Raptors...Raptors everywhere!

So there I was, packing my camera gear, review notes, and a few puns, fuelled by caffeine and a healthy dose of sarcasm, heading off to Parys. No, not the one with the Eiffel Tower, but the one where you might expect to find a Raptor or two prowling the streets. And not just any Raptor—Ford's latest beast, the one I was itching to get my hands on for a thorough test and review. But, alas, Ford didn't quite see the value in letting me take one for a spin. Apparently, my credentials, which include not only photographing but also testing and reviewing the latest (and sometimes classic) automotive offerings, weren’t quite enough to sway them. I guess, with a modest following of just over 340,000 people and a reach of ±6 million per month I need to grow a bit more to be let near the Raptor…right?

As I rolled into Parys, the town had transformed into a scene straight out of Jurassic Park. Raptors, Raptors everywhere! It was like some ironic twist—the kind where everyone got to drive the “dinosaur”, except someone who would shoot, review and tell its story. And by shoot, I mean with a camera, not the Chris Pratt kind of way (though that would’ve been pretty entertaining).

You see, while Ford's PR team was busy overlooking me, (actually, told me that they didn’t think I would be good enough to be allowed near their vehicles) I found myself face-to-face with the Ford Raptor’s more rugged cousins—those wild, untamed monsters that scream across rocky offroad gravel roads. Yes,

I’m talking about the Neil Woolridge Ford Racing team, whose Ford’s don’t just look the part, they sound like a T-Rex stepped onto a large Lego block! They mean business. Now, these machines are the real deal—built to take on the kind of terrain that laughs in the face of our pothole filled tar roads. And they do it with style, too!

But here’s the thing, Ford. While I stood there, admiring the sheer power and finesse of those racing Raptors, I couldn’t help but wonder how your showroom model would stack up. You know, the one you didn’t quite want me to have a closer look at…

It's all well and good to build a truck that looks like it could conquer the Amazon, but how does it fare on a leisurely weekend drive? Can it cruise down a gravel road without demanding a pit stop every few kilometers to rest those kidneys? And how does it feel behind the wheel—does it live up to the hype, or is it just another pretty face in a crowd? Yeah, I am curious…

Now, don’t get me wrong. I totally understand your concerns. You’re probably thinking, "If we give him the keys, he'll treat it like a rally car. He has been racing all sorts of things in the past 2 decades INCLUDE a purpose built Gymkhana Ford Fiesta…" But let’s set the record straight. I’m not here to race your Raptor, I’m here to capture its soul, explore its capabilities, and share with the world what it’s really like to live with one. I’m the guy who knows how to make a car look good, tell its story, and reach a healthy audience—all while keeping it in pristine condition. My lenses and words are for storytelling, not for sending your prized truck on an unexpected detour to the body shop.

And let’s not forget, the last time Ford was this cautious, I ended up writing about how you fought back with your products like modern-day gladiators reclaiming their arena. Now, wouldn’t it have been a nice continuation of that story if I could’ve shared how your Raptor handles when it’s not tearing up farm and country roads? Whether it’s navigating the urban jungle or the rugged trails, I’m the guy who could’ve shown the world what the Raptor is really made of—by sharing it with my modest little community of a few hundred thousand.

But hey, no hard feelings! Maybe next time, right? Maybe next time you’ll realize that having someone like me behind the lens, the wheel, and the keyboard could actually be a good thing. After all, I’m just here to show the world that your Raptor isn’t just a beast in the wild—it’s also the king of the concrete jungle, and everywhere in between. Just so you know whenever you’re ready to hand over the keys…

Until then, I’ll keep dodging Raptors in Parys and dreaming of the day I get to test and review one that doesn’t have a race number (Well, I will consider it if the number is 7!) plastered on the side. Because when it comes to these trucks, it’s not just about going fast—it’s about looking good, feeling great, and reaching millions of eyeballs while doing it!

NOTE : No dinosaurs got hurt in the production of this piece. Not being able to drive this machine in Parys was actually a good thing, I would not have been able to capture the NWM Machines in action.