Black Magic

[David]

Interm drive lead by Rashid and supported by Scorpio that was scheduled to start from the “normal” Al Ain airport starting point.

I reached there first ready for my nap after the morning drive + mandi, to my surprise new fences everywhere, preventing access to the desert from anywhere near the airport, I called Rashid to inform him and alternative plans had to be made.

It took us some time to reach the planned area, now entering and reaching there it has become very difficult, I personally think it is easier to do a round-trip from the “Old Lady” road when wanting to drive in this area.

Very nice drive with good pace and flow once we have managed to start, Rashid did a very good job even though I was surprised to see so many tracks in the dunes, not even the new fence has made a difference!!!

Thank you Rashid and Scorpio for the drive, and of course everyone else who attended and made it possible.

See you on the sand soon!!!

[Paddy]

Black Magic

This drive appeared on the app like a spell cast from nowhere—“Black Magic” indeed! Without wasting a second, I set my alarm for registration like my life depended on it.

The day finally came, and I arrived at the meeting point with @Ely . That’s when we spotted @Rashidjass on the opposite side of the road. He gave us a wave—one of those “follow me” gestures that says, “Adventure awaits!”

At first, it was a bit puzzling. Why were we driving away from the airport? But as with all things magical, clarity came with time. We parked, waited for everyone to join, and then watched as @Rashidjass and @Scorpio huddled together in what looked like some secret tactical discussion. Moments later, we were off on a mission to find an alternate route into the area our Marshals had planned for us.

It took a little time, but when we finally reached the zone, the beast was unleashed! The dunes were calling, and so were the surprises—hidden ditches on the crests, just waiting to catch someone off guard. But nothing, and I mean nothing, could stop us from conquering them. Big thanks to our Marshals @Rashidjass and @Scorpio for leading the charge like absolute pros.

This drive was different—it was the most peaceful one I’ve ever experienced with the club. The radio was so quiet, it felt like we weren’t even on the same channel. But that silence spoke volumes. It showed just how well our Marshals know each member, carefully selecting a track that perfectly matched everyone’s skills. And wow, have we all grown! Following their tracks felt natural, like we were all part of a well-rehearsed symphony of sand and speed.

The terrain offered a bit of everything: high dunes, low ones, medium-sized rollers, and those sneaky crest ditches. Despite the initial hiccup with the fences blocking our usual starting point, @Rashidjass turned it into nothing but a distant memory. The flow of the drive was smooth, exhilarating, and downright magical.

Thank you to everyone who made this drive unforgettable—especially to our Marshals for weaving their Black Magic on the sands once again.

See you all on sand soon.

[orlantsev]

Hello,

It was indeed a pleasant surprise and the location. I have not driven in Al Ain airport in a long time.

I was joined by a passenger who frequently goes desert camping, but never has done proper drive.

Getting to the meeting point required some minor road traffic violations and drive on closed roads. I did not see the message, so I proceeded to deflate one tire before I was told not to.

We then drove around the village (felt like property scouting trip) before suitable entry point was identified. We quickly deflated and finished the briefing once already inside the dunes. It took a bit of time to get to the intended starting point through the technical area.

Once we reached bigger dunes the fun started. It felt like an easy drive even it was not. There were no stucks, pop-outs or any major interruptions and radio was mostly silent, which is a good indicator of drivers’ performance.

We finished just before sunset. My passenger was happy, he said he always felt safe and was generally impressed with how organized and orderly the drive was. However, I am not sure if he joins the CM drive eventually after I have told him that I mostly spend weekends in Mussafah if I am not driving

Wishing you all a happy new year and great celebration for those who celebrate.

[galindakis]

Hello fellow off-roaders,

After a delicious Mandi, we kicked off an exciting afternoon drive at Al Ain Airport—a special one as it was my dad's second drive of the day! Getting through the gate was a bit of a challenge, but once we were in, the real fun began.

The drive was like a dance across the dunes, with barely any crest left untouched. The convoy flowed smoothly, and while a couple of second tries were reported, there were no major issues.

It was an absolute joy to share this experience with my dad and the group. Drives like these remind me why we love the dunes.

Thanks to @Rashidjass for the track and thanks to @Scorpio and the advance for the support.

Best regards,

[Ely]

Dear almosters,

Black magic… a special name for a special drive ! Originally dedicated to -10 intermediate, our fellows of the 10+ ended up joining us for more fun !

The drive started unexpectedly with an impromptu discovery… our meeting point was compromised ! Fortunately as I arrived with @paddi , we had the chance to meet @Rashidjass before getting lost, and we met Tabu on the way. We finally managed to gather and enter from a different area.
As we enter we came across an area that was strangely similar to Badayer and we hit a technical area. And there we reach… a new playground : untouched with some very interesting dunes ! And a lot of ditches… a few trees here and there. You could even find shrubs on top of crests!!!! New fresh crests were actually quite challenging to break and even me being at third position in the convoy could feel it so I wonder how our leader was managing to get the best out of it… probably because he is a goat (AKA Rashid).

First part of the drive I was actually still sleeping… and I could have done far better, my car control was pretty average, let’s simply say that I had known better days . However the second part was better. I was finally driving back like some kind of girl.

One of the best highlights of this drive for me was the peacefulness… no unnecessary radio communication, it was pretty much quiet and instructions when given were concise and clear. There was no room left for confusion.
As well the company was great it was nice to see some heads that we don’t get to see often!

Finally I would like to thank our marshals for organizing, supporting and saving the day by finding new ways @Rashidjass @Scorpio , our advance team for their unconditional support @David and @orlantsev .

And to all my fellow intermediate for the great time together!

See you all soon in the dunes,
Bisous