seconds of opening.