Bildon Racing News...

Volkswagen announces SCCA sponsorship!
Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced that it will support the 2007 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) racing season more

2007 GTI in Grand Am Cup
Bringing VW to professional endurance racing.more

Corrado runs high as 3rd in 2006 ARRCCorrado shows well at annual American Road Race of Champions.
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Track record & Victory at BeaveRun. ITS Corrado still improving!
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ITS Corrado continues strong showing at Watkins Glen
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Corrado on Pace! The ITS Corrado comes good, setting fastest laps.
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Purchase these quality parts at Bildon Motorsport


Old Faithful returns to help clinch championship

Watkins Glen, 9/17-18/2005
FLR 'Fun One', Double Regional

AMB Transponder Results - Saturday
AMB Transponder Results - Sunday

ITS or ITB ?
The Bildon team entered the Fall race season and prepared for the September event at the fabled Watkins Glen race circuit. With the 2005 race season nearing a close, Don needed valuable points to secure the NYSRRC championship. For Bill the question was "do we tow the Corrado or the Golf all the way to Watkins Glen? The question was asked because for weeks now the new ITS Corrado had been reminding us of just how difficult a car can be once you officially call it a "RACE CAR". For years the Corrado had been a reliable street car and Showroom Stock champion, however now it was taking every opportunity to prove us wrong.

So, just a week before this WGI event, the trusty old #55 Golf GTI was uncovered, given a bath and had it's oil and coolant changed. That's it. After 2 years if sitting under a car cover, much of the time outside, it was time to play again. Surely it would fail us now? Old hoses?, corrosion?, something brittle or stuck from 2 years of neglect? Oh and there were the circumstances of it's retirement after the last race in 2003... a misfire and some smoke from the wiring harness under the dash.... Yah, there is no way this car will finish a race.

Saturday
Prior to the first session Bill set off to replace #55's old rubber on the front with some new shoes. Primarily for safety since the old tires had hardened and might not make it through a weekend. The rears we left alone as it didn't make sense to spend money on a car that wasn't going to finish, right? The new Kumho V710s were mounted up. Bill had liked these tires on the Corrado and so was trying them on one of the Golfs for the first time.

Saturday's practice went like clockwork as both Bildon cars took to the course. Before the practice session, the team had replaced the brakes on the #55 car and had bled the brakes to ensure a firm brake pedal. After the Beaver Run event, the #05 car had it's rear brake pressure bias adjusted so that there would be no rear wheel lockup. After the practice, the team set up in the paddock and made final adjustments for Saturday's race.

Once out on track, it took about 1/2 a lap before Bill realized that racing this old car was like riding a bike. It was so familiar that after 5 or 6 laps the car was brought back to the paddock even though the session was not over. There was no need to continue as there was no more speed in the car. Surprisingly when the qualifying results were posted, they revealed that the #55 car was on pole with a time of 2:27.3 and the #05 car had a 2nd place with a time of 2:27.4. As in 2002, the dual Bildon Volkswagen's were again on top!

For the afternoon race a strategy was devised which might help keep the GTI up front. The big SSB Camaro grided in 2nd, should be faster in a straight line and should make an excellent drafting partner. If Bill could tuck in behind on the straights then perhaps the tow would allow him to pull away from his persuers as the race progressed.

The green fell and the #55 GTI followed the SSB Camaro closely, gradually pulling away from the pursuing field. After a couple lasp Bill begain swapping the lead back and forth with the SSB car as an outright victory looked possible. However displacement is king at WGI and eventually the #55 GTI yielded the overall race the Camaro and instead took 1st place in ITB. It was an excellent showing for a car that had not been on track in over two years. Don's car was having a great race until 5 laps in when the right rear wheel cylinder exploded, sending the brake pedal to the floor heading into a fast corner. Don collected the car, and made his way to the pits where he was forced to retire with no brakes.

Saturday night the team drove to an auto parts store and arrived just before closing. Luckily they had the necessary brake parts and the team realized they would have and early morning, and much work to do on the #05 car to make the race.

Sunday
Sunday morning the entire rear brakes on the #05 car were replaced and the brakes were bled. The team was ready as the afternoon approached.

The team discussed strategy as they would most likely run together in a fast pack. On the first lap, up the long back straight, Don noticed Bill slowing and slowly moved past. Obviously there was a problem… For the rest of the race Don would have an amazing race with Dan DeBell in an always fast at the Glen Volvo 142. The cars swapped positions numerous times for the entire race. Don's Golf was quicker through the turns while Dan's Volvo was had a bit more grunt on the straights. On the last lap, Don and Dan caught Bill and rocketed past as the checkered flag fell. Obviously there was a problem with the #55 GTI, but Bill was securing points by finishing.

After the race, while the cars were in impound Don and Dan reveled in the fantastic race they had. Dan had barely nosed by Don for first in a VERY close race. It was all clean racing and neither car had touched the other. Now that's what 'gentlemen' racing is all about. Good clean competitive fun!

Post-race, Bill revealed that he had been plagued with a chronic misfire stemming from a loose battery cable. The team left with a great result on each day from the Bildon boys.
 
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