OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[prossett]

Hi guys - new to the board and just dropped in to see if you have any advice and to let you guys know what's happening other side of the world - in the United Arab Emirates.

Mid-January me and two bros are going to attempt to be the first people to ride Around the UAE Off-Road.

That's around 1200km of serious sand dune desert (crossing the northern-most corner of the Rub al Khali, largest sand desert in the world) of flat gravel plains and of stark mountains - no touching tarmac.



We've registered for a Guinness World Record, and hopefully we'll be able to get it accepted.

6-9 days of insane riding, guys! - January 16-24, 2009

We're going to be filming a web-documentary with helmet cams and we've got the support of companies that believe in the spirit of adventure:

QUAD BIKES PROVIDED BY:



SUPPORT VEHICLE PROVIDED BY:


and the UAE exclusive distributor:




START/ARRIVAL CEREMONIES AND PRESS CONFERENCE LOCATION PROVIDED BY:



A "REACH YOUR DREAMS" ACTIVITY BY UGRU STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AT:



AND WITH THE PROUD SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS AT DUBAI DESERT CLUB:



The adventure of a lifetime starts with organizations that understand the drive for accomplishment, and without sponsors it would be impossible to do.

If there's interest on the board, I'll be glad to keep you guys updated on how we're preparing, on what the route is, how we're organizing, and what difficulties we face and how we'll work to overcome them - your advice or comments or warnings are welcome!

If our adventure can inspire yours, then make us welcome! :cool:

[Losty Down Under]

That sounds like the trip of a life time.
Keep us all posted with the lead up, what you are doing to your bikes and of course how it all comes together.
No doubt Bullet, Smithy and Maggots will chime in with some advice. All three will have some real good input for you.
_________________
If it's not upside down, you're not trying hard enough!

Paul

[Quadromatic]

yea thats sounds awsome and its good that you got some sponsors but it would of been better if you were sponsored by holden not ford
It would be good if you could keep everyone updated on whats happening.

[bullet]

Big tyres with lots of surface area, low pressures and Beadlock rims.
Prepare the best puncture repair kits possible (because then you won't get one flat)
Get some Flexx bars.
Do not 'work' the engine, keep it stock.
And don't get shot.

Sounds fantastic..... take me with you
_________________
Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[PeteW]

that sounds like awsome fun.

puts our little simpson desert crossing to shame hey bullet.
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www.thumbpump.com
www.dirtcomp.com.au

[prossett]

Thanks for the welcome!

Right now we're at the stage where we've realized this is for real, and we're going: "What the hell are we getting ourselves into!!!!" LOL

It's a trip that is definitely going to stretch our combined experience and put all our skills to the test.

The terrain is awesome, guys! You have got to see it in person to know what it feels like.

The immensity is just over-powering; and it takes a grown man's breath away.

I suppose one would feel the same way in other places on our planet with extreme conditions, like maybe Antarctica, and probably also your Simpson Desert!

We'll be happy to share every step of our journey with you here, and hopefully - and we'll try our darndest - it'll be a happy ending!

Last weekend we went out for a practice run with some buddies in cars, covering 200km of similar terrain, but smaller dunes and closer to civilization, and as fate had arranged it a buddy managed to roll his Land Rover down a dune - so that really sobered up the World Record boys!



We got to practice our first aid and getting everyone out to safety, and that really hammered home the reality of what we're about to go up against...

It's not even the one mishap that worries us; it's when you have a series of two or three mishaps!

Even something stupid like you get a flat, and while changing the tire, the car keys slip out of your pocket into the sand... (we're taping a spare key to the chassis)

So that's where we're at right now - 6 weeks to go, and trying to think of all eventualities.

[cowchaser]

I'm jelous. Are you guys Aussies? What what type of riding have you done in the past?
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Smitty

[JONO]

wow that'd be awesome, good luck guys

[prossett]

No mate, but I got married in Oz when I was over for Expo 86 in Brisbane. I'm old skool, guys!

We're three brothers, but in true global sense, one is Canadian, another is Italian, and the third is a Brit... life is weird sometimes.

Riding experience actually waaay less than would be expected, I suppose. We've been riding since we were kids but we have no competitive experience.

I've lived on the edge of the desert here for the past 9 years so I know the terrain well and I do a lot of off-roading, including 2-3 nighters into the deep desert (with a convoy of cars).

