A new beginning - Club Members Drive

[David]

CM drive in Sweihan organised by Carlos and with the support of Dobinsons as sponsor providing a fantastic dinner and event for the attending members after the drive.

First of all many thanks to Carlos and all of the Crew Team that assisted if putting the event/drive together.

Well attended CM drive also well support with Marshalls showing their commitment with great attendance.

Drivers were divided in 4 convoys, 3 more the new CM members and the 4th with newbie drivers.

I was assigned as support to the 3rd CM convoy with Carlos leading and Barish also assisting with the support.

In general terms the convoy did well, the normal expected issues with adaptation to the new driving conditions but all very normal. Just to mention one very important rule, you must always follow the track of the car in front of you, please never deviate from it as you might end up putting at risk the cars behind you.

If not done yet please complete the recovery tools inspection process so you can take part in next Saturday's drive and start your "Almost 4x4 journey", trust me, it is worth it, you will develop new skills, get to know the amazing UAE desert in all of its forms and making great friends in the process.

See you on the sand soon.

[CARLOSS]

Dear everyone,

First of all, many thanks to our New Members who bravely joined last Saturday drive and had, most of them, their first experience in off-road driving . We hope that you had fun and learned something new and it was our pleasure welcoming & meeting you and to starting our journey together.

CM drives are always special in many ways, difficult to describe in a few words. For us, old members, is very exiting to meet new noes and somehow it reminds us of the way we all got started a few / many years ago. For some of you, those continuing with us, this first drive will get inked into your memory and every time you join futures CMs as part of the support time this nice memory will come back to you.

I had the honour of organizing this drive so thanks a lot to our Founders and Marshals for trusting me and my appreciation to my two Explorers brothers @David and @Ehab for helping me out on the scouting, event organization and most importantly, on the chicken mandi’s belly support . Big applause to our Crew team in this occasion led by @Moustafa who did a great job managing the site, parking, helping new members on deflating and general arrangements. I recall @brett , @AhmadHasan, Ahmed.2 and @King working hard and sorry if I missed somebody.

We did as originally planned, with only 1 hour delay (LOL), but still we managed to proceed with the formal welcome message delivered by our most beloved member and Founder @alshamsi_m , off-road basic training, attendance, convoy distribution and so on.

We run 3 CM convoys with some guests from Dobinsons (our sponsor) plus 1 Newbie convoy, starting from Sweihan big farm, reaching Nagra and coming back. At least, this was the tentative planning. I did not do the maths yest, but I would say that 70+ drivers entertained the drives.
I led CM convoy No.3 with both David and General @Barish supporting the convoy, @Vika second lead, @nidal78 sweeper and both @Msharhan and @Paddy in the middle. @Scorpio, @Mabubaker and @presa led the remaining ones.

In our convoy, we had in the menu the expected mix of second tries and stucks while doing safari style with climbs, drops and small arches. Decent number of them I would say, and we completed our track reaching Nagra’s Mall (special thanks for David and Barish for keeping the convoy safe in crazy this area…never seen that before) and came back to the gathering just after the sunset but still enough day light. Around 27km covered, with more than 65% moving time it is more than ok for a CM meaning that the convoy performed quite well, congrats!

After that, we checked the new members’ recovery tools and we all enjoy the magnificent event organized by Dobinsons with BBQ, prizes and so on. Great job guys!

That’s was all, see you next time and take care of yourselves.
Carlos (CARLOSS)

[Minhaj]

Hello Guys ,

The “A New Beginning” drive brought together many new and existing members for an exciting day of off-roading. I got there around 2 PM and was immediately impressed by the number of cars and people. On arrival, I also noticed lots of banners from Almost and Dobinsons, which made the event feel really organized and lively.

Carlo gave the briefing, going over everything new drivers needed to know. For me, it was also a nice refresher. With such a big turnout, the group was split into four groups, and I was part of the fourth group, led by @Scorpio with @Rashidjass and @optimus supporting. For the first time, I got to follow the marshal, which gave me a new perspective on the drive.

The drive started with some technical sections that had a lot of straight crests. The sand was very soft, so I kept sliding, but somehow managed to stay behind the lead car. We couldn’t try the bigger dunes because it was crowded, and at one point, a random car joined our convoy and drove alongside us.

We made our way to Nagra Dune, which looked like a mini Liwa and was packed with cars trying to climb. After watching for a while, we moved on and eventually reached the exit point. The exit felt more like a live off-roading event. There was a Dobinsons stall where everyone gathered to catch up and chat, a durability track where members were testing their vehicles one by one, and a BBQ being prepared on the other side. The food was amazing, and the event had a lucky draw where many members won Dobinsons off-road goodies. For those who didn’t win, Dobinsons handed out T-shirts, which was a thoughtful gesture.

Overall, it was a fantastic day, great event with amazing company ,though the track was extremely crowded with so many cars .

Big thanks to @alshamsi_m and @CARLOSS for organizing the event,all the other marshals and rescue team for watching us and keeping us safe, and big thanks to Dobilsons for sponsoring the event

For new members, this is truly a great club to be part of. It’s a friendly and supportive community where you can learn, improve your driving skills, and have a lot of fun along the way.

