TORQUE CONVERTER
7-RANK GRADATION & RATING SYSTEM
At Torque Converter, we believe that offroading isn’t just about satisfying the adrenaline rush or saving your 4×4 from city roads. It’s a way of life. In rough terrain and wild places, you find tranquility and forget about your daily routine. It’s a journey to connect deeply with nature and yourself.
We make this journey much more meaningful by ensuring constant learning progress for everyone. Hence, we have a robust & exclusive 7-rank gradation & rating system to segregate the offroad drives, drivers, their acquired knowledge and various methods to achieve these learnings & levels. Also emphasizing the role & benefits of OFFROAD ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS.
That’s not all – once you attain a specific rank, you will have the opportunity to apply your interests to become part of the TORQUE CONVERTER MARSHALS team.
TORQUE CONVERTER 7-RANK GRADATION & RATING SYSTEM
- BEGINNER >>
- LEARNER >>
- CHALLENGER >>
- INTERMEDIATE >>
- ADVANCE >>
- EXPERT >>
- EXPLORER >>
We follow the below detailed criteria for the offroaders’ ranking & promotion:
- Number of drives
- Consistency of attendance
- Discipline & time punctuality
- Conduct with the fellow offroaders
- Technical skills and the swiftness of learning abilities
- Car and equipment list readiness
- Adhering to the Marshals’ instructions
- Marshals’ recommendation
* Note: Torque Converter Marshals committee’s decision will be final and binding.
BEGINNER
RANKING: 0 STAR
NUMBER OF DRIVES: 0 to 5*
SKILL SET TAUGHT AND EVALUATED ON
- Getting started with fundamental offroading and desert driving techniques
- Fundamental knowledge of the vehicle
- Accurate tire deflation and inflation procedures
- Utilization of High/Low gearing and differential lock
- Basic radio communication abilities
- Navigating dune crossings
- Following safety guidelines
Recommended Offroad Program for accelerated and in-depth learning:
FOUNDATION OFFROAD PROGRAM
- Compatible offroad vehicle with snatch/recovery hooks at both front and rear
- Compatible Radio
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Tire Deflator
- Flag pole including flag
LEARNER
RANKING: 1 STAR
NUMBER OF DRIVES: 6 to 15*
-
Introduction to basic techniques for reading dunes and sand
-
Foundational skills in safely navigating side slopes and crossing sand dunes
-
Introduction to handling side slopes and hill climbs
-
Basics of ridge riding
-
Beginning to master technical dune navigation
-
Graduating to slightly faster-paced desert driving
-
Ability to manage the stucks or refusing obstacles using radio communication
-
Learning to control and prevent fishtailing
-
Emphasizing the avoidance of challenging gravity
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Compatible offroad vehicle with snatch/recovery hooks at both front and rear
- Compatible Radio
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Tire Deflator
- Flag pole including flag
- Rated snatch strap (kinetic type)
- 2 Rated Shackles preferably soft shackles
- Shovel
- Air compressor
- Skid plate for needed cars
- Fire extinguisher
CHALLENGER
RANKING: 2 STAR
NUMBER OF DRIVES: 16 to 25*
SKILL SET TAUGHT AND EVALUATED ON
- Expert skills in reading dunes and sand
- More advanced techniques for side sloping and long hill climbs
- Mastery of ridge riding and criss-crossing techniques
- More advanced control in navigating technical dunes
- Driving at a slightly faster pace in desert terrain
- Complete mastery in controlling and preventing fishtailing
- Emphasizing the importance of not challenging gravity
- Advanced methods for vehicle recovery
Recommended Offroad Programs for accelerated and in-depth learning:
NIGHT DRIVING PROGRAM
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Compatible offroad vehicle with snatch/recovery hooks at both front and rear
- Compatible Radio
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Tire Deflator
- Flag pole including flag
- Rated snatch strap (kinetic type)
- 2 Rated Shackles preferably soft shackles
- Shovel
- Air compressor
- Skid plate for needed cars
- GPS Navigation Apps
- 3 Ton Hydraulic Jack
- Base Plate for the jack
- First Aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
INTERMEDIATE
RANKING: 3 STAR
NUMBER OF DRIVES: 26 to 35*
SKILL SET TAUGHT AND EVALUATED ON
- Basic skills in GPS and natural navigation techniques
- Basic techniques for using tow ropes and winches for recovery
- Steep side slopes and long hill climbs
- Navigating tall dunes with ridge riding and crisscrossing
- Precise control when navigating technical dunes
- Driving at a faster pace in desert
- Clear communication skills using radios
- Advanced methods for vehicle recovery
- Recovering from soft sand situations
- Techniques for fixing pop-outs & other issues
Recommended Offroad Programs for accelerated and in-depth learning:
