Fun Drivers have fun through rain, sand

Dubai: Inclement weather didn’t dampen the spirits of more than 3,000 participants of the 32nd Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive on Friday.

Rain drizzled on participants during breakfast at 7he Sevens Stadium on Al Ain Road.

But just before flag off at 7.30am, the rain stopped.

“We came prepared. We brought our camping gear,” Filipino expatriate Padz Gatchalian, 59, told Gulf News. “But we didn’t bring an umbrella. The rain was unexpected. But this, I believe, adds to the excitement.”

Loud cheers of participants and the roars of engines reverberated through the crisp morning air as each vehicle made its way to the flag-off point.

Duleep George, executive director of Strategy and Marketing, Gulf News, flagged off more than 1,000 four-wheelers, the biggest number in the Fun Drive’s 27-year history.

As many as 1,001 colourful balloons were released into the air marking the official start of the 200km journey.

The Fun Drive attracted people from all walks of life from various emirates.

Many came for the first time after having lived here for a long time.

“Every year we plan to go but we don’t make it every time. So this year we made sure we’d participate,” Satheesh Nayar, 46, an IT Manager from Abu Dhabi, said.

As for Emirati national Musad Al Qadi, another Fun Drive first timer, taking on the adventure of riding dunes is what drove him to participate.

“I want to have fun, meet knew people and just have an overall adventurous experience.”

Al Qadi came to the fun drive with 10 of his friends in 12 cars.

“Being an Emirati, I consider the desert to be part of my identity and so I take it upon myself to come to the desert frequently,” Al Qadi added.

Others deemed the Fun Drive as a great family-bonding activity.

“I came here for my children; I want them to have fun here in the fresh air. I was very excited to take on the dunes and relax at the final stop, the camp,” Yousef Arbaji, 40, a Syrian expatriate, said.

The drive, besides being technical, became more complicated when strong winds blew sand reducing visibility.

“Last week this place was lovely, the view was stunning. Today, because of the shamal (northwesterly wind) it’s not as beautiful as it was last week,” Lena Moosa, Marshal, told Gulf News.

“Because of the high winds and the blowing sand, all the tracks have been covered that’s why everyone was going slowly,” George said.

“But at the end of the day, the idea is to have fun. And whoever we meet on the way they said they’re having a jolly good time.”

Part of the excitement and adventure was getting stuck in sand, which was fairly common when fun drivers reached Section 5.

“Section 5 was a virtually a “cemetery.” That’s what we call a section where participants get stuck, one after the other,” Ali Al Bazzi, Marshal, told Gulf News.

“Those who got stuck were too many to count. While we were helping one fun driver on one side, beside us another would get stuck,” Al Bazzi added.

Gulf News spotted many car parts on the road, including a car plate. There were those who broke their axel along the way. But one vehicle turned over after a wrong turn.

“I turned the wheel wrong and it just flipped over, very simple,” Abdullah, who referred to himself as the Dune Ride, said.

“It’s purely over confidence. It’s detrimental when you do these things,” Abdullah said, adding, “No one was injured. Only my car.”

The first cars reached camp at around 4pm. Weary participants headed to the camp to get refreshments and rest.

Camp entertainment awaited participants in the evening. Dinner was served by Jebel Ali Hotel which also produced a desert-themed cake.

Though more than 1,000 cars turned up for the 32nd Gulf News Fun Drive, the earlier Guinness World Record for the Largest Convoy of Off-Road Vehicles was not broken.