SINGER VEHICLE DESIGN BRINGS A SPECIAL TO IDAHO FOR A TOP SPEED RUN AT HEMINGWAY’S FINAL RESTING PLACE.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY RANDY WELLS

58 PANORAMA FEBRUARY 2017 FEBRUARY 2017 PANORAMA 59 During the Sun Valley Road Rally, a 3.2-mile section of zine in 2015. They quoted a top-speed estimate of 176 With its alpine meadows and spruce forests nestled under State Highway 75 is temporarily closed off by the local mph. That turned out to be on the money: Florida’s own- sheriff, making it the longest no-speed-limit public road er achieved a maximum speed of 176.2 mph in sixth gear 9,000-foot peaks and perpetually azure skies, Sun Valley, Idaho in North America with spectator viewing. At the start line, while on the rev limiter at the finish line in Idaho. there’s a subtle, uphill left-hand curve. Then it’s straight The day before the rally, the Sun Valley Auto Club and holds an irresistible allure for those of adventurous spirit. Ernest on and slightly downhill to the fastest speed achievable the town of Ketchum hosted a free-to-the-public Cruise & past the grandstands, one car at a time. Car Show. More than 200 vehicles, including exotics, hot Hemingway first came here in 1939. He instantly fell in love with One of the cars participating in 2016 was a highly rods, muscle cars, and vintage classics, came from miles modified 1990 air-cooled “reimagined” by around. Also on hand for its debut was another of Singer’s the area and returned to make it his home 20 years later. Today, Singer Vehicle Design of California. The company was modified 911s, this one known as “Norway,” complete in a founded by Rob Dickinson, a former lead singer and color called Pistachio. Dozens of additional from Sun Valley is widely known for its majestic scenery and recreational guitarist for the ’90s alt-rock group Catherine Wheel, the Silver Sage Region of PCA arrived after their own tour. and takes its name from noted Porsche engineer Nor- In all, 7,500 people gathered in Ketchum, a town with

activities. Skiing, biking, trail riding, and golfing, as well as the Sun Valley is the perfect location famous writer’s gravesite, are just some of the attractions. for stretching the legs of a special And on one weekend last July, this isolated valley drew thousands of car. Painted Hemingway Blue, automotive enthusiasts from all over North America. it sports a custom fuel cap and Singer emblem, among several unique features.

bert Singer. The car participating in the Sun Valley Road a year-round population of fewer than 3,000. A raffle at Rally is sometimes referred to as “Florida,” due to its the car show saw 1,170 tickets sold, with the lucky win- unique Hemingway Blue color and because the owner ner receiving a 2017 Macan S from Porsche of Boise. calls the Sunshine State his home. Proceeds from the family-friendly rally and raffle went For the rest of the year, the owner, who wishes to to the Drug Coalition of Blaine County, a local program remain anonymous, enjoys a second home near Idaho. that focuses on promoting drug-free and healthy life- Given the 911’s namesake and color specification, the style choices for young people. Singer team thought it would be fitting to transport “In the last two years, the Sun Valley Road Rally has “Florida” from Hemingway’s former residence to his fi- become one of the fastest growing events in town, but nal resting place in Idaho. we didn’t get here alone,” says Dave Stone, founder of the Sun Valley Road Rally and owner of the Sun Valley SUN VALLEY WAS DEEMED the perfect venue to establish Auto Club. “The community has been supportive, with a top speed for this Porsche 911 modified by Singer. An- everyone from restaurants to the Blaine County Sher- other of Singer’s reimagined 911s, with the same 4.0-liter iff’s Department pitching in. We couldn’t do any of this and gearing, was tested by Road & Track maga- without them. We live in a very special place.”