My one bro has been over several times and has had that 200km practice run; my youngest bro is going to get his virgin ass re-shaped as he'll be off the plane and onto the quad! LOL

[cowchaser]

Well I wish you luck and a safe journey and please keep us updated on your adventure. If you need any advice on the long haul ride feel free to ask as Myself and about 4 others on this fourm competed in the Australian Safari this year and it was over 4500kms with days of 800+kms
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Smitty

[prossett]

Awesome!

We've got two quads, one support car, and three guys - we're thinking 3-hour rotations in the saddle, 3 shifts per day.

What engine quads and what were your:

1. average speed per hour
2. average fuel consumption

over

a. established sand tracks
b. open flat desert, no track
c. sharp sand dunes

What piece of equipment did you not have that you missed the most?

I knew the Ozzie forum would have the experience!!! Nothing like riding up and down a dune and thinking that's a desert...

[cowchaser]

I rode a Can-Am Renegade 800X it was a thirsty big sucker used about 50L per 300kms ave speed 80-100kmp/h most of it was sandy desert tracks. Bloody comfy bike for long days though. The first thing on my shopping list for next year is Tire Balls. We got alot of flats
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Smitty

[Linc]

I did the Safari with Cowchaser and did the same distances on a TRX450 with 35 litres of fuel........But I'm not as fast as he is.

3hrs at 80kph average is 240k's. You wont go that far on a tank, even an aftermarket one so you'll have to carry extra fuel.....

I put a 10L jerry on either nurf bar and never came close to running out of fuel.

IMO the most important things to get right were Tyres, Fuel & comfort.

Tyres - I ran Tireballs and never once stopped for a flat. A cheaper alternative you may want to look at "tire johnys", tire balls are bloddy expensive.

Fuel - The jerry cans were slow and a little goofy but reliable and got me the distance. (pics in the Safari '08 forum below)

Comfort - I took alot of time getting my riding possition right. I wanted to be able to stand and not be hunched over too much. I didn't want to get off the quad at the end of the day with a saw back. If you are uncomfortable you use more energy; thats OK for a day but not over a week.

Next year I hope to take a bit more talent.

Good luck, I envy you guys, The UAE Desert Challenge has always been one of those events I'd love to do.

Linc

[prossett]

OK, thanks - we'll be much slower as the terrain is constant sharp dune formation, up and down, and up again. Mostly 2nd gear work, 3rd on the rounder dunes.

Lots of snaking around and continuous shifting body weight. The good is we'll be slow if we take a tumble - you guys at 80+ kph were flying!!!

Another positive is the sand is very smooth, almost like skiing, and flats are rare.

For any of the navvy freaks out there, we're using mrsid sat images from NASA (bit dated, year 2000) in Ozi Explorer, which links to our Garmin GPS from a laptop in the Ford Expedition support vehicle without needing internet connectivity. Plus 2 GPS on the quads themselves.

We also check up on Google Earth because they have recent sat maps, but we only use their free service.

Here's a screenshot of the southwestern part, coming down from the northwest corner and across the heavy-duty dunes of the Empty Quarter, called the Liwa area in the UAE - that's to the bottom right of the image.

The yellow waypoints show our intended route. I just put these at random to give an idea, as our own files are jam-packed with yellow markers.



This is what the Liwa dunes look like close-up:


Here is the continuation of the first image, from centre to southeast corner and then up north.


This is our final stage, but it's worrying from a navigation standpoint because it's sharp mountains we need to cross west to east. The yellow line shows the border between UAE and Oman.


And this is a close-up of those mountains - finding our way is going to be tough.


I have all sorts of details if anyone's interested in more on the route or terrain, or how we're running this.

And if you guys really want to come over for the UAE Desert Challenge, I'm at your back. The 2007 winner in the quads is a good buddy of mine, Seb Husseini, now racing pro for KTM and there's 4-5 amateur teams in the cars who I've been driving with for years. It's a great race, guys - like a mini version of the Dakar, without the boring stages

[cowchaser]

Hmmm interesting the Desert challange is on my things to do list to!
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Smitty

[John Mags]

That sounds like a epic ride guys. Remember to keep the fluids up, change gloves often (gloves wet from sweat give you blisters) and try to sleep well.
Wish you all the best of luck!
John.
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When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[Hulk]

need any "profanity removed" kickers that ride? will be a dream to do that one day.... all the best guys and good luck.

[prossett]

Will do - what helmet cams work best?

