What does the word 'RAID' mean ?
In Scottish military parlance, the term has been used since the Middle Ages for a rapid attack from cover and, after an attack has been made, an immediate retreat back to it.
However, this warlike aspect does not play a role in RAID. The word was used in the 1920s and 30s by the big French brands Renault and Citroën. These named their par force drives through Africa and Asia, which proved the quality and reliability of their automobiles, with the term Raid. For example, Citroën in 1920 with the Raid du Sahara.
When the first RAID SUISSE-PARIS was conceived in 1991, the name RAID was chosen to avoid the then already worn-out word 'Classic'. The RAID is unmistakable as an event and this should also be expressed in the name or the brand.
The RAID history
An exciting story ….
In the mid-1980s, when the so-called forest dieback was on everyone's lips and no association, no party, no media was fighting against this hysteria, and a member of the Federal Council even wanted to ban all vintage cars from the streets, HA Bichsel founded Switzerland. Association for Historic Motor Vehicles (SDHM). This association fought actively and successfully for the recognition of the historic automobile as a cultural asset that belongs on our streets. In this way, the association obtained from the authorities the technical inspection for historic automobiles at intervals of 5 years as well as the collection number for correspondingly certified classic cars.
At the Rétromobile trade fair in Paris in 1991, Bichsel decided to hold a rally within the association in the French capital, at the then Center International de l'Automobile (CIA) in Pantin, just outside the city. Firstly, because the scene at that time was completely inward-looking, people hardly knew what was happening abroad in this matter (and a lot was happening there, including on a political level, in contrast to Switzerland) and because rallies were almost exclusively took place within our national borders. Secondly, because Paris is the cultural capital of the automobile. This is where the car in its current form was developed and built; this is where automobile culture began.
The first RAID SUISSE-PARIS-PANTIN took place in August 1991, five years later the Rundhof of the Basel trade fair became the starting point, from then on the rally was only called RAID SUISSE-PARIS, the CIA no longer existed. The first WinterRAID started in 2004, followed by the RAID DU SUD, the RAID to Vienna, and the one to Rimini. There was the Young Raider's Challenge, a rally just for young vintage car fans. There were cultural RAID trips in historic automobiles to the Palladio villas in Italy and to Pininfarina in Turin, followed by the RAID Autumn Drives as cultural trips to South Tyrol, Bavaria and the northern Italian lakes.
In total, over 60 rallies were held, including the Asian RAID in Malaysia, as well as 12 cultural RAID rides.
For years, the RAID prologues from various parts of the country took place at the RAID start in Basel. Finally, the oldest Concours d'Elégance in Switzerland in Basel is a RAID event (currently suspended due to paving work on the parade route). The concours on Bürkliplatz in Zurich was also founded by RAID, although it has been in different hands for years. Finally, in the Mittelland there was the “jura” Concours d'Elégance, combined with a prologue.
…. but also a successful present and promising future
In 2023, the WinterRAID and RAID SUISSE were very successful events, and the RAID Autumn Rallye, a unique combination of rally sport and culinary delights, starts for the first time in autumn. The 20th WinterRAID, an anniversary RAID, will follow in January 2024.
A RAID DU SUD will run again in September 2024, for the first time over four days and with shorter daily stages. In the same year, the tradition of cultural RAID trips continues.
Internally, a generational change is underway with RAID. In this way, the future of this large and traditional rally is secured.
This is how the AUTOMOBIL REVUE (Berne) reported on January 1st. RAID SUISSE-PARIS, 1991
Palmares
The overall winners of the RAID SUISSE-PARIS, the RAID du SUD *, the anniversary RAID to Vienna ** and the RAID Rimini ***.
