Our Trip to Raptor Rally 002

Last Friday and Saturday, October 24 & 25, Ford hosted their second annual Raptor Rally, known as Raptor Rally 002 on the beautiful shores of Lake Havasu State Park in Arizona. This event brought together some of Ford’s off-road elite racers, Ford executives, and of course Raptor enthusiasts. Everyone from 1^st Gen F-150 Raptor owners to the newer model Ranger Raptors, and of course, Bronco Nation’s favorite, the Bronco Raptor. This sold-out event, with 400 Raptors, drew enthusiasts from all across the U.S. and Canada, eager to connect, learn, and take their Raptors off the pavement.

Workshops and Vendors

Brian and I had the privilege of not only attending the event but teaching  two Off-Roading 101 workshops to help drivers sharpen their trail skills and learn more about what makes the Raptor lineup so capable. We personally love connecting with owners who are interested in taking their vehicles off-road for the first time.

But, beyond teaching, it was a fantastic opportunity to meet so many passionate owners, people who not only love their Raptors but live, in their own ways, the off-road lifestyle that Ford designed them for. Other workshops included Off-Roading 201 and learning more about Ford Racing and the Baja 1000 trucks with a walk around of the actual competitive vehicles that were on display.

This year’s home base was at Lake Havasu State Park and served as the main gathering hub, featuring a vendor area that we took full advantage of, regional Raptor club displays to help owners further connect, and a main stage for special announcements and video clips. One of the biggest highlights came when organizers revealed the F-150 Raptor truck competing in this year’s Baja 1000 (in just a few days), giving attendees an up-close look at Ford’s racing innovation and off-road ambitions. In fact, all the production Raptors will be represented in this year’s race; the F-150 Raptor R, F-150 Raptor, the Bronco Raptor, and the Ranger Raptor, making this the biggest Baja 1000 effort from Ford Racing to date.

Trails & Hot Laps

During the day on Friday, and especially on Saturday, about 30 minutes outside of town, Standard Wash served as the Raptor Rally off-road playground. This was where the action truly took off, participants could join trail rides of varying difficulty levels, take part in photo ops with their Raptors, or even go for hot laps with off-road racing legends like Loren Healy and Bailey Campbell. There was also the unforgettable opportunity to jump their Raptor, safely, of course, under the supervision of experienced instructors. We were so excited to meet a new Raptor owner named Karin, who was so nervous about driving off-road for the first time. She attended our workshop where we encouraged her to get out there and take full advantage. The next day, we got a photo with the caption, “I did it!”. It’s stories like this that make the off-road community so special and give opportunities like the Raptor Rally for owners to safely explore.

Raptor Rally HQ

Back at camp, attendees enjoyed shared some meals that turned into story sessions, where new friendships were forged and some mostly true trail tales were traded under the still hot Arizona sun. The sense of community among Raptor owners, whether driving a full-size F-150, midsize Ranger, or Bronco was unmistakable.

Though the event lasted just a day and a half, Raptor Rally 002 made a lasting impression. I was very impressed with each owner having an individual truck number and personalized schedule that helped avoid crowding and long waits. We were also excited to connect with so many friends from Ford Racing to Sons of Smokey, even people we met at last year’s event. 

With the energy, turnout, and enthusiasm from this year’s rally, it’s no surprise Ford asked for feedback and have already hinted at Raptor Rally 003 coming in 2026. I hope we’ll be back as well as we are now not only F-150 Raptor owners but newer Bronco Raptor owners ourselves.