With the 2002 Sports Car Club of America Improved Touring class championship wrapped up, Bildon Motorsport did not even HAVE to attend this event. This was to be the last event before the snowflakes fly. This was to be just one more weekend to complete the commitment to running the entire season. This was to be the final weekend where both cars would complete and manage to finish, just like every other race in 2002.

“The Great Pumpkin” event (as this near-Halloween race weekend is called) typically promises cold and often damp conditions as it is held so late in the season. As the team set up camp early Saturday morning a light on and off drizzle began. Plenty of recent rain ensured that the typically muddy Nelson paddock area would again not disappoint. With these conditions in mind, the team began unpacking and erecting its arsenal of tents, side drapes, and floor tarps in an effort to create a dry area from which to mount the final assault on the fast Nelson Ledges circuit.

With the rain coming down steady, and the rain tires still mounted from the recent rain- soaked Watkins Glen event, both cars decided to go out for morning qualifying on “wet” tires. As the green flag appeared on the session both cars accelerated onto the front straight. Almost immediately Bill’s #55 GTI began slowing with what he thought was a misfire, until the cars engine completely quits near turn 2. Bill carefully pulled the car over and got out only to watch in frustration as the other cars got faster and faster on a drying race surface. Meanwhile Don’s #50 car was running well as Don concentrated on coming up to speed. Midway through the session Joel Lipperini’s fast SSC Honda, fresh from a national class win at The Runoff’s, (the super bowl of SCCA class racing) slid off the track and down into the tire barrier in turn one.

After a tow in to the Bildon paddock the team quickly discovered the cause of Bill’s problem. Unbelievably, the #55 car had broken its camshaft! The Bildon crew was perplexed as all members with years of VW racing experience have yet to ever hear of such a failure. As this is not a common problem area, the Bildon team did not have a spare cam and the realization that this would be the end of the season for Bill’s #55 car is discussed. The team decides to pack up the #55 car and concentrate on Don’s #50 car for the weekend. Don and Bill shook hands as they realize the long race for the championship is over, with only 6 points separating the two cars!

A short walk over to the camp of Joel Lipperini reveals a severely cosmetically damaged Honda. Joel is told that if he can get his bumpers reattached he can run the race. At this point his bumpers are nothing more than a pile of broken plastic strewn about on his trailer. Joel is ready to call it a day until the Bildon crew offered to allow Joel to pull his cosmetically challenged Honda into the vacant Bildon garage for repairs. Joel agreed and the teams began work to repair the Honda bumpers. With a pile of wire wraps and a cordless drill, Don attacked the pieces and slowly hooked them back together. The bumper resembled Frankenstein but with the help of a little racers tape would suffice to get Joel back on course for the afternoon race. Meanwhile Bill was busy reattaching the rear bumper cover and side skirt assembly.

With the track drying Don elected to mount the “dry” tires to his GTI. A new rear tire compound will also be tried. This compound can be fast but also tricky as when cold these tires offer little grip. Don was second on the grid behind the fast BMW of Allan Ferrogonio. On the start Don played it cool and settles in to second place with Csaba Bujdoso close behind. As the #50 GTI headed into the fast left-hander the rear began to slide out and Don corrected by giving it more gas. The car, however, was now off course and once on the wet grass slid hopelessly toward the tire wall backwards. Don ended up rolling lightly onto his roof with an end to his season now firmly decided. The car was thankfully not damaged bad and suffers only a few dents and scrapes. So….

As Bill and Don reflected on a successful season and one tremendously unlucky Saturday, they decided to pack up the cars and call it a season. This event was supposed to be for fun? With both cars having been towed back to the paddock, this weekend of racing was not meant to be!

The year’s difficult goal had been reached. Aside from that one event, a better season could not have happened. A solid first and second place finish for Don and Bill (respectively) in the NYSRRC ITB class championship. A quiet realization and feeling of contentment fell over the team as they packed up for the final time in 2002 and headed back to Pittsburgh for a victory celebration! All that is left are a few year-end banquets. The team is undecided on plans for 2003 as there are many options and discussions on the table after this very successful year. One thing, however, is for sure... See you at the track in 2003!