Appreciation Before Emotion

Recently at the magazine, we had the privilege of covering an extraordinary project — a first in Quebec, and as far as I know, in Canada too.

Frank is a true tinkerer, a mechanical craftsman at heart. He’s been into advanced trail riding for years, and for several seasons now, he’s had a wild idea brewing. When he first told me about it, I’ll be honest — my reaction was: “That would be awesome… but let’s be real, it’ll probably never happen.”

Three years later, there I was, testing with him the very first 100% electric off-road buggy, entirely built from scratch in his garage.

🖼️ When we published the test footage — which was nothing short of spectacular — reactions poured in. Plenty of positive comments, of course, but also a few critiques, mostly from people less open-minded. No surprise there: when it comes to electric vehicles, the haters are never far behind.

I believe this resistance stems partly from the media and government narrative that’s tried to force-feed us the idea that electric is the miracle cure for everything — saving the planet, ending poverty, and maybe even cooking us breakfast. You get the idea.

But beyond this ideological war between gas and electric, there’s something deeper to see… and appreciate. Sadly, many miss it.

💬 Thankfully, some comments were thoughtful and respectful:

• “Not really my kind of project, but I admire the attention to detail and the effort put in.”
• “I miss the sound — it’s weird. I prefer the roar of a real engine, but this is an impressive build.”

Then there are those who react without thinking:

• “Another one trying to save the environment…” Even though, as mentioned in the interview, that was never the goal. This was about technical challenge, a passion for fabrication, and the thrill of instant torque on the trail — something gas engines simply can’t deliver.

Others said:

• “Ten minutes on the trail and the battery’s dead? Not for me.” Yet our tests clearly showed that the range is more than enough for a full day of hardcore trail riding.

🎯 What I want to highlight with this piece is that most of the negative feedback came from people who, first, didn’t bother watching the report, and second, reacted purely on emotion. It’s unfortunate, but in every field, negative emotion often overrides sound judgment.

You don’t have to love a project just because it doesn’t align with your values. But you can still recognize the effort, the passion, the complexity of the build, and the outstanding performance of the vehicle.

🛠️ A New Generation That Challenges… Unfairly

It’s the same kind of people who criticize today’s youth for modifying their scooters or vehicles in ways that differ from how things were done “back in the day.” But instead of judging, we should be celebrating: there’s a new generation stepping into the car scene. And instead of being glued to their consoles, these young people are getting their hands dirty, building, learning, and pushing boundaries.

This isn’t about nostalgia or loyalty to a bygone era. It’s about passion, legacy, and evolution. Styles change, tools evolve — but the love for mechanics remains.

🔍 In Conclusion: Think for Yourself

Instead of locking yourself into rigid judgments — like “Ford is trash” just because your dad said so, and his dad before him — take the time to form your own opinion. Try things. Explore. Open your mind.

It doesn’t mean you have to love everything. But by stepping outside your conditioned reflexes, you might discover details, technical aspects, or ideas you never even considered. And that, in itself, is a form of openness. A form of intelligence. A form of respect for those who dare to create, test, and push the limits.