60 PANORAMA FEBRUARY 2017 FEBRUARY 2017 PANORAMA 61 Part of what makes this event unique is that it’s a Porsche . It had 17-inch wheels even then. single detail and millimeter,” he states emphatically. “I gines: a 300-hp 3.8-liter, a 350-hp 3.8-liter, or a 390-hp A cabin spectator event, unlike other high-speed time trials. All After having studied car design in the U.K. and work- don’t know anyone else who does this as much as we 4.0-liter. Finally, the suspension and are fit for a king 800 tickets sold out three weeks beforehand. And ing at Lotus, Rob was encouraged by his mentors, Peter do. We are not going to do a halfway version. We’re only upgraded with Öhlins shocks and a six- requires custom Porsche Cars North America was the title sponsor of the Stevens of McLaren, Julian Thomson of Jaguar, and Si- going to do the very best possible. speed with optional limited-slip differential. Singer can leather bucket event for the second year in a row. mon Cox, now at Infiniti. By 2009, Rob had started his “Our goal is to celebrate Porsche’s heritage using the also do a five-speed and/or 993-type all-wheel drive if , great A/C, own business, inspired by several R Gruppe “big block” benefit of modern insights, techniques, and new materi- requested. And that’s before adding custom wheels, in- unique bullet- THE RALLY WAS CONCEIVED in 2009 as a charity speed builds and his own custom 1969 911 restoration. als,” Rob continues. “We restore the finest air-cooled terior finishes, and other appearance items. Even a Tar- shaped mirrors, event among friends, and less than a decade later is a Today, the reimagined 911 Rob first envisioned is a while incorporating the purest 911 bodywork. ga 964 has been restored for owners. aluminum pedals world-class automotive weekend. Arguably, the event’s distilled package that’s a celebration of the best of Then we turn the volume up to 11 on certain aspects. Our “Rob shot probably 100 different colors on metal just and trim, preparation is equaled by the work required to modify a Porsche’s air-cooled cars. As proof, the car referred to goal is for the owner to end up with the ultimate 911.” to get a taste of what the possibilities were,” says the interwoven fabric, Porsche 911 to Singer’s standards. as Florida struck a chord in the hearts of everyone who owner of Florida. “Once we had narrowed it down, my and a tachometer Rob Dickinson revealed his earliest plans for a mod- saw it in Idaho. Ironically, Singer is based in Sun Valley, TO THIS END, Singer strips a 964 to bare metal, changes wife and I spent days selecting the perfect shade of blue. that reads to ified Porsche almost ten years ago. The drawings he California, just north of Los Angeles. the front bulkhead to accommodate a classic long hood, Later, we chose from five different interior swatches laid 11,000 rpm. spread out on a table at R Gruppe’s 2007 Treffen in San There, in a large customized warehouse, 1989-1994 and switches the outer panels to carbon fiber with soft- out on top. Rob named the final exterior color Heming- Luis Obispo were “top secret.” They showed an early Porsche 964s are modified to each individual owner’s ly sculpted RSR-type items from the Aria Group in way Blue because it reminded him of Florida’s waters.” classic 911 reimagined with uniquely widened flares and specific wishes. Each completed restoration is exclu- Irvine. This results in a 300-pound weight loss. Each owner is presented with a physical sheet that modern features, like Hella xenon headlights and later sively driven by Rob’s singular vision. “We sweat every Next, customers are offered a choice of three en- lays out some of the possibilities for chassis dynamics,

62 PANORAMA FEBRUARY 2017 FEBRUARY 2017 PANORAMA 63 transmission gearing, engine performance, and var- “There’s no point in changing what works well,” adds ious treatments that can be modified. That’s when the Seamus. “And there’s no advantage in re-engineering real fun begins, as the owner and Rob envision what something when it doesn’t need to be. It’s part of Rob’s might be even more desirable. mantra about our services. We touch everything, but we Even the positions of the blinker and wiper stalks are only change what we think we can improve.” personalized, as well as the special leather-embossed For example, stock solid lifters are used steering wheel, horn, and light switch. For seating, sev- instead of 993 hydraulics. Brakes are upgraded 993 Tur- eral options are available, and each is custom fitted to bo units with just a few tweaks. A finessed GT3 oil pump the client, right down to thigh and lumbar support. You is employed. The stock 964 oil tank in front of the right can also specify a leather-wrapped roll bar, full cage, or rear wheel is modified for better lubrication. And custom seam welding—or not. oil lines lead to a larger oil cooler in the nose of the car. “It’s kind of Unlike many previous Singer-restored 911s, this one The front pan is pocketed for efficiency, and three fans a guy’s equivalent to has no external oil cap, as requested by the owner. It’s turn on automatically as needed. This 911 looks fast standing still. getting a diamond. Inside the engine compartment is an Ed Pink It’s a pretty 4.0-liter flat six boasting 390 hp special jewel.” at 7200 rpm.

