Ask the average person on the street if they've ever heard of a car company called Panoz and you probably won't get much of a response.

	Tattoo Artist Wild Bill Hill’s Rare 2002 Panoz AIV Roadster

In the automotive world, however, the name Panoz is well-known and is synonymous with cycle-fendered Roadsters, the Esperante GTS racer and a amazing racing history.

Wild Bill Hill, a tattoo artist from Roseville, will be showing his rare 2002 Panoz Roadster at the Pacific Coat Dream Machines Show on Sunday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport.

In 1997, Panoz Motor Sports took to the Le Mans circuit. Determined to race on the track what they build for the street, the Cobra powered Panoz was the first front/mid engine entry in nearly thirty years. Their Esperante won the GTLM Cass at Le Mans in France in 2007.

Now, Panoz Motor Sports owns Road Atlanta, The Sebring Track and Mosport Park, all have premiere racing schools. Panoz also owns the American Le Mans Series.

The start of Panoz Auto Development actually began in Ireland. After moving to California, Danny Panoz went to work on the chassis, modifying it so that it could fit a V8 engine. In 1990 Panoz moved the company from California to a  facility in Hoschton Georgia.

The Roadster went basically unchanged until 1996 when it received several major updates. Renamed the AIV (aluminum intensive vehicle) Roadster because of its new lightweight aluminum frame. Handling improved with a new independent rear suspension, and 13-inch brakes stopped the 2200 lb car in incredibly short distances. The power plant of the car was also changed to a newer and more powerful 4.6 liter engine from the SVT Cobra.

Each year the plant produces just about 80 hand-built, head-turning, high-performance cars.

Chassis: Aircraft Extruded Aluminum.
Layout: Front/Mid engine.
Body: Aircraft Aluminum, Carbon Fiber and Kevlar. Hand Assembled.
Horsepower: 365 BHP at 5800 RPM Torgue: 340 Lb-ft at 4800 RPM. Redline: 6900 RPM.
Performance: 0-60 MPH: 4.0 Sec. 0-100 mph: 9.7 Sec. Quarter Mile: 11.7 Sec at 106 mph
Engine: 280.8 CU. IN. Dual Overhead Cam. 32-valve, 90 Degree Aluminum Cobra Hemi V-8.
Transmission: Manual, Aluminum, Borg Warner, T-45, 5-Speed Manual.
Suspension: Polished Stainless Steel, Independent Double Wishbone Lotus Type.
Top speed: 160+ MPH. Braking: 0-60 MPH: 109 ft. Slalom speed: 76.0 MPH.
Skid pad: 97G Lateral acceleration: 0.97G 700 FT. (212M) 

Wild Bill Hill started collecting cars about 18 years ago with a  Model T and now has a garage full of specialty cars, including a 1915 Ford Speedster, 1932 Ford Phaeton, 1954 Porsche Spyder, 1959 Messerschmitt, 1963 Amphicar, 1966 shortened VW Bus, 1999 Chevy flat-bed car hauler, 2002 Panoz AIV Roadster, 2005 Lincoln Aviator, 2005 Panoz Esperante GTLM, 2007 Pontiac Solstice, four Motorcycles, and three Minis. To check them out go to: Wild-Bills.com and click on Bill’s garage.

“The first time I saw the Roadster it knocked my socks off. I knew I had to have it. It’s so responsive and very, very quick,” said Hill. “I love taking it to the track, the way it holds the road going into corners is just incredible.”