Cool Stars X
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King
- Newbie
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2024 7:34 pm
- Location: Sharjah
- Has thanked: 42 times
- Been thanked: 48 times
The lucky 8
Unlike latest newbie’s drive, this time it was limited to 8 spots only, and due to rush for registration, the system jammed with requests, but finally the lucky 8 got their spots, I was one of them.
50 degrees
The temperature hits 50 degrees, and the entry point to meeting location was a bit tricky due to roadworks. However, we came from different directions and experienced the maze of Tilal Swihan.
At meeting point we got trip breifing by the organizing marshal, the General @Barish , then aligned with the amazing man @brett as second lead with support of @ Msharhan and @Vika as sweeper and our super marshal @Rashidjass as a floater to keep his watchful eyes on us.
Need for Speed
The track was mix of small dues, arches, open terrain and ditches. We kept the speed, the distance and the flow as much as possible [60 km/h] but in a certain times we requested slowdown to catch up with the convoy.
Broken link
At the top of one small dune, I hit my car front into a ditch, dispite of the high metal sound, I continued. But, unfortunately at the end point we discovered that it was my link and axel were broken.
Technical enough ?
It was technical type of drive to allow you to understand how to deal with high technical terrain and self-recovery.
The track in total was 31 km, done successfully, and marshals brought us safely to end point before sunset.
Thanks everyone for such nice drive
Till next time
Unlike latest newbie’s drive, this time it was limited to 8 spots only, and due to rush for registration, the system jammed with requests, but finally the lucky 8 got their spots, I was one of them.
50 degrees
The temperature hits 50 degrees, and the entry point to meeting location was a bit tricky due to roadworks. However, we came from different directions and experienced the maze of Tilal Swihan.
At meeting point we got trip breifing by the organizing marshal, the General @Barish , then aligned with the amazing man @brett as second lead with support of @ Msharhan and @Vika as sweeper and our super marshal @Rashidjass as a floater to keep his watchful eyes on us.
Need for Speed
The track was mix of small dues, arches, open terrain and ditches. We kept the speed, the distance and the flow as much as possible [60 km/h] but in a certain times we requested slowdown to catch up with the convoy.
Broken link
At the top of one small dune, I hit my car front into a ditch, dispite of the high metal sound, I continued. But, unfortunately at the end point we discovered that it was my link and axel were broken.
Technical enough ?
It was technical type of drive to allow you to understand how to deal with high technical terrain and self-recovery.
The track in total was 31 km, done successfully, and marshals brought us safely to end point before sunset.
Thanks everyone for such nice drive
Till next time
Last edited by King on Sun Jul 13, 2025 7:43 pm, edited 3 times in total.
king Zoma
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Vika
- Intermediate
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2020 12:15 pm
- Has thanked: 309 times
- Been thanked: 274 times
Hello everyone!
Trip report - Cool Stars X
Organizer/Lead: @baris
Convoy Position: sweeper, the last car
Support Team: @Rashidjass, @brett ,@Msharhan
Trip Level: Newbie 10-
Total Cars: 13
Duration: 3.30 pm - 7 pm
Location: Al Faya to Tilal
We met at the designated meeting point and started the trip after a detailed briefing and radio check. The drive began smoothly, with everyone showing good discipline and coordination.
One of the key elements of this drive was the white, soft sand that dominated the terrain. This type of sand always presents an extra challenge — it’s harder to read the lines, and it often hides small dips and ditches. Drivers had to stay highly focused and adaptive throughout the route.
Despite the tricky terrain, the convoy maintained a steady pace. There were a few second tries and minor recoveries, but they were handled quickly with great teamwork and communication.
We ended the drive safely and on time before sunset. It was a day full of learning, adrenaline, and connection with nature.
Special Thanks To:
@baris for skillful leadership
@brett ,@Rashidjass ,@Msharhan for recovery and support
Everyone in the convoy for making the drive enjoyable and safe.
Trip report - Cool Stars X
Organizer/Lead: @baris
Convoy Position: sweeper, the last car
Support Team: @Rashidjass, @brett ,@Msharhan
Trip Level: Newbie 10-
Total Cars: 13
Duration: 3.30 pm - 7 pm
Location: Al Faya to Tilal
We met at the designated meeting point and started the trip after a detailed briefing and radio check. The drive began smoothly, with everyone showing good discipline and coordination.