also one of the first with the 4.0-liter engine. Singer On the other hand, the engine’s plenum is one of a switched to Ed Pink Racing for the powerplant’s kind. Singer starts with a genuine 997 RS part and then build last year. More than 100 hours go into each flat six, removes all casting marks before a ceramic coating is with trick parts like custom 50-mm Jenvey throttle bod- applied. All metal surfaces in the engine compartment ies, Mahle forged aluminum pistons, Carillo rods, and an and trunk are smoothed over as well. Then the sound mat Arrow Precision . and front trunk upholstery are color coordinated and “All the 4.0-liter heads are proprietary to us,” says hand stitched in marine-grade upholstery or carpet that’s Singer’s test driver Seamus Taaffe. “It’s a stroked motor, easily cleaned. The center-fill fuel tank houses a race tank with large yet reasonably sized , designed by Ed with a safety bladder. When a fuel filler on the side fend- Pink. Luckily, he’s just down the road from us in Van er is requested, a genuine Porsche tank is employed. Nuys. The result is an engine with a prodigious linear curve. There’s never a point when you’re driving IT TAKES ABOUT eight months to complete each car. Af- the car around a corner and the power suddenly surges. terwards, 500 test miles are put into each example to We’ve rev-limited it to 7200 rpm for longevity, even specifically dial in the customer’s goals. “I made several though our tachometers read to 11,000.” trips to L.A. to have the car fitted to me and my needs,”

64 PANORAMA FEBRUARY 2017 FEBRUARY 2017 PANORAMA 65 says Florida’s owner. “And I’d be hard-pressed to say WHILE ON A TEST DRIVE with Seamus through Idaho’s that there was ever an issue. It’s kind of a guy’s equiva- Sawtooth Mountains, I became privy to the car’s capa- lent to getting a diamond. It’s a pretty special jewel.” bilities. Poise and predictability are virtues this vehicle Singer first approached the owner about taking Flor- possesses in spades. There are no suspension noises or ida to the Sun Valley Rally at the 2016 Amelia Island the kind of over-damping you sometimes find in other Concours, where the car made its debut. He serves on restorations. Cornering is flat on foot-wide rear rubber, the board of a charity that provides accessibility of re- and the ride is superb no matter what surface is encoun- sources to those recovering from drug and alcohol ad- tered. The optional carbon-fiber bucket seats are luxu- diction, so the idea of donating to a similar charity ap- rious and securely supportive. pealed to him. Singer brought a team of three specialists While not exactly a featherweight at 2,743 pounds, to support the owner and car at the event. this bespoke beauty goes down the road like nobody’s Mild-mannered yet internally competitive, the owner business thanks to the 390-hp 4.0-liter engine, with just is thrilled with his Porsche 911 restored by Singer and the right amount of sonorous serenade trailing behind.

Opposite: Perfect setting. Perfect stance. Left: Front compartment detailing is meticulous. A center-fill tank is wrapped in marine-quality upholstery that looks the part and holds a tool kit.

his Sun Valley experience. “Going as fast as possible in Nothing seems out of place or calls attention to itself. the car is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m Your experience is guaranteed genuine. And it’s all completely satisfied with my car,” he reports. “It’s very wrapped in a refined body and interior that are as unfor- fulfilling, whether you’re driving around town, at an gettable as Sun Valley itself. event like this unrestrained by speed limits, or looking It’s not surprising that this is the car that many early- at it in your garage. It can play a lot of different roles. 911 fans aspire to drive. The owner agrees. “The early cars The only problem is that my four-year-old daughter are just amazing because they’re so mechanically pure,” wants me to go fast all the time.” he enthuses. “This car has lots of the modern amenities, Fortunately, this car has the modern underpinnings it like , air-conditioning, and ABS, without needs for high-speed runs like this, with dampers that can feeling like you’ve lost that connected feeling to the car.” be adjusted to deal with high- and low-frequency bounces. Another advantage is that it’s not irreplaceable, like They can also be easily dialed back with Öhlins’ 40 steps an investment-grade vintage 911. Still, the aroma from of adjustment to soak up the heaves on Florida’s highways the tactile suede/leather woven interior is as compelling caused by intense heat. “You can get it to the point where as any you will find. And the door pull action it drives almost like a Panamera!” the owner exclaims. is the best I’ve felt on any 911.