[Uroo]

Hi Almosters,

It was a fantastic event and CM drive — I truly enjoyed it.

A small pity is that Wendell and I were assisting a friend whose car broke down in the desert, so we arrived a bit late and missed the beginning of the briefing.

On our way to the meeting point, we were driving at a fast pace. As we got closer and slowed down, the sand and dust gradually settled… and suddenly I could see so many cars parked at the venue, with the Dobinsons flags waving proudly. I remember telling Wendell on the radio:
“So many cars bro… I’ve never seen such a big club drive in the desert!”

As soon as we arrived, one of the crew approached us with a warm welcome and clear guidance. Everything was incredibly well organised — we were genuinely impressed.

Marshal Carlos delivered a very detailed and comprehensive briefing and training, which set the tone for a safe and enjoyable drive.

I joined Convoy 3 and got my birthday number 317. Carlos led us on an amazing drive — I would describe it as a basic but technical trip, which is exactly the kind of drive that builds strong fundamentals in desert driving.

I was truly amazed by the skill of the marshals and sweepers. They drove so smoothly and confidently, making it look effortless. The sweepers always positioned themselves in the best spots to monitor the convoy closely and ensure everyone stayed safe.

Some members needed a second attempt in certain areas, which is completely normal, and the marshals and support team guided everyone patiently, making sure we all overcame the challenges and continued together as one convoy.

Before exiting, we witnessed an unforgettable scene: countless cars lined up near Nagra dune, truly reflecting the spirit and energy of desert off-roading. It was honestly shocking (in the best way).

Unfortunately, we had to head back to support our friend, so we missed the BBQ. But after this experience, it only confirmed our decision — Almost4x4 will definitely be our primary club, and we know we’ll have many more opportunities to enjoy great drives and fun moments with fellow Almosters.

I still remember that in November last year, when I was searching for clubs to join, Almost4x4 was consistently recommended everywhere — by search engines, by people, and even by AI tools. After waiting almost two months, I finally understand why. The wait was absolutely worth it.

I’m excited for next Saturday’s drive, and I’m also looking forward to completing 10+ drives so I can qualify and join the Salalah adventure in August.

Thank you all, Founders, Marshals, Sweepers, Dobinsons members.

See you all soon on the sand!

[Vika]

Club Member Drive — A New Beginning truly lived up to its name.

This event was something completely different. The level of organization, the scale, the atmosphere, and the overall energy made it a truly special drive and set a new benchmark for our club.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who was involved in the preparation and execution of this event. A very special thank you goes to the Media Team, who did an outstanding job. Thanks to your hard work, we saw many new drivers and new club members join us, including families who came not only for the drive, but for the incredible atmosphere and sense of community.

My deepest gratitude goes to the founder of the club for creating and developing this platform and for giving us the opportunity to be part of something so meaningful.

I would also like to thank our sponsors Dobinsons Spring and Suspension for supporting the scale and quality of this event.

A big thank you to the event organizer Carlos, and to all our club marshals for their professionalism, support, and guidance of both intermediate and advanced drivers throughout the drive.

And of course, I would like to warmly welcome and thank all the new members who joined us. I truly hope you will stay with us and continue to take part in future drives.

This is only the beginning.

There is so much more ahead — bigger events, more fun, more adrenaline, laughter, unforgettable memories, and quality time spent among professional drivers and genuinely great people.

See you on the next drive.
Viktoriia

[cookie]

Hello Everyone!

Yesterday marked my first time behind the wheel in the sand. I entered the trip with some reservations, as I typically prefer to stay at home over the weekend.
I’ve never been a fan of the "desert rollercoaster" vibe, so the thought of driving over dunes for the first time was pretty intimidating. However, I’m so glad I pushed past the hesitation.

On the way to Sweihan, I saw 2 FJs with an Almost 4x4 sticker. I got excited. We were convoying and I followed them until ADNOC to fuel up.

When I reached the meet-up point, there were Marshals assisting where to park and informed us to deflate. Good start!

The experience started on a high note with the pre-drive briefing. It was concise, professional, and incredibly helpful. @Carloss did a fantastic job of breaking things down without overcomplicating them, which definitely helped settle my nerves before we hit the dunes. One thing he said that stuck with me was "Don't fight gravity". I've never stepped on the brake going down the dune, I let gravity do the work.

I was part of convoy 1. Our lead was @Presa, second lead was Ahmed. In between the drive, received good words from Presa, Ahmed and his lovely daughter. This boosted my confidence. I've been telling them it was the car, but they assured me it was my skills. I'm driving an SWB Pajero. This car can go anywhere.

The drive wasn't without its "learning moments." I had a few setbacks and managed to get *stuck in the soft sand a couple of times. But the Marshals were right there to help. Special shoutout to Solmaz!

*according to @alshamsi_m I was not stuck and told me to just reverse

Overall, the Marshals were the real MVPs! Incredibly patient, professional, and helpful throughout the entire trip. I’m glad I didn't let my hesitation keep me at home. A huge thanks to the team for making my first desert drive a success!

Drive safely!

