Almost4x4

F13 drive. Was it just the hype? No. Was it fun? Absolutely. This was my first F13 event, and I have been hearing about this forever. Finally the day came.

I met @Minhaj at the station. @hidayathshaik was my passenger for the day. We reached and saw @brett already there at the location and deflated.

I was nervous about the drive but even more nervous about my tyre pressure. After deflating to 8 PSI, I returned to check after 10 mins and it was back to 10 PSI. So I kept my APEX caps opened so that I could adjust just before leaving to avoid the tyre being at 11-12PSI. Because literally I didn't know what to expect. All the videos on youtube will not tell you the whole story. Oh boy.

When @alshamsi_m asked who wanted to be his second lead, I'm always usually confused by this question as sometimes intermediates are second leads and sometimes its newbies. So I usually keep quiet until someone calls my name, even though I love to be the second lead.

Exactly at 3:20 the briefing was done, and we were on the way. I was the 4th car in the convoy. 2 mins in our second lead Kareem got crested. That was unexpected, and @Minhaj just stopped without overtaking for a few seconds. I would have probaby done the same. I reversed my car so Minhaj had enough space to gain momentum, and then we overtook the crested car. Few mins later, @Minhaj also crested. This is where things got serious. I was suddenly second lead. Like all of a sudden, there are multiple casualities behind me as well. I could hear continuous radio calls from the cars that got crested in the same place as Kareem. I followed shamsi for about 5-6 mins before my self getting crested. That was totally unexpected as my momentum was probably in equilibrium. A littel tap on the accelarator and I could have finsihed the drive with Zero recoveries.

And the worst possible thing happened. when I opened the boot to put the ropes back. My 3T jack fell off along with everything else in my boot because it was not strapped in. Lesson learnt. That took almost 5 mins to get it loaded because it was sliding off and not letting me close the boot. The entire convoy was waiting for me to join to continue.

After that experience I was determined to not get crested again and experience the same. Other than 2 refusals, there was no more recovery for me.

We didn't see the trees since we ran out of day light.

BUT THIS WAS THE BEST ALMOST4x4 drive for me. Every single time, the desert surprises me. Looking forward to join the next edition where I would raise my hand to be the second lead.

Thank you all the Marshals for the incredible comradery shown by the entire crew. What a day.

Love <3, Sid

Finally the big event we all were waiting for.....first of all when I was trying to join the trip on the application freezes couldn't join ...I had to speak with our organiser @alshamsi_m I have to say he warned me but couldn't resist the experience ....
Every body was talking about what to expect all videos and chats were about how many stuck cars and how many rescues ....we were called victims on the app. ....
We all gathered on time soon the brief started..this was different rules ....
Overtaking is allowed with permission..no convoys order to keep ...
And the fun started ...the amazing thing about almost marshals is how they manage different trackes for different levels in the same area...
Dunes were close with soft sand NO instructions from the leading marshal to avoid diches or bushes....
So soon actually less than 5 minutes victims started to full we all got stuck in away or two ...some more than that ....
The radio was crazy as marshals ask intermediates and explorers to mange stacked cars
The Experiences was amazing.....
Can't thank @alshamsi_m @Rashidjass with our explorers @David @Carlos and @Ehab ....
Sure our intermediates as rescue team did a lot of effort to help every body ....
See all on sand soon

Hi Almosters,

I feel lucky to have attended the Friday the 13th drive for the second time!

Last year I joined as a passenger, and this year I had the honor of joining as a driver.

Based on what I saw last year, I had an idea of what to expect — and I knew I would be in safe hands @Rashidjass especially with our amazing convoy leaders and support crew.

The briefing was done by our founder, @alshamsi_m , who clearly explained the rules and structure of the drive: all Newbies at the front, with Intermediates following to assist with recoveries when needed.

The experience was amazing — Alhamdulillah, I got stuck only twice, and both times I was recovered swiftly by @Moustafa and @Rashidjass instructions

I also feel incredibly lucky to have passed the "Bowl of Death" on my first attempt — Alhamdulillah! As @Rashidjass said because of my passenger @KingZoma ,I try to skip but @Hisham he told no this only way to go to other side.

Big thanks to:

@alshamsi_m for organizing such a great day,

@Rashidjass for your guidance,

For all rescue team

Looking forward to the next adventure with you all!

Hi Almosters,

I feel lucky to have attended the Friday the 13th drive for the second time!

Last year I joined as a passenger, and this year I had the honor of joining as a driver.

Based on what I saw last year, I had an idea of what to expect — and I knew I would be in safe hands @Rashidjass especially with our amazing convoy leaders and support crew.

The briefing was done by our founder, @alshamsi_m , who clearly explained the rules and structure of the drive: all Newbies at the front, with Intermediates following to assist with recoveries when needed.

The experience was amazing — Alhamdulillah, I got stuck only twice, and both times I was recovered swiftly by @Moustafa and @Rashidjass instructions

I also feel incredibly lucky to have passed the "Bowl of Death" on my first attempt — Alhamdulillah! As @Rashidjass said because of my passenger @KingZoma ,I try to skip but @Hisham he told no this only way to go to other side.

Big thanks to:

@alshamsi_m for organizing such a great day,

@Rashidjass for your guidance,

For all rescue team

Looking forward to the next adventure with you all!