Almost4x4

Let's start from the end, the drive was as expected, fantastic, 2 great Marshalls, the best possible location, not a single track, not too hot day for being July, only 3 drivers in the convoy ... it does not get any better.

A few very challenging climbs from the shabkah that required a lot of work, sand soft so low gears, no AC, multiple tries, great practice to try to find out where the safe limit of the cars and driving conditions was.

Personally I felt a bit rusty, a few weeks outside the UAE so not driving and I felt it during the warm up, all good towards the end.

No doubt I find Mabubaker's lead under these conditions one of the most challenging, many elements away from what I feel the most comfortable with, different leading car, Low gear lead when I prefer high, massive climbs when I prefer switching inside the chain ... so just based on that absolutely fantastic, a lot of fun and learning. I did say some time ago that I wanted to drive and practice more in Low and that's what I got.

Away now again for a few more weeks but I really really hope that we get some more of these drives soon, such a joy, well worth the over 3hrs drive to get there.

Mabubaker once again many thanks for a great lead, it never disappoints, Daggerfall for joining and making the drive possible (plus the warm up) and my fellow advanced friends, as usual a pleasure to drive with you.

See you on the sand soon.

I agree with @David on everything except "it was not too hot". He must have swollowed a chunk of ice before the drive :D. I had 50 deg C on my car thermo and the oil temp needle travelled from center to high already on the highway, so I was afraid I may be a pain in the a** for the covoy with my overheating.

But first I have to tell you a story that happened before. At the petrol station I met a nice policeman buying an ice cream, we discussed which brand is better, we disagreed, bought different creams and then I left. When I was about to reach the meeting point, I spotted a police car in the mirror. I checked my speed and of course it was over the limit. I slowed down a bit, the car still behing me. I slowed more, below the speed limit and finally I was overtaken. While contemplating if they managed to send me a ticket, I arrived to the meeting point. The guys were already there and with them my police "friends". I stopped and came to join the group. They were talking Arabic with @Ehab so I had no clue what it is about. When I approached, the guy with the ice cream shone smiling and shouted ad me, "Hi Peter"! My friends looked at me suspiciously what connections I was able to develop on the way. Damned, said I to myself, we didn't introduce to each other at the gas station, so the only explanation is I was ticketed already and they scanned me while tailgating me.

But they looked very friendly. I brought a box of nuts and offered them. Thy accepted with big smiles. The ice cream guy asked what are they good for. I said they are hopefully good to prevent speed ticketing, but he was laughing and said it is good for man's power. I hope it is, I will need it in the dunes today, I thought, not sure what he meant :).

Eentually they left and Ehab explained they just came to chat and ensure us with their help should we need anything. Really nice guys, but I am still checking my phone if the dreaded text message doesn't come. So far so good.

The dunes were huge and my overheating was a problem only initially. We had big fun trying to conquer some of them, but we didn't have to give up overcoming any of those we picked. The sand was super soft and the ridges were sharp as a blade. At one place I experinced something not seen before. I was approaching the crest. The ridge was slightly downwards and long enough, I had a good speed and was driving a meter parallel to the blade, but my steering did not get me closer even after turning the weel more and more to the side. Being afraid of sudden oversteering in that speed and what my short-wheel Jeep would do once the axle bites deep in the sand on the top, I aborted and had to do it from a different angle.

We had a lot of fun on this first advanced drive, thanks to amazing skills of @Mabubaker and @Daggerfall, so we were really grateful for the day. Thanks to David and Ehab for their great company. Hopefully I will see us in the area again soon!

FJ vs Jeep … that’s why you thought it was hot and I didn’t!!!


quote=Petr post_id=60046 time=1721570407 user_id=12084]
I agree with @David on everything except "it was not too hot". He must have swollowed a chunk of ice before the drive :D. I had 50 deg C on my car thermo and the oil temp needle travelled from center to high already on the highway, so I was afraid I may be a pain in the a** for the covoy with my overheating.

