Dubai: The 30th Gulf News Fun Drive will be flagged off Friday morning, after an early-morning check-in at The Sevens on the Dubai-Al Ain road.
Ever-popular, the event has been running since 1986 – and in this its silver anniversary year 750 cars are taking part (while it has been running for 25 years, some years have seen two fun drives and so this years’ is the 30th drive)
This means there are currently more than 2,500 keen off-roaders taking part in this historic event. As a testament to its popularity, there are still more than 200 vehicles on the waiting list.
In 1986, a total of 75 4x4 drives took part in the Gulf News Fun Drive, which was designed to give people an opportunity to experience the desert.
The route is mainly over tricky sand and gravel sections and will be a test of concentration, endurance, patience and off-road driving skills, from start to finish. There are plenty of high dunes and tricky stretches that will surely test the driving skills of veterans and give novices an ideal opportunity to hone their off-road driving skills.
Approximately 50 highly-experienced marshals will be present along the route to assist and guide participants. A team of 200 Gulf News personnel will also be involved with the event, manning check-points and taking care of all organisational details. IATC, led by Managing Director Hamad Ali Al Mazroui will be in charge of recovery.
This year’sFun Drive is an overnighter – where participants can enjoy an overnight stay under the open skies of the desert. The Overnighter events have been running since 1989, adding an additional element to the off-road adventures.
Friday night, weary campers will be treated to bellydancing, a DJ, fire show and magician, face painters for younger revelers, camel rides and a traditional whirling dervish performance. A specially-baked Gulf News cake will be cut at 9pm.
Saturday, campers will wake to the aroma of breakfast and make their way home.
Al Futtaim Motors – Toyota are the main sponsors of the event, as they have been for the last 21 years.
Checkpoints are sponsored by Toyota, AXA, Bridgestone, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Driving Institute, Shell Helix and the Unilever brands Rexona, Lifebuoy and Vaseline. The Fun Drive numbers and the goody bags are being provided by Emirates NBD. The Fun Drive is supported by: Alco, Byrne, IATC, Lipton, Extra, V-Kool, Panasonic Lumix, Multilink, The Sevens and Wrigley’s Extra. Entertainment by Panache.
Emirates Flight Catering and Jebel Ali Hotel are providing catering for the event. The Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive is also supported by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation.