FEBRUARY 2017 PANORAMA 67 eration, and I could take something from that genera- tion. Why not use the best of the best from various 911s?’ Fortunately for us, the 964 chassis allows the retrofitting of these core components. And because it’s the last of the rear-trailing-arm models, it retains much of the early 911’s heritage and character.” Ultimately, more than 150 vendors and 4,000 man- hours go into customizing a Porsche 964 to reimagined and improved condition. The obsessive attention to de- tail that goes into each 911 that Singer modifies makes them individually special, right down to the bullet- shaped mirrors, nickel-coated hinges, and brass-plated lug nuts. On close inspection, you realize this car is a piece of art. Sun Valley and this distinctive automotive event are special, too. “I love that even as this car show and road rally have become bigger, we are seeing families come “QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE. That’s something from all over the U.S. to enjoy Idaho and its outdoors that separates us,” confirms Matthew Henry of Singer. with us,” says organizer Dave Stone. “The faces on the “There’s a lot of stuff that Rob was able to look at early kids seeing their favorite cars for the first time are so on, and go, ‘Hey, I could take something from this gen- wonderful. I love that we can give them that.”

1990 911 modified by Singer Engine 4.0-liter SOHC F6 Power 390 hp @ 7200 rpm Torque 315 lb-ft @ 5950 rpm Transmission 6-speed manual

Suspension: front Strut-type, trailing arm rear Strut-type, trailing arm calipers: front 4-piston On the Run rear 4-piston THE TOP SPEED OVERALL at the 2016 Sun Valley Road Rally was 230 mph, achieved by one of the Brake rotors: front 12.7 in., vented crowd favorites, a Vitesse Hellbug powered by a 1200-hp, 8.0-liter turbocharged rear 11.8 in., vented W16 engine. Slowest speed honors belonged to Peggy Baker and her fun-loving girlfriends in the Wheels: front 17x9 in. Sun Valley Auto Club Lincoln Continental at 55.4 mph. Dave Stone, the club’s founder, achieved rear 17x11 in. 106.5 mph in his 1960 356B with only 60 hp on tap! Porsche Driving Experience instructors Cass Whitehead and John Lewis were on hand to set top Tires: front 225/45R17 times in a brand-new 2016 911 Targa S Coupe and Panamera Turbo. Their goal was 200 mph in rear 265/40R17 the Panamera loaded with passengers, and they nearly achieved it! The fastest woman was Carol Length 163.0 in. Bowman of Boise, Idaho in a 2015 Porsche Turbo S at 206.7 mph. In fact, the 997 Turbo S was the 89.4 in. most consistent car to top 200 mph that day. Height 49.3 in Besides the special-built Bugatti and the 911 modified by Singer, the rarest car to run was a U.S.-legalized 2011 Aston Martin One-77 (one of 77 made) that topped out at 201 mph. Verifying Width (w/o mirrors) 69.0 in. their respective top speeds were a McLaren 675LT, an R8, a Dodge Viper, a Ferrari 458, and a Curb weight 2,743 lb Ferrari F430. In all, 41 drivers negotiated the course in six heats. 0-60 mph 3.3 sec (est.) At the Saturday night driver’s banquet, each entrant received a complimentary “speeding ticket” Top speed 176.2 mph written up by the local sheriff and ready to hang on the wall. The event’s entrance fee was surely less

Price $575,000 than what it would have cost to fight it! —RW

For an inside look at the 2016 Sun Valley Road Rally, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag1WstqabwU

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