Cool Stars 06/08/20
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:02 pm
Dear Almosters,
Cool Stars Drive 6/8/2021
Well it certainly was a “cool” drive ~ even if the temperature was hitting 45C at the meeting point.
As always I arrived early to ‘hit’ the GPS point spot on !
The first ‘stuck’ of the day happened as a hapless driver managed to get stuck on a 2 foot mound of sand before deflating. @Tomvanhouten managed to quickly free him with a pull on the recovery rope. No names mentioned
A quick briefing by @Barish – convoy positions advised. And off we went. Was to be a short 15 -20km drive with some technical stuff for the convoy – made up of drivers with varying drive counts from 1 to 10- with the pace to be decided based on the flow of the convoy.
I would like to thank the organizer @Barish for putting the drive together. We should remember and be very thankful of the work and effort the marshals put in to give us the learning experiences week after week.
Thanks also to the support crew today of whom there were many. @alshamsi_m @Rashidjass @optimus @Arminjune @Tomvanhouten @Gabor
The drive certainly tested the developing skills of the newbies. With several second tries, one driver had the misfortune of several pop outs. And very unfortunately one driver severed a brake line and had to be escorted out by @alshamsi_m
The sand was HOT and very soft – will we ever get some rain ? Ok these are excuses that we all use to “cover” our – whoops when they happen. On 2 occasions today I had to have 2nd tries. Once early on in the drive on a very straight forward climb/cross. Towards the end of the drive in a tricky little technical area – small climb – drop – steep climb. I managed to get crested on top and put on quite a good sand shower show before, – under the guidance of @optimus I managed to self recover reverse out and complete the climb. Now before you all ask why a Newbie with 20+ drives is getting stuck on a relatively easy drive ? It was “staged” strictly for promotion on social media
One 10- Pajero driver may have been seeking fame and fortune of a different kind when He set off up the dune – mistaking the tracks of Cresting King - @Rashidjass as the correct track. We all watched in disbelief and held our breath as he climbed straight up, crested and dropped over the other side. He was safe this time ! But it was nail bitting for those of us watching.
My takeaways :-
Radio communication is the key
Keep the right pace, following distance is important
Pay attention and follow the right track
Gravity is not to be forgotten.
We ended the drive sitting chatting and watching another beautiful sunset with the sight of a lone Oryx standing atop of a dune. A wonderful site only possible with ALMOST4X4 family and the deserts of the UAE.
We also held a very special ceremony where on behalf of ALMOST4X4 Crew @Arminjune was presented with a new flag. His old one will be preseved in the ALMOST4X4 museum as the most tattered flag in existence.
Cool Stars Drive 6/8/2021
Well it certainly was a “cool” drive ~ even if the temperature was hitting 45C at the meeting point.
As always I arrived early to ‘hit’ the GPS point spot on !
The first ‘stuck’ of the day happened as a hapless driver managed to get stuck on a 2 foot mound of sand before deflating. @Tomvanhouten managed to quickly free him with a pull on the recovery rope. No names mentioned
A quick briefing by @Barish – convoy positions advised. And off we went. Was to be a short 15 -20km drive with some technical stuff for the convoy – made up of drivers with varying drive counts from 1 to 10- with the pace to be decided based on the flow of the convoy.
I would like to thank the organizer @Barish for putting the drive together. We should remember and be very thankful of the work and effort the marshals put in to give us the learning experiences week after week.
Thanks also to the support crew today of whom there were many. @alshamsi_m @Rashidjass @optimus @Arminjune @Tomvanhouten @Gabor
The drive certainly tested the developing skills of the newbies. With several second tries, one driver had the misfortune of several pop outs. And very unfortunately one driver severed a brake line and had to be escorted out by @alshamsi_m
The sand was HOT and very soft – will we ever get some rain ? Ok these are excuses that we all use to “cover” our – whoops when they happen. On 2 occasions today I had to have 2nd tries. Once early on in the drive on a very straight forward climb/cross. Towards the end of the drive in a tricky little technical area – small climb – drop – steep climb. I managed to get crested on top and put on quite a good sand shower show before, – under the guidance of @optimus I managed to self recover reverse out and complete the climb. Now before you all ask why a Newbie with 20+ drives is getting stuck on a relatively easy drive ? It was “staged” strictly for promotion on social media
One 10- Pajero driver may have been seeking fame and fortune of a different kind when He set off up the dune – mistaking the tracks of Cresting King - @Rashidjass as the correct track. We all watched in disbelief and held our breath as he climbed straight up, crested and dropped over the other side. He was safe this time ! But it was nail bitting for those of us watching.
My takeaways :-
Radio communication is the key
Keep the right pace, following distance is important
Pay attention and follow the right track
Gravity is not to be forgotten.
We ended the drive sitting chatting and watching another beautiful sunset with the sight of a lone Oryx standing atop of a dune. A wonderful site only possible with ALMOST4X4 family and the deserts of the UAE.
We also held a very special ceremony where on behalf of ALMOST4X4 Crew @Arminjune was presented with a new flag. His old one will be preseved in the ALMOST4X4 museum as the most tattered flag in existence.