Catch Me if You Can

[caprihorse]

[TABLE="width: 900, align: left"]
[TR]
[TD]Statistics

Summary
Distance: 30.3 km
Area: 33.2 sq km

Time
Elapsed Time: 3:20:04
Moving Time: 1:29:34
Stopped Time: 1:50:30

Speed
Avg: 9 km/h
Avg Moving: 20 km/h
Max: 86 km/h

Elevation
Min: 139 m
Max: 296 m
Ascent: 869 m
Descent: 879 m
[/TD]
[TD][IMG]http://www.drivingindubai.com/various/track21.jpg[/IMG]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[Nbaker]

O well well..where should I start..ok, here we go.
So I wake up on time, try to wake my trusty navigator, but she needed servicing and couldn't escort me on the trip.
Got all the gear ready, fulled up, got my body fuel(food) and drove on Khail road and following the wise Garmin machine.
The sky looked beautiful so I took out my camera and started taking photos, didn't pay attention to the road and ended up missing a turn. The wise Garmin re-calculates a new route and shows me a "shortcut". That shortcut made me waste a good 25 mins as it made me pass through a small town with lots of bumps and eventually ended up in front of a military training camp of some sort so I had to drive around it in the desert. FINALLY I found an exit back to the main road and floored it. Thankfully managed to reach the meeting point, deflated and was ready to go.

The big chief decided to have us rotate: basically each car gets a turn to be the second lead for a while, and the buddy system. Knajia was the first on the ride, Abu Jimmy was sweeping, Yogy was free driving, and off we went. We all headed towards a huge dune were we went sideways, and everyone was slipping as if they're skiing on the Alps :011:.
Later we went on top of a large dune as well, I reach the top, hard part seemed to be over, smooth ground, beautiful scenery, then I come across a very tiny dune, barely a meter high...and history took place..my first ever popout! :hopelessness: thanks to Knajia's swift help, Capri and Yogy's supervision we were able to get back in the game within 10 mins.
We go on running all over the place, then Toby says he got a popout as well. We all go check it out, and unfortunately the tire got cut like a butcher gutting a big fat cow! his trusty buddy Dastoori comes to the rescue and helped him replace the old tire and we are off again.
I got lost for a tiny bit, way too many tracks all over the place. Then we reach Dave's dune or drop(can't remember lol)..an awesome experience! will not forget that place for sure!
We continue our adventure and just about 1 kilometer away from the road we hear Yoghy saying on the radio he had a popout. Unfortunately his rim was damaged somehow but off course Capri and Abu Jimmy were there to help him out.
And that was the end of the trip.

Very glad that we didn't have major issues, no stucks, just a couple of self recoveries and 3 popouts.

Another adventure not to be forgotten. Thank you dearest Marshals Capri, Abu Jimmy and off course Yoghy.

[yasir]

Challenging drive, lot of learning as it was though for Newbe level. It was my first opportunity to drive behind Capri as second lead and it was wonderful experience to drive behind our most experienced Marshal, I captured the video and will post shortly.

[Toby]

Very nice route. Good day with the almost family.

and major lesson learned. 10 inch rims without spacers do not work on my car.

Under deflation & load the tire and the steering rack had a bonding moment....the tire was completely shredded.

spacers or back to 8inch rims is my question for the week?? hmm

but overall a lovely day. Thanks marshals & thanks to everyone who helped out with the butchered tire. :)

[Yoghybear]

well, today was my come back after more than 3 months without desert :059:
I was happy and confident....even if I just took the car yesterday evening from the workshop....only for this trip.....after tomorrow Tornado will go back again in order to finalize the works and be ready :028:
With my trusty co-pilot (Zorro) we reach the meeting point on time, every body was already there :032: ...to be honest I could not believe it :060: ...after the greetings with the fellows Almosters, Abu Jimmy and Capri arrived and it was really a big pleasure to met them again after so long time!!!
After a short chit chat we deflated, did the briefing and prepare the convoy.
Capri was leading and Abu Jimmy designed as sweeper.
Since I was driving for the first time Tornado completely modified, I was free to be on the back, behind Abu Jimmy and free to drive around :008:
Even if my last trip was middle of November, it seems to me that my last desert drive was .... yesterday....I had an excellent feeling since the beginning and in a while I got in confidence with Tornado.
The trip was nice and smooth, everybody did well, one pop-out and one tire completely destroied....sorry Toby for what happened to you, but probably it was not a truck day.....in fact, just before reaching 2nd December my front right rim gave up, thanks to Abu Jimmy, Capri and Zorro, the wheel was removed and temporarely fixed, after that with Bro Abu Jimmy we went to Nazwa and with a big hammer the rim was .... fixed :011: ready to go back home....on the way we met Bu Salem, Roby, Armin, Geni,.... and with Bu Salem and Roby we had also a radio chit chat :033:
Thanks to Almost4x4, thanks to Capri and Abu Jimmy, thanks to all of you guys.
Happy to be back, get ready guys..... :060:

[yasir]

[video=youtube_share;niqtuARqTmU][/video]

[Abu Jimmy]

Catch me "if you can " , a branded trip for almost4x4 , designed and performed by the " Legendary Capri " and applied over "Capri Land " . its the dream drive for every newbie driver as it gives them the taste of the the intermediate level . our 8 chosen candidates arrived on time , briefed and hit the sand in no time . the sand was firm which made it easy to climb but easy to have a pop out as well . all the drivers did very well with no serious issues at all ( one pop out , one shredded Tyre and no stuck ) . due to the good performance of the drivers we were able to do a good distance of around 30 km in 3 hours .

Thanks to all participants for a very well done job of discipline , following instructions and great driving .
Special thanks to Capri and Yoghy for their help and support .

[yasir]

Driving behind Capri.
[video=youtube_share;17ry8bABi_Q][/video]

[CAMEL]

There were so many registrations for Catch Me If You Can....But this drive is basically designed for Newbee++ and is for a specific purpose....Again, as always the Marshals were very accommodative and invited many of the registered drivers to another meeting point.

We all met on time and after some chit chat...Bu Salim arrived and started the briefing We were divided into two convoys, one for the newbees and one for the Intermediates and Advanced. The Advanced drivers were given the task of leading and sweeping the convoy and recovery was by buddy system, but fortunately the drive was smooth with out many stucks. Thank you All the advanced drivers and fellow almosters for another wonderful drive!!!

[nasirdub]

To add my big tank you to Bu Salem and the Advanced Drivers who took turns to lead us through a challenging and generally safe route.

We appear to have few incidents and special thank you to Nancy and Sarook for taking extra care with a slightly sick passenger

The Barbeque organised by Fida and Aemi was amazing, generous and well worth the wait, especially the fresh "Jalaibee"

Thanks guys for another great weekend :)