Vanishing V8 Land cruiser?

[tiderus]

V8 Land-Cruiser in Saudi falls down a 60m well

You'd think that they'd at least put up a flag to let people know there's
A 60 mt hole there. This happened in Saudi a few days ago.
In areas where there is fresh water under ground the locals dig wells
And support the sides with concrete and stones to keep the sand from
Falling back in to the well. Some of these are up to 100 meters deep.
This particular one was 60 meters deep and 4 meters wide, located
Outside the small town of Riyadh in the center of Saudi.

The guys went out in the desert for a bit of 4X4 fun on a Thursday when one of them
Drove in to the well and dropped 60 meters to the bottom with his
V8 Cruiser.

Rescue workers retrieved the car and the driver had a
mild concussion from hitting his head against the wind screen.
Hard to believe he is alive.

Guess this is why Allah gave them camels.

 

[fairytooth]

Was he on his way to the Holey land ?

 

[Robmac]

Now that's what you call a pothole!

 

[Bigpeetee]

Did it still drive?

Was he part of the Top Gear team trying to wreck vehicles?

 

[sabconsulting]

Ouch - Allah was definitely on his side that day.

Says something for the strength of the Land Cruiser.

You can often see lines of these in the desert clearly on Google earth - not quite so obvious from the ground though when travelling at speed I suspect. Also another reason to think very carefully before driving at night in desert regions - as at night you probably wouldn't see one of these until it was too late even at fairly modest speeds, it would just look like another dip between two low dunes.

Steve.

 

[sean rua]

I worked in the Middle East a fair bit and I'm not too surprised, really.
Even back in Cairo the driving was a little strange. Whenever it rained, we couldn't understand why the locals went so slow. They seemed scared of the water. There were always big puddles from bursts or just flooding.

When I asked a local about it, he said the drivers can never be sure what's under the water. Some had found to their cost that huge holes might lurk beneath the water, hence the caution.

Out of character really, as many of the folk from north africa to oman seem totally fearless to the point of recklessness about other things, imo.
For instance, one night we came back to the hotel from work at about three in the morning. Pitch black. The power had all gone off. Couldn't get in, bc the sliding doors wouldn't operate.

A bloke was shouting down from twelve floors up, trying to get his mate to let us in through the bottom of the fire escape stairs. As it was dark, the guy couldn't find the keyhole.
After a lot of shouting, the guy up top threw down a hand torch.
Now, I don't know if our man was a fan of rugby or something, but he made a stance like a player going to shout "mark".
Luckily, the torch sailed straight past the back of his dishcloth and embedded itself about a foot into the sand!
All he did then, was rear up on the thrower for not throwing straight down, and of course, the guy up top was going mad bc the torch had been "dropped" by the catcher!

Suddenly, during all the shouting and roaring, the power came back on and nobody thought any more about it.
I still shudder to think what would have happened had the torch struck our gallant lad atop the head. Somehow I don't think the Port Said safety hat ( tea towel) would have prevented decapitation, but, hey there ya go, insh allah.

sean rua.

 

[maingate]

Wadi bashing is good fun in a 4 x 4 but you have to remember a couple of things.

1. Remember your route so that you can retrace it.

2. If it is getting dark, get out of there quick to avoid spending the night there.

3. Take plenty of water, firewood and food in case the second point occurs.

 

[Bigpeetee]

Wadi bashing is good fun in a 4 x 4 but you have to remember a couple of things.

1. Remember your route so that you can retrace it.

2. If it is getting dark, get out of there quick to avoid spending the night there.

3. Take plenty of water, firewood and food in case the second point occurs.

I agree, Wadi Bashing is brilliant fun, it took several attempts to find oasis in the middle of the mountains in Oman, you could be only 0.25 Km out but not see it, met many tribes people close to the water and was invited to enjoy a meal with them

Another must is a jerry can of fuel, I managed to hole the fuel tank and only just got back to civilisation before the fuel leaked away!!

Fond memories.

 

[maingate]

I worked in Oman too (as well as Saudi and Egypt). We went up to Sur to see them building the sea going Dhows. They have been building them there since Biblical times except that they now fit Yanmar diesel engines to them.

As you say, happy times and fond memories.