One of the key elements of this drive was the white, soft sand that dominated the terrain. This type of sand always presents an extra challenge — it’s harder to read the lines, and it often hides small dips and ditches. Drivers had to stay highly focused and adaptive throughout the route.
Despite the tricky terrain, the convoy maintained a steady pace. There were a few second tries and minor recoveries, but they were handled quickly with great teamwork and communication.
We ended the drive safely and on time before sunset. It was a day full of learning, adrenaline, and connection with nature.
Special Thanks To:
@baris for skillful leadership
@brett ,@Rashidjass ,@Msharhan for recovery and support
Everyone in the convoy for making the drive enjoyable and safe.
"The most effective way to do it, is just to do it"
Good morning everyone.
The challenge stared when the lucky 8 were on the way to the meeting point. The weather was hot and the challenge started with the briefing and radio checks. All drivers started there engines and started following the Marshal instructions, we had couple of quick recoveries which were quickly tackled by the rescue and support team.
It was a pleasure driving with a very skillful marshals and support. A good learning experience.
Thank you all. See you next time.
The challenge stared when the lucky 8 were on the way to the meeting point. The weather was hot and the challenge started with the briefing and radio checks. All drivers started there engines and started following the Marshal instructions, we had couple of quick recoveries which were quickly tackled by the rescue and support team.
It was a pleasure driving with a very skillful marshals and support. A good learning experience.
Thank you all. See you next time.
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brett
- Crew
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:08 am
- Location: Dubai
- Has thanked: 1720 times
- Been thanked: 1016 times
Cool Stars 10
Dear Almosters,
This was to be a unique drive ! lets start at the beginning. I put the meeting location in both Waze and Google Maps, on both systems the route was showing 150km from Jebel Ali ! via E11 to Abu Dhabi then across to E22 ! so it was a rather long drive to the meeting point – adding to the trip both systems decided to send me in circles on the gatch roads leading to the correct location. In the end I ditched the phone apps and followed the coordinates on my trusty Garmin Device !!
I arrived at the meeting point and was soon joined by @KingQ , slowly but surely the other drivers arrived – having encountered similar problems finding the correct location. So the learning had started with a course in correct navigation even before the drive started.
Once all arrived and were prepared The General @Barish conducted the briefing and assigned the convoy positions with my now familiar position as 2nd Lead, @Msharhan mid convoy for recoveries and @Vika as sweeper. We had The Goat @Rashidjass as floating marshal to keep a watchful eye on the convoy with @AZK89 as copilot
At the beginning of the drive the eager 10- Newbies were excited and calling themselves the Lucky 8 as the number of drivers was restricted (due to limited support) the irony being once you added up the lead marshal and support the total convoy number was 13 !!! would it be a lucky number ?
So off we went into the Talil area which is very familiar as the location of GNFD. But memories of wide open areas with medium sized dunes and pristine sand were but a memory. On this drive we found many bushes and flat light making it hard to read the track. Bushes are ok although the do make for a bumpy ride. But on this drive we also encountered some very short steep drops and so many ditches I lost count. The rough terrain claimed its first victim with our mid convoy support @Msharhan breaking a suspension linkage and having to retire midway thru. Now we are 12 ! we managed to reach the end point near the cut off time of 7pm – but not without a number of stucks and recoveries along the way, with the soft sand, little climbs and those nasty ditches taking a further toll on the drivers and their cars. @King also discovering a broken linkage at the end of the drive.
I was not spared either, with my steering taking a knock and causing a major issue with my wheel alignment, I had to fight the steering wheel all the way home to keep the car straight.
So personally I really enjoyed the drive, no high arches or dune crosses etc, but fast paced, bumpy and trying to read the terrain – following that nimble Jeep of The General is no easy task ! it seems to turn and manoeuvre in ways that are impossible to follow in the clumsy, heavy FJ – or is it the driver ?
I am sure all the drivers learnt a lot on this drive and there will be many stories to be told of the adventure as seen through their own perspective.
Well done to all who took part @King @KingQ @Med @Haidy79 @Ahmedalabassi @Minhaj @nomi4x4 @tomrutkowski
Thanks to @Vika and @Msharhan @AZK89 for the support
And of course a big thank you to our Marshals without whom the drives cannot happen @Barish & @Rashidjass
So are they the lucky 8 ? or was it 13 unlucky for some ?