We're thinking http://www.vio-pov.com

[prossett]

A couple of quick updates:

2 new official sponsors: Red Bull, who will be providing us with satellite connectivity so we can do live uplinks, and Emarat4x4, a club of desert crazies who will be offering us logistical support: check out www.emarat4x4.com

We've also launched a Facebook Group, open to all so link up there with us as well: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41018480641 (1200km in the UAE Desert)

We received the above-mentioned Vio-POV helmet cameras, and they look quality! Tomorrow I'm going to test them, so I'll see if I can show you what the terrain looks like over here.

4 weeks to go, and I've got to practice squat shitting coz it ain't easy!!! LOL I think I'd rather hang my arse off the back of the quad and let rip as I ride!!! LOOOL

[dangerman4]

prossett wrote:

A couple of quick updates: We received the above-mentioned Vio-POV helmet cameras, and they look quality! Tomorrow I'm going to test them, so I'll see if I can show you what the terrain looks like over here. 4 weeks to go, and I've got to practice squat shitting coz it ain't easy!!! LOL I think I'd rather hang my arse off the back of the quad and let rip as I ride!!! LOOOL

no footage of that please.

i also purchased one of the pov.1 cameras for christmas, but i havent had a chance to use it of yet. all the footage if seen so far from the pov.1 set up looks awesome.

have you done the firmware upgrade for the 8 gig card?

[prossett]

Yeah, you definitely want to keep ahead of me...

Patrick Myron, the POV manager dude, said something about 8GB being the maximum memory it would take, so that tells me the firmware upgrade you mention was done - but I'll check to make sure, tks.

[prossett]

[prossett]

8GB memory card tested and good to go.

For anybody interested in seeing what the POV sports video camera looks like, I've linked a test clip up on my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1073307346704

These are the helmet cameras I posted about earlier from http://www.vio-pov.com/

[prossett]

Pleased to announce that Padana is joining us as supporters for this trip, by providing us with riding clothing and protection.



http://www.padana.com/

[prossett]

ONE WEEK TO GO!!!

Today the press release went out, and the first interview came in - felt like a superstar!


Guinness World Records Off-Road Quad Biking Attempt

Trio of Brothers in ‘Around the UAE’ Expedition

Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

Le Méridien Al Aqah will host a team of three Italian brothers, who are attempting to enter the Guinness World Records for a 1200km off-road trip, titled ‘Around the UAE’, driving quad bikes.

The event, organized by UAE resident Paolo Rossetti, will commence on January 16, from Sila in the Western Region, traversing ‘Rub al Khali or The Empty Quarter’ along the UAE borders and is scheduled to end at Le Méridien Al Aqah on January 24.

Rossetti, a motoring enthusiast, has lived in the UAE for the past nine years and hopes to create a new category in Guinness World Records for the longest off-road trip, as well as to set a national record in the UAE. His brothers, Andrea and Marco reside in Italy and all three of them will take turns driving the quads.

“Le Meridien Al Aqah recognizes the initiative of Rossetti and his team and encourages his sense of national identity, as well as the outdoor sports which have become so popular in the region,� said Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah.

Rossetti and his brothers will take two KTM quad bikes the 525 XC and 450 XC, and a Ford Expedition support vehicle provided by Al Tayer Motors, on the trip, along with satellite connectivity, courtesy Red Bull.

“This trip brings together three brothers united by a spirit of adventure and a love for the outdoors. We have provided them with a Ford Expedition for this adventure as it is a rugged and spacious 4X4 adept at handling city roads as well as the rough desert terrain. It is a fitting support vehicle for this venture. We wish the Rossettis all success in their record-making attempt,� said Martin Penny, General Manager, Ford, Lincoln & Mercury, Al Tayer Motors.

“We are lucky to have the support of companies and groups that share with us the spirit of adventure, including Le Méridien Al Aqah,� said Rossetti.

A student development co-ordinator at UAE University, Rossetti was inspired to show students that goals can be set and achieved.

“I work with Emirati youth and we hope with this trip to inspire young people to challenge their comfort levels and to reach beyond the everyday, to stretch themselves towards achieving amazing dreams, just like the leaders of this country are doing by example and it is to them we dedicate this adventure,� added Rossetti.

Daily exploits from the trip will be posted on www.emarat4x4.com, an online fraternity of off-road enthusiasts based in the UAE and on the Rossetti’s Facebook site, every evening using the satellite connectivity provided by Red Bull. A film clip of the adventure will also be uploaded on YouTube later.

Le Méridien Al Aqah will arrange a press conference along for the team on their return, as well as hosting them overnight to recuperate from their journey. Representatives from other sponsors, Al Tayer Motors, KTM and Red Bull will also be present.