NIGHT DRIVING PROGRAM
NOTE: At this stage you have the opportunity to apply your interests to become part of the TORQUE CONVERTER MARSHALS team.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Compatible offroad vehicle with snatch/recovery hooks at both front and rear
- Compatible Radio
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Tire Deflator
- Flag pole including flag
- Rated snatch strap (kinetic type)
- 2 Rated Shackles preferably soft shackles
- Shovel
- Air compressor
- Skid plate for needed cars
- GPS Navigation Apps
- 3 Ton Hydraulic Jack
- Base Plate for the jack
- First Aid kit
- Fire Extinguisher
- Jump Starter cable
- Toolkit
ADVANCE
RANKING: 4 STAR
NUMBER OF DRIVES: 36 to 45*
SKILL SET TAUGHT AND EVALUATED ON
- Proficient use of off-road GPS systems
- Handling extensive side slopes with ease at fast pace
- Effortless gliding and controlled drifting at fast pace
- Rapidly adapting to transitions on large ridges at fast pace
- Quick navigation of large ridges from different sides at fast pace
- Speedy maneuvering on large ridges at fast pace
- Effective radio communication skills
- Advanced techniques for vehicle recovery
- Enhancing self-recovery techniques
Recommended Offroad Programs for accelerated and in-depth learning:
NIGHT DRIVING PROGRAM
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Compatible offroad vehicle with snatch/recovery hooks at both front and rear
- Compatible Radio
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Tire Deflator
- Flag pole including flag
- Rated snatch strap (kinetic type)
- 2 Rated Shackles preferably soft shackles
- Shovel
- Air compressor
- Skid plate for needed cars
- GPS Navigation System
- 3 Ton Hydraulic Jack
- Base Plate for the jack
- First Aid kit
- Fire Extinguisher
- Toolkit and Repair kit
- Jump Starter cable
- Good offroad GPS and knowledge of its use
- Spare vehicle fluids and critical mechanical / electrical components
- Zip Ties
EXPERT
RANKING: 5 STAR
NUMBER OF DRIVES: 45+*
SKILL SET TAUGHT AND EVALUATED ON
- Competent use of off-road GPS systems
- Handling extensive side slopes smoothly at extremely fast pace
- Gliding the car parallel to the dune at extremely fast pace
- Skillfully gliding and drifting with ease at extremely fast pace
- Quickly adapting to transitions on large ridges within the different terrains at fast pace
- Swiftly changing course on large ridges at extremely fast pace
- Navigating large ridges at extremely fast pace
- Maneuvering large ridges from all sides at extremely fast pace
- Correcting a missed line during navigation
- Traversing ridges without consistently dragging on the front differential or axle
- Performing agile maneuvers (“car dance”) on any ridge at high speeds
- Effective radio communication skills
- Advanced techniques for vehicle recovery
Recommended Offroad Programs for accelerated and in-depth learning:
NIGHT DRIVING PROGRAM
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Compatible offroad vehicle with snatch/recovery hooks at both front and rear
- Compatible Radio
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Tire Deflator
- Flag pole including flag
- Rated snatch strap (kinetic type)
- 2 Rated Shackles preferably soft shackles
- Shovel
- Air compressor
- Skid plate for needed cars
- GPS Navigation System
- 3 Ton Hydraulic Jack
- Base Plate for the jack
- First Aid kit
- Fire Extinguisher
- Toolkit and Repair kit
- Jump Starter cable
- Good offroad GPS and knowledge of its use
- Spare vehicle fluids and critical mechanical / electrical components
- Zip Ties
EXPLORER
RANKING: 6 STAR
NUMBER OF DRIVES: 45+*
SKILL SET TAUGHT AND EVALUATED ON
- This is a buildup over the Expert level. Here you become a lone wanderer
- Ability to go into unknown territories and cover hundreds to kilometers with minimum support
- Ability to overland into new and unknown countries
- Ability to survive against all the odds
- Sensitive survival techniques with minimal resources
- Understanding and surviving the wild
- Mastering unique survival skills
Recommended Offroad Program for accelerated and in-depth learning: EXPLORATION & EXPEDITION PROGRAM
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Compatible offroad vehicle with snatch/recovery hooks at both front and rear
- Compatible Radio
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Tire Deflator
- Flag pole including flag
- Rated snatch strap (kinetic type)
- 2 Rated Shackles preferably soft shackles
- Shovel
- Air compressor
- Skid plate for needed cars
- GPS Navigation System
- 3 Ton Hydraulic Jack
- Base Plate for the jack
- First Aid kit
- Fire Extinguisher
- Toolkit and Repair kit
- Good offroad GPS and knowledge of its use
- Spare vehicle fluids and critical mechanical / electrical components
- Zip Ties
- Camping & expedition equipment (detailed list to be shared with rescpective participants only)