But first I have to tell you a story that happened before. At the petrol station I met a nice policeman buying an ice cream, we discussed which brand is better, we disagreed, bought different creams and then I left. When I was about to reach the meeting point, I spotted a police car in the mirror. I checked my speed and of course it was over the limit. I slowed down a bit, the car still behing me. I slowed more, below the speed limit and finally I was overtaken. While contemplating if they managed to send me a ticket, I arrived to the meeting point. The guys were already there and with them my police "friends". I stopped and came to join the group. They were talking Arabic with @Ehab so I had no clue what it is about. When I approached, the guy with the ice cream shone smiling and shouted ad me, "Hi Peter"! My friends looked at me suspiciously what connections I was able to develop on the way. Damned, said I to myself, we didn't introduce to each other at the gas station, so the only explanation is I was ticketed already and they scanned me while tailgating me.

But they looked very friendly. I brought a box of nuts and offered them. Thy accepted with big smiles. The ice cream guy asked what are they good for. I said they are hopefully good to prevent speed ticketing, but he was laughing and said it is good for man's power. I hope it is, I will need it in the dunes today, I thought, not sure what he meant :).

Eentually they left and Ehab explained they just came to chat and ensure us with their help should we need anything. Really nice guys, but I am still checking my phone if the dreaded text message doesn't come. So far so good.

The dunes were huge and my overheating was a problem only initially. We had big fun trying to conquer some of them, but we didn't have to give up overcoming any of those we picked. The sand was super soft and the ridges were sharp as a blade. At one place I experinced something not seen before. I was approaching the crest. The ridge was slightly downwards and long enough, I had a good speed and was driving a meter parallel to the blade, but my steering did not get me closer even after turning the weel more and more to the side. Being afraid of sudden oversteering in that speed and what my short-wheel Jeep would do once the axle bites deep in the sand on the top, I aborted and had to do it from a different angle.

We had a lot of fun on this first advanced drive, thanks to amazing skills of @Mabubaker and @Daggerfall, so we were really grateful for the day. Thanks to David and Ehab for their great company. Hopefully I will see us in the area again soon!
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Hi Almosters,

Big & sharp dunes, a small convoy, and sand with no tracks... perfect conditions for an adventure drive, except for the high temperature at the beginning of the trip. What more could we have asked for?

Our leader @Mabubaker guided us through parallel chains, visiting several beautiful play points with some challenging dunes due to the very soft sand. We had the opportunity to try, adjust, and try again until we made it Sometimes I thought there was a problem with the car, but it turned out most of us thought the same

It was a beautiful day with great company, and I'm looking forward to driving in this area more.

Thanks to @Mabubaker, @Ehab, @David, and @Petr for organizing, participating and supporting.

See you on the next adventure!

So we booked the entire Um Zummoul area for for our adventure. Testing the limits of ourselves and our cars.
Supported by @Daggerfall and with our advanced survivors @Ehab, @Petr and @David, the drive was like a mission to concur the mighty dunes of Um Zummoul targeting specific areas.
We've faced two unusual challenges, virgin and sharp dunes and extream heat. However, the convoy proved that nothing could stop it.
Looking forward to comeback to the area soon!
M Abubaker

Hi almosters
I remember few years back having a discussion with one of my fellow drivers and asking what next, that was after driving in the large bowls of Old Sweihan, i never imagined there are bigger dunes, sharper crests and larger bowls; well, this is my 7th time in Um Zamoul and the area does not ever disappoint.

I drove behind Abu Baker in the same area and pretty much same dunes, but that was intermediate level, yes Advanced level is different. We used to do single trick and then easy track, combo used to be multiple crests one after another, but in Advanced, combo is all together in less than 40 seconds, you blink you are done, bye bye.
You may do second tries at the beginning of the first climb, but once you are on the top, no chance, "drive it like you stole it" become a fact there and the only way to convince yourself to do that maneuver.

I pushed the FJ way too much before but never felt guilty, this time i really felt it, we pushed the cars beyond their limits, way beyond, very hot air, very soft sand, climbing massive dunes and then after the climb we push more to do multiple crests one after another.
It was a very nice drive and worth the long distance, cannot wait for the next one.

The video is another story, i had the idea to include drivers pictures for a while now. But was waiting for the right trip with nice material and small convoy, what is better than advanced drive, small convoy and perfect time with the sun giving us perfect shots.

Enjoy watching and see you soon