Come as you are
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Minhaj
- Newbie
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2025 10:56 pm
- Location: Abu Dhabi
- Has thanked: 141 times
- Been thanked: 205 times
Hello Guys
This was honestly one of my best drives so far.
@siddharthsai , @hidayathshaik , and I reached the starting point around 2 PM. The intermediate group had already finished their morning drive and looked pretty tired. Seeing that, I thought this would be a chill and easy drive.
But once everyone gathered and Presa started the briefing, I realized pretty quickly that this wasn’t going to be an easy one.
As soon as we started, it was straight into big dune climbs. In the first five minutes itself, I genuinely thought my car was going to break, but somehow it held up.
We were climbing some really tall dunes, doing switches, and driving through very soft sand. The car kept drifting, which made it a bit tricky but honestly a lot of fun.
At one point, Presa stopped us in front of two huge dunes and let the intermediate drivers have a go. We newbies were just standing there watching them in awe it was actually pretty motivating to see.
Overall, this drive felt like proper training for us. It was probably the first time we were attempting dunes of this size, and it turned out to be a great learning experience. I can honestly say my confidence has gone up after this drive.
Our convoy did really well too, with very few second tries needed. Also, big credit to the support team despite having a hectic morning drive, they were still fully active and supported us throughout.
Huge thanks to @presa for organizing such an amazing drive, and to @alshamsi_m , @Mabubaker @Rashidjass , @CARLOSS , @Ehab , and the entire support team for watching over us and guiding us the whole time.
Amazing route, great convoy, and everything went smoothly. Definitely one to remember.
Looking forward to more drives .
This was honestly one of my best drives so far.
@siddharthsai , @hidayathshaik , and I reached the starting point around 2 PM. The intermediate group had already finished their morning drive and looked pretty tired. Seeing that, I thought this would be a chill and easy drive.
But once everyone gathered and Presa started the briefing, I realized pretty quickly that this wasn’t going to be an easy one.
As soon as we started, it was straight into big dune climbs. In the first five minutes itself, I genuinely thought my car was going to break, but somehow it held up.
We were climbing some really tall dunes, doing switches, and driving through very soft sand. The car kept drifting, which made it a bit tricky but honestly a lot of fun.
At one point, Presa stopped us in front of two huge dunes and let the intermediate drivers have a go. We newbies were just standing there watching them in awe it was actually pretty motivating to see.
Overall, this drive felt like proper training for us. It was probably the first time we were attempting dunes of this size, and it turned out to be a great learning experience. I can honestly say my confidence has gone up after this drive.
Our convoy did really well too, with very few second tries needed. Also, big credit to the support team despite having a hectic morning drive, they were still fully active and supported us throughout.
Huge thanks to @presa for organizing such an amazing drive, and to @alshamsi_m , @Mabubaker @Rashidjass , @CARLOSS , @Ehab , and the entire support team for watching over us and guiding us the whole time.
Amazing route, great convoy, and everything went smoothly. Definitely one to remember.
Looking forward to more drives .
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siddharthsai
- media
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2024 10:58 am
- Has thanked: 74 times
- Been thanked: 187 times
This drive meant business. Nothing else was on the agenda. The moment we started, it was like putting the 10+ into fire. There was no time to ease up; it was do it now or leave the convoy.
The first minutes of the drive can hardly be put into words. Never before we did high climbs without a warm-up. @presa was clear from the start. This is 10+ level and he meant it. We did 2 switches in the first 5 mins and I'm sure everyone in the convoy including me was like "huh, this is our level?". Snowy was able to keep up a decent pace, and the drive was challenging but not unmanageable. It needed complete concentration. One of the cars in the convoy had an air intake issue and had to leave us. I did not even get down to check because I was too focused on the drive. I knew in the first 5 mins, this was something different for us. Plus I didn't carry any sunscreen as I came from AUH for this event.
As the drive progressed, we did so many dunes we never did before, bringing up the entire level of 10+. And everyone did well. No newbie mistakes from anyone as far as I know. I drove behind @Minhaj so I kept following his lines and kept the required distance. There was on area right behind Nagra that I had a refusal in a ditch, but tbh, that's on me trying to save the car from any damage. I could have floored it and I would have made it, but the drive isn't just about throwing your car everywhere. You need a car for future drives, and that's always on the back of my head when I drive. In the ditch, I slowed down to the max, trying to slowly push without damaging the front suspension, but I was in a ballerina pose and could not move. Switched the 4R to rear diff lock mode but still couldn't meaningfully come out.
