With the end of the 2002 season approaching, Bildon Motorsports was to again visit Watkins Glen International.

With a commitment to running only NYSRRC events in 2002, the team decided to forego Saturdays 3-hour enduro race. After the last Glen event and Bill’s 1st place finish, the season championship was now firmly in hand for Don and Bill so these last 2 weekends would hopefully serve as “icing on the cake” to a very successful 2002 race season.

Expecting a potentially low turnout, the team was shocked to see a large contingent of Volvos in the garage as the cars were prepared for the day’s events. Greg Subtelny in his quick yellow Volvo along with a slew of others had decided to attend this last chance event at the Glen for 2002. Greg is always fast and is an experienced, competent racer. If the track stayed dry, this would prove steep competition; the best scenario for the Bildon cars was if it rained so that the GTI’s front wheel drive would excel.

Don had just purchased a new set of Kumho Ecsta race tires and searched for a tire truck to have them mounted. His search would prove fruitless as the regular purveyors, were all noticeably absent in the paddock. Don would have to make the best of his old tires one more time. After the last event, Don had dialed in some negative camber to the rear of his Golf to help the rear end hook up better. With the purchase of a new house (and attached race shop), Bill had been extremely busy but his car was running well so no tinkering was necessary.

Although overcast and gray, the track was fairly dry so the team lined up for morning qualifying on slicks.

Bill and Don swapped positions a few times during the qualifying event. Early in the session, following Bill into the 90 degree turn 1, Don drifts out onto the painted strip and feels the back end become very loose, quick hands prevent the #50 GTI from spinning on what would later turn out to be Bill’s coolant leak! A few laps later, Bills car slowed with a potential overheating problem as he began to smell coolant. With a close eye on the temperature gauge he soldiered on but a misfire began to develop so he pulled in to avoid further damage. Don stayed out to try to turn some hot laps as the track was drying and his Kumho tires were coming up to temperature.

A post session look under the hood of the #55 GTI revealed a leaking overflow tank, which was soon repaired. A compression check was ordered to assess the health of the cars engine. A bit low, but Bill would make the race!

Bill had managed to qualify 6th and Don 7th. The team has prided itself on making showing in every session at every race in 2002. Not an easy task…

Resident team photographer Ernie Sulouff was in attendance. Much thanks goes out to Ernie who has captured not only professional still shots, but also nicely done videos of the many Glen events.

With rain drizzling throughout the day, the team makes what would prove a delightful decision. Mount the rain tires, and do it now! A walk in the garage exposes a fatal flaw with the Volvo camp….most would choose to run on slicks, hoping for a drying track to exploit their dry-track power advantage.

Bill and Don discuss the Volvos power advantage with Greg before the race. As they part Bill exclaims, “Have fun up front” and Don adds, “Yeah, we’ll be further back, unless it rains and then you might see us.” Prophetic words indeed Don, as Greg would soon see!

At the start, the pace car led the cars around as the fog rolled in. Before the green flag could drop, the session was black-flagged and the cars were brought in. The fog was so thick that the corner workers could not see the track! After a 5-minute wait, the cars rolled back out and the race began! Don got an unusually good start and began passing cars almost immediately. Bill was also taking advantage of his GTIs handling on the wet track. Both cars passed car after car on the first lap. As the team headed up the hill onto the back straight, they were amazed to find the Volvos slipping along as the GTIs powered by! The rain continued and Bill and Don quickly and carefully moved to the front of the pack. The team had decided to press hard early in the race and possibly build a lead. If the rain stopped the track would dry fast, and the Volvos would appear quick in the GTIs mirrors…

But this was not to be the case! Don and Bill “the Rainmeisters” pressed on lap after lap and soon settled in just behind a pack of fast Showroom Stock and ITS class cars. No need to chance it by making a move on a car that is not in the Bildon class, especially in this weather. Unfortunately for Bill his GTI again developed a misfire situation and he dropped back as his car slowed. On the 2nd to last lap, while following a fast Porsche 944, Don watches as the 944 starts to slide and spin in the middle of a turn. Don carefully feathers the throttle and tries to figure out where the sliding Porsche will end up. The race is nearly over and Don looks to have it in the bag until now…Luckily the 944 stays in the middle of the track as Don chooses a very high line almost leaving the track. As the checkered flag falls Don realizes his last win at Watkins Glen International was 10 years ago this fall. Don’s day could not have gone better if he scripted it himself. Wet track, the right tires, and no yellow flags allow him the win!

This has been another successful day for the boys from Bildon Motorsport. The cars prove fast and now the team has seen back-to-back wins at their home track “The Glen”. Don is elated with his first Watkins Glen win of the season.

Both cars are now firmly in the lead for the NYSRRC ITB championship. The dream looks to be a reality. The hours of hard work have paid off. One more race is left, the ever-popular “Great Pumpkin” event at Nelson Ledges in 2 weeks. This event will be for fun as the team now has amassed a commanding lead and does not need the points. Long time friend and Bildon team member Drake Core will take time out from his busy motorcycle-racing season to help the team out at this last event of the year before the cars are covered up for the winter.

See you in Ohio!