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.