Dear Almosters,
This was to be a unique drive ! lets start at the beginning. I put the meeting location in both Waze and Google Maps, on both systems the route was showing 150km from Jebel Ali ! via E11 to Abu Dhabi then across to E22 ! so it was a rather long drive to the meeting point – adding to the trip both systems decided to send me in circles on the gatch roads leading to the correct location. In the end I ditched the phone apps and followed the coordinates on my trusty Garmin Device !!
I arrived at the meeting point and was soon joined by @KingQ , slowly but surely the other drivers arrived – having encountered similar problems finding the correct location. So the learning had started with a course in correct navigation even before the drive started.
Once all arrived and were prepared The General @Barish conducted the briefing and assigned the convoy positions with my now familiar position as 2nd Lead, @Msharhan mid convoy for recoveries and @Vika as sweeper. We had The Goat @Rashidjass as floating marshal to keep a watchful eye on the convoy with @AZK89 as copilot
At the beginning of the drive the eager 10- Newbies were excited and calling themselves the Lucky 8 as the number of drivers was restricted (due to limited support) the irony being once you added up the lead marshal and support the total convoy number was 13 !!! would it be a lucky number ?
So off we went into the Talil area which is very familiar as the location of GNFD. But memories of wide open areas with medium sized dunes and pristine sand were but a memory. On this drive we found many bushes and flat light making it hard to read the track. Bushes are ok although the do make for a bumpy ride. But on this drive we also encountered some very short steep drops and so many ditches I lost count. The rough terrain claimed its first victim with our mid convoy support @Msharhan breaking a suspension linkage and having to retire midway thru. Now we are 12 ! we managed to reach the end point near the cut off time of 7pm – but not without a number of stucks and recoveries along the way, with the soft sand, little climbs and those nasty ditches taking a further toll on the drivers and their cars. @King also discovering a broken linkage at the end of the drive.
I was not spared either, with my steering taking a knock and causing a major issue with my wheel alignment, I had to fight the steering wheel all the way home to keep the car straight.
So personally I really enjoyed the drive, no high arches or dune crosses etc, but fast paced, bumpy and trying to read the terrain – following that nimble Jeep of The General is no easy task ! it seems to turn and manoeuvre in ways that are impossible to follow in the clumsy, heavy FJ – or is it the driver ?
I am sure all the drivers learnt a lot on this drive and there will be many stories to be told of the adventure as seen through their own perspective.
Well done to all who took part @King @KingQ @Med @Haidy79 @Ahmedalabassi @Minhaj @nomi4x4 @tomrutkowski
Thanks to @Vika and @Msharhan @AZK89 for the support
And of course a big thank you to our Marshals without whom the drives cannot happen @Barish & @Rashidjass
So are they the lucky 8 ? or was it 13 unlucky for some ?
Until the next Adventure
Brett
Red Baron
Brett
Red Baron
-
Minhaj
- Newbie
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2025 10:56 pm
- Has thanked: 14 times
- Been thanked: 21 times
The drive on 12th July kicked off at 3:30 PM, right in the middle of the heat—temperatures were touching 50°C. Getting in was a bit tricky because of some construction near the entry point, and by the time I reached, my car already looked like it had finished the drive!
This one felt different from the usual drives. It was fast, technical, and the soft sand was covering up a lot of hidden bumps. I had to stay super focused, constantly reading the texture of the sand and watching for sudden dips. At one point, the skid plate took a pretty hard hit, and I started hearing a rubbing noise from the front right bottom.
Huge thanks to Barish, Brett, Rashidjass, Vika, and Msharhan for putting the trip together and keeping us all safe out there. Really appreciate the effort
This one felt different from the usual drives. It was fast, technical, and the soft sand was covering up a lot of hidden bumps. I had to stay super focused, constantly reading the texture of the sand and watching for sudden dips. At one point, the skid plate took a pretty hard hit, and I started hearing a rubbing noise from the front right bottom.
Huge thanks to Barish, Brett, Rashidjass, Vika, and Msharhan for putting the trip together and keeping us all safe out there. Really appreciate the effort