Overall winner
1991 Schaller PA / Raboud M. (CH) Renault 4CV 1952
1992 Kaufmann P. / Viatte T. (CH) Fiat 1100 Berlina 1961
1993 Rüegg M. / Codoni G. (CH) Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Super 1964
1994 Aellig Y. / Huber P. (CH) Citroën ID 19 Cabriolet Beutler 1959
1995 Heiniger P. / Heiniger F. (CH) MG TD 1952
1996 Wyssmann HP / Wyssmann L. (CH) Porsche 356 Cabriolet Beutler 1948
1997 Höfer K. / Beyerle D. (DE) Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1971
1998 Wyssmann D. / Roth B. (CH) Austin-Healey Mk III 1967
1999 Buhofer P. / Arnold P. (CH) Austin-Healey Mk III 1967
2000 Gafner R. / Gafner M. (CH) Alfa Romeo Touring Spider 1963
2001 Pollak W. / Pollak A. (CH) Mercedes-Benz 220 SE 1962
2002 Wyssmann D. / Roth B. (CH) Austin-Healey Mk III 1967
2003 Wyssmann D. / Roth B. (CH) Austin-Healey Mk III 1967
2004 Gutzwiller A. / Gutzwiller E. (CH) Ferrari 365 GT 1968
2005 Duerst P. / Schmidt K. (CH) Porsche 911 ST GR 4 1969
2006 Mayer K. / Mayer M. (CH) Lotus Esprit 1979
2007 Marti L. / Schaffner S. (CH) Jaguar E-Tyape 1968
2008 Mayer K. / Mayer M. (CH) Lotus Elan S3 1966
2009 Appenzeller P. / Zach E. (CH) Jaguar XK 120 OTS 1952
2010 Schmid R. / Schmid N. (CH) Austin-Healy 100 M 1953
2011 Heinrich M. / Tetzke J. (DE) Cadillac Series 62 1942
2012 Locher A. / Uhlmann M. (CH) Jaguar 420 1967
2013 Erath F. / Erath B. (CH) Austin Mini Cooper S 1968
2014 Schneider O. / Müller M. (CH) Triumph TR 4 1963
2015 Locher A. / Uhlmann M. (CH) Austin-Healey Sprite 2 1963
2016 Schneider O. / Müller M. (CH) Triumph TR 4 1963
2017 Schwegler C. / Schwegler A. (CH) Chevrolet Master DA 2 Door 1934
2018 Krieglsteiner P. / Linhardt T. (DE) * Porsche 911 SC Rally 1982
2019 Schwegler C. / Schwegler A. (CH) * Triumph TR 6 1971
2020 Schwegler C. / Schwegler A. (CH) ** Ford A Speedster Racer 1930
2021 Schwegler C. / Schwegler A. (CH) * Ford A Speedster Racer 1930
2022 Schwegler C. / Schwegler A. (CH) *** Ford A Speedster Racer 1930
Palmares
The overall winners of WinterRAID.
Overall winner
2004 Conrad M. / Luminatti C. CH Lancia B20 1957
2005 Steinfurth P. / Berger J. D Opel Kadett C GTE Rally 1976
2006 Sauber T. / Darbre O. CH MG A Mk II 1965
2007 Nieweg U. / Bökamp L. D Porsche 911 RS 1970
2008 Goetzl HJ / Schröder M. D Opel Commodore B GS 1972
2009 Blankenhagen G. / Wirth H.-W. D Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF Coupé 1970
2010 Assmus AP / Assmus E. D Ford Cortina MK II Rally 1968
2011 Branger F.-M. / Branger S. CH Porsche 911 1977
2012 Müller U. / Imhof L. CH MG Magnette 1957
2013 Musfeld St. / Toffol J. CH Saab 96 1967
2014 Oechsle Ch. / Oechsle T. CH Lancia Fulvia Rallye HF 1.6 1972
2015 Oechsle Ch. / Oechsle T. CH Lancia Fulvia Rallye HF 1.6 1972
2016 Roth M. / Koch G. CH Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.3 1971
2017 Schmid R. / Joerin G. CH Volvo 123 GT 1967
2018 Buhofer P. / Lustenberger P. CH Austin Healey 3000 MKII 1960
2019 De Paep B. / De Terwangne D. BE / CH Porsche 924 1983
2020 Schwegler C. / Schwegler A. CH Volvo 123 GT 1969
2021 No WinterRAID (Corona)
2022 Weibel L. / Weibel C. CH CH VW Karmann-Ghia 1970
2023 Weibel L. / Weibel C. CH CH VW Karmann-Ghia 1970
They all drove the RAID. And wrote RAID history.
Clay Regazzoni
Jochen Mass
Dereck Bell
Marcel Fassler
It happened at the RAID
Jochen Mass demonstrates the Mercedes-Benz W196 to the RAID participants on the former Reims race track.
Miss Suisse at the start of the RAID Prologue Lausanne.
Asian RAID Malaysia