A-Trac is literally magic, and I got a chance to try it for the first time in the 4R. That mode is insane. It's like you awaken a highly aggressive, electronic off-road tactician :D. Instantly, the ABS pump fired up, sounding like an angry jackhammer under my hood. Techanalogia. I was out of the ditch in no time. But just to reduce the stress on the engine, I reversed and then switched back to 4H and floored it to cross the dune. That was quite the experience and might come in handy next week for EIB.
We climbed Nagra twice on a newbie-friendly climb. Challenging and not so easy, but I was truly enjoying the lines.
The drive ended at 5:30 on time, and we headed back home.
Thank you all for making this drive happen.
Thank you @alshamsi_m for the Karak and Coffee. So damn well made every time.
Thanks to all intermediates and marshals for all the help.
Ciao :)
The first minutes of the drive can hardly be put into words. Never before we did high climbs without a warm-up. @presa was clear from the start. This is 10+ level and he meant it. We did 2 switches in the first 5 mins and I'm sure everyone in the convoy including me was like "huh, this is our level?". Snowy was able to keep up a decent pace, and the drive was challenging but not unmanageable. It needed complete concentration. One of the cars in the convoy had an air intake issue and had to leave us. I did not even get down to check because I was too focused on the drive. I knew in the first 5 mins, this was something different for us. Plus I didn't carry any sunscreen as I came from AUH for this event.
As the drive progressed, we did so many dunes we never did before, bringing up the entire level of 10+. And everyone did well. No newbie mistakes from anyone as far as I know. I drove behind @Minhaj so I kept following his lines and kept the required distance. There was on area right behind Nagra that I had a refusal in a ditch, but tbh, that's on me trying to save the car from any damage. I could have floored it and I would have made it, but the drive isn't just about throwing your car everywhere. You need a car for future drives, and that's always on the back of my head when I drive. In the ditch, I slowed down to the max, trying to slowly push without damaging the front suspension, but I was in a ballerina pose and could not move. Switched the 4R to rear diff lock mode but still couldn't meaningfully come out.
A-Trac is literally magic, and I got a chance to try it for the first time in the 4R. That mode is insane. It's like you awaken a highly aggressive, electronic off-road tactician :D. Instantly, the ABS pump fired up, sounding like an angry jackhammer under my hood. Techanalogia. I was out of the ditch in no time. But just to reduce the stress on the engine, I reversed and then switched back to 4H and floored it to cross the dune. That was quite the experience and might come in handy next week for EIB.
We climbed Nagra twice on a newbie-friendly climb. Challenging and not so easy, but I was truly enjoying the lines.
The drive ended at 5:30 on time, and we headed back home.
Thank you all for making this drive happen.
Thank you @alshamsi_m for the Karak and Coffee. So damn well made every time.
Thanks to all intermediates and marshals for all the help.
Ciao :)
This 10+ level drive took place in Swihan and was truly an amazing experience from start to finish. With Presa leading as marshal, the ratio of support to newbies was very high, which made the drive feel almost like a private session for us newcomers. I was in convoy position number five, with cars number four and six serving as intermediate support, and that gave me a great deal of confidence throughout the drive. For someone still relatively new, this setup made a big difference and helped me feel much more comfortable pushing myself and the car.
The drive started at a very high pace, with a lot of climbing during the first 15 minutes. That opening section immediately put everyone into the right mindset and tested us right from the beginning. It was a demanding start, but in a good way, because it forced all of us to focus, react quickly, and settle into the rhythm of the drive. From the first few minutes, it was clear that this would be both a serious and rewarding experience.
What stood out most was how much this drive tested our cars. For a large part of the drive, we were putting them under full power, especially on the climbs, which helped us better understand their capabilities and limits. For a newbie like myself, this was a new and valuable experience. After the first 10 to 15 minutes, the drive became more mixed, alternating between technical sections and safari-style driving. We had a total of three breaks, during which the intermediate drivers went off to play around while we watched. In the last 45 minutes, around the Nagra area, the drive became challenging again, with very long climbs, sharp turns, and some high drops that were both exciting and memorable.
