All Lead XI - 2021
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:36 pm
Hello everyone,
I started my journey with Almost4x4 two years ago in a very expensive car and zero knowledge, in a convoy led by @presa.
Today I had the honor to lead an intermediate level drive for a short period with the same @presa as my second lead…
I have no words to express my immense gratitude to this club and its marshals and support teams…
Literally no words… mind blown
I came to the meeting point in Sweihan early as usual to catch some glimpses of the majestic sunrise and I managed to get some really good shots along with Ammar who also came to the MP early.
Excitement and fear was in the air as I’ve never led anyone in a desert drive before, let alone an intermediate level convoy and a few marshals.
The rest of the crew arrived along with the marshals and after the greetings we were split into two convoys: advanced & intermediate. We the intermediates were told not to push it beyond our level when we lead but at the same time not to drive newbie style. The point was to find a good balance that allows for some fun and a good flow.
And one last thing as mentioned by Singh: remember the snake game from old Nokia phones and don’t eat your own tail when you’re leading :))
We started in a sequence determined by the notes we picked from Rashid’s medicine bag and I got to be 3rd after Samer and David. Had some issues introducing the coordinates into my GPS due to very little practice but in the end I managed to get it right.
We started the drive with Samer as the first lead and Presa behind him.
He went on to carve beautiful and challenging lines in the dunes that set the standard very high for the rest of us. So much so that the only Toyota FJ Cruiser had to abandon the drive after 10-15 minutes.
After Samer went David who kept the level high, myself with a lower level lead and Ammar & Marco doing the last two parts of the drive, again raising the stakes.
Despite the big dunes and endless possibilities, all the intermediates showed restraint and responsibility in delivering a very good drive, no risks taken but very fun.
The fact that the Marshalls didn’t have to intervene, I think, shows that everyone did a good job.
The drive ended faster than we would have wished, with the time flying by very quickly as the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun!
It was a drive that I’m sure added to our level of confidence and experience and it’s amazing to see the results of patience and carefully listening and implementing what the marshals teach you from CM to higher levels.
A big big thank you to the club, the marshals, you guys are heroes in my book.
Hope to see you all soon!
I started my journey with Almost4x4 two years ago in a very expensive car and zero knowledge, in a convoy led by @presa.
Today I had the honor to lead an intermediate level drive for a short period with the same @presa as my second lead…
I have no words to express my immense gratitude to this club and its marshals and support teams…
Literally no words… mind blown
I came to the meeting point in Sweihan early as usual to catch some glimpses of the majestic sunrise and I managed to get some really good shots along with Ammar who also came to the MP early.
Excitement and fear was in the air as I’ve never led anyone in a desert drive before, let alone an intermediate level convoy and a few marshals.
The rest of the crew arrived along with the marshals and after the greetings we were split into two convoys: advanced & intermediate. We the intermediates were told not to push it beyond our level when we lead but at the same time not to drive newbie style. The point was to find a good balance that allows for some fun and a good flow.
And one last thing as mentioned by Singh: remember the snake game from old Nokia phones and don’t eat your own tail when you’re leading :))
We started in a sequence determined by the notes we picked from Rashid’s medicine bag and I got to be 3rd after Samer and David. Had some issues introducing the coordinates into my GPS due to very little practice but in the end I managed to get it right.
We started the drive with Samer as the first lead and Presa behind him.
He went on to carve beautiful and challenging lines in the dunes that set the standard very high for the rest of us. So much so that the only Toyota FJ Cruiser had to abandon the drive after 10-15 minutes.
After Samer went David who kept the level high, myself with a lower level lead and Ammar & Marco doing the last two parts of the drive, again raising the stakes.
Despite the big dunes and endless possibilities, all the intermediates showed restraint and responsibility in delivering a very good drive, no risks taken but very fun.
The fact that the Marshalls didn’t have to intervene, I think, shows that everyone did a good job.
The drive ended faster than we would have wished, with the time flying by very quickly as the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun!
It was a drive that I’m sure added to our level of confidence and experience and it’s amazing to see the results of patience and carefully listening and implementing what the marshals teach you from CM to higher levels.
A big big thank you to the club, the marshals, you guys are heroes in my book.
Hope to see you all soon!