-

[Paddy]

A new beginning - Club Members Drive

CM drive is my favorite as it gives us a chance to welcome new members who are like minded and wish to start their offroading journey.

I was supporting @Carloss and was positioned in the middle of the convoy and its a tricky place to be as you need to keep an eye on cars in front along with the cars at the back.

To my surprise new members did really well and we saw a really nice flow throughout the drive other than some re tries and few stuck situations which needed recovery. At some points I had to remind our new members to follow the exact track as it may put drivers at the back at risk, all members took feedback positively.

A big thanks to @carloss for arranging the drive. See you all on sand soon.

~BR
Paddy

[King]

ALMOST 4x4
Not just for hardcore off-roaders—this club is PERFECT for desert & dune lovers who want to start their journey SAFELY, professionally, and FREE of cost

This was my second time being part of the Club Crew Team, helping with event organization—and what a day it was!
once reached at meeting point @Mostafa distributed the roles, I got the task for welcoming our guests and new commers and to guid them to assembly point to get their vehicles ready and to deflate their tires. our Baron @brett was managing the scene and helped new members to deflate along with @Mghoneim.
upon getting ready, members were moved to Parking zone with guidance of @ahmed77moharem and @AhmadHasan.
once time has come to start the event as per schedule, @CARLOSS strted the event and the Club Founder @alshamsi_m proceeded with welcoming our Guests and new Club Members and @CARLOSS provided extensive ordination followed by a solid dune-driving briefing.
Drive spans over 2 hours covering easy climbs and drops and straight cresting as well. All convoys did well and big smiles observed on faces.
Upon returning to the camping point, a party and BBQ were arranged, generously provided by our sponsors. It was a joyful time to catch up with old friends and get introduced to new ones—true family vibes with lots of love in the air.

[wendellfranco]

A new beginning - Club Members Drive

Wow that was an awesome day! First time for me to be driving in the desert from morning till evening (broken axles, pop-outs, Naqrah end to end on repeat) in between.

From seeing the cars lined up for the briefing to saying goodbyes to other club members, ALMOST4x4 hit different.

Everyone was so welcoming. The Marshals and support were impressive. Even with a little bit of experience already, i still learned a lot. Mostly on how the Marshals and support team managed the convoy. I keep on raving about it to my wife. And the support post-drive is nothing but exceptional. I can’t wait for the next gathering.

A big THANK YOU to everyone in the club. More power to you.

Almost4x4 rocks!!

[brett]

A New Beginning CM Drive
Dear Almosters
This CM drive was the first one arranged by our Explorer @CARLOSS and all credit to him for doing an amazing job organizing all the logistics to ensure it was a success.
Everything was meticulously planned out from parking locations, briefing area and convoy distribution and briefing.
It was also fantastic to see so many Newbies, intermediates, advanced and explorers turning up in support for the new Club Members to get their first taste of the Desert under the safe and welcoming spirit of Almost4x4 community, with the added benefit of sponsorship from Dobinson Suspension (more on that later)
@CARLOSS proceeded to give the theoretical presentation of the nuances of driving in the desert for the first time and the strict safety protocols adhered to by Almost4x4, this included an introduction of the club history and how the club functions to ensure safety is always at the forefront of all the club activities.
Once the briefing was completed the drivers were divided into the various convoys and underwent a convoy specific Briefing from their appointed Marshal – in my case I was positioned in the CM convoy to be led by our Marshal @Mabubaker . We had @Ehab as our sweeper to keep an eye on the convoy and direct intermediate support if recoveries or other situations as they arose. Support teams @mpodroid @Mghoneim and @Moustafa . I was positioned as 2nd Lead leaving me a fairly pleasant drive following @Mabubaker at a leisurely pace, while the other support team were busy assisting with recoveries and other situations.
During the drive the new members go a taste of some small drops and climbs in different types of terrain, the sand in some places was extremely soft and caught many of the drivers unaware and needing to have a second try at the obstacle, or being quickly recovered with the pull of the infamous Viking Rope to extract them from the grasp of the soft sand.
The area was rather technical for our first time drivers and we made slow progress, eventually we ran out of time and were unable to reach the Nagra Dune – this was however a blessing as the other convoys later told us it was chaos with hundreds of cars enjoying the big dune.
We arrived back at the meeting point where our sponsor #Dobinsons had set up an obstacle course for drivers to test their skill and their suspension. A BBQ dinner had been arranged and lots of fun activities with giveaways and prizes. From the smiles on the faces the new drivers had enjoyed their first experience with Almost4x4 and we look forward to them joining us to continue their journey with us.
Huge shoutout to all the Marshals, Explorers, Advanced and intermediates for your support @alshamsi_m @presa @Solmaz @Agalon @Scorpio @Rashidjass @optimus @David @Ehab @orlantsev
@Vika , @bobpavan @Aljamhi @ahmed77moharem @Mghoneim @Paddy @Rooies
And a special thanks to @Moustafa , Crew @AhmadHasan @Warrior78 and Media @nidal78 @mpodroid @Sidd @Sorin (welcome back) for setting up the venue and handling the logistics of the event, Special thanks to @King for helping with directing traffic and last but not least @AZK89 for supporting the event.