I personally made two mistakes, both of which turned into great learning moments. The first was approaching a small climb at the wrong angle, when I should have adjusted my position properly on the crest. During the break, Carlos explained how my angle of approach had changed the whole outcome, and that was a very useful lesson. My second mistake happened on a straight crest after I got distracted by a phone call. I tend to lose focus when that happens, and on this kind of terrain, not carrying the right speed means getting stuck immediately. I had to be pulled out by one of the intermediate drivers, which was another reminder of how important concentration is during these drives. Overall, the experience was amazing: every drive pushes us to test new limits, learn more, and build confidence. The support was outstanding, the marshal’s lines were impressive, and as newbies, we really felt like we got VIP treatment.
The drive started at a very high pace, with a lot of climbing during the first 15 minutes. That opening section immediately put everyone into the right mindset and tested us right from the beginning. It was a demanding start, but in a good way, because it forced all of us to focus, react quickly, and settle into the rhythm of the drive. From the first few minutes, it was clear that this would be both a serious and rewarding experience.
What stood out most was how much this drive tested our cars. For a large part of the drive, we were putting them under full power, especially on the climbs, which helped us better understand their capabilities and limits. For a newbie like myself, this was a new and valuable experience. After the first 10 to 15 minutes, the drive became more mixed, alternating between technical sections and safari-style driving. We had a total of three breaks, during which the intermediate drivers went off to play around while we watched. In the last 45 minutes, around the Nagra area, the drive became challenging again, with very long climbs, sharp turns, and some high drops that were both exciting and memorable.
I personally made two mistakes, both of which turned into great learning moments. The first was approaching a small climb at the wrong angle, when I should have adjusted my position properly on the crest. During the break, Carlos explained how my angle of approach had changed the whole outcome, and that was a very useful lesson. My second mistake happened on a straight crest after I got distracted by a phone call. I tend to lose focus when that happens, and on this kind of terrain, not carrying the right speed means getting stuck immediately. I had to be pulled out by one of the intermediate drivers, which was another reminder of how important concentration is during these drives. Overall, the experience was amazing: every drive pushes us to test new limits, learn more, and build confidence. The support was outstanding, the marshal’s lines were impressive, and as newbies, we really felt like we got VIP treatment.
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CARLOSS
- Marshal
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:10 pm
- Location: Dubai
- Has thanked: 1066 times
- Been thanked: 1230 times
Hi everyone,
“Come as you are” was a beautiful drive perfectly organized and executed by@presa , with amazing support from many interm and marshals. It reminded me inter exam days…
10+ eager and experienced Newbies did well with minor second tries and stucks. From my position I could see a few “fighting gravity” scenario that were successfully corrected upon Marshals advice.
Advice for interm, when getting out of the cars for chatting or something, please bring your radios with you as otherwise, you won’t know when your support is required and remember that you are on duty.
Playground was beautiful and surprisingly, not too much crowded, with pleasant weather and good sand quality. We visited Old Lady after long time, beautiful as usual, last time we tried that with David leading it was impossible as there were plenty of drivers. Later, we conquered Nagra dune from almost every possible angle while trying to not get hit by surrounding boogies.
The way back to the finish point was a blast with nice dunes and amazing lines…I would have kept on driving for another hour or more, but it was the time to call it off for the day around 5:30pm.
All in all, I was quite happy with the drive outcome, I could witness how our “old” newbies are growing and I hope my passenger @ibrahimhemdan12 had a good time.
See you in the EIB 2026 edition.
“Come as you are” was a beautiful drive perfectly organized and executed by@presa , with amazing support from many interm and marshals. It reminded me inter exam days…
10+ eager and experienced Newbies did well with minor second tries and stucks. From my position I could see a few “fighting gravity” scenario that were successfully corrected upon Marshals advice.
Advice for interm, when getting out of the cars for chatting or something, please bring your radios with you as otherwise, you won’t know when your support is required and remember that you are on duty.
Playground was beautiful and surprisingly, not too much crowded, with pleasant weather and good sand quality. We visited Old Lady after long time, beautiful as usual, last time we tried that with David leading it was impossible as there were plenty of drivers. Later, we conquered Nagra dune from almost every possible angle while trying to not get hit by surrounding boogies.
The way back to the finish point was a blast with nice dunes and amazing lines…I would have kept on driving for another hour or more, but it was the time to call it off for the day around 5:30pm.
All in all, I was quite happy with the drive outcome, I could witness how our “old” newbies are growing and I hope my passenger @ibrahimhemdan12 had a good time.
See you in the EIB 2026 edition.
