Glidden retired from full-time racing in 1997 to help with Fords NASCAR engine development. I'venever heard this, and it just sounds like a load of BS to me.. Bob knew Rusty was using it when Rusty ran the 6 with the Winnibago(sp) car. Amazingly, Glidden won the title by the slimmest of margins that year over Lee Shepherd, his main rival and a man who would make life both interesting and difficult for Bob over the next half decade. The success of todays Greg Anderson is not entirely unlike that of a certain Midwestern kid with an unshakable will to win that started breaking backs in Pro Stock three decades ago. Market data provided by Factset. You can squawk about the high-stakes involved in Formula 1 and sports car prototypes, but the ultra-close racing in Pro Stock over the years indicates there is a very high-octane rivalry yet competitive balance going on between the major engine builders. RIP Bob Glidden.You\ve been my favorite since the first time I ever saw you! So Bob got caught, but there was no fuss made of it by NHRA? Edit Now Racing career Glidden began his drag racingcareer in the 1960s in a Ford427 Fairlane. 5 product ratings - Revell Kit 7167 1/24 Bob Gliddens Motorcraft Thunderbird Pro Stock Open. 68 TorinoGT Fastback, 1982 Mercury Capri RS (bought new) 1975 Bronco. It is with great sadness that we bring you this news. Wyoming Trucking Association. Glidden showed up at the 1976 US Nationals in a Monza, much to the amazement of everyone. Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died Dec. 17. When Bob Glidden was inducted as number four on the NHRA's Top 50 Drivers list, panelist Bob Frey said of Glidden's talent, "There never was, and probably never will be, a more dominant driver in our sport." On Sunday, December 17, Glidden died at age 73, after being admitted to an Indianapolis hospital for an The tributes to NHRA Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden, who died Dec. 17, 2017, poured in during the 64th Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg. I am 70 years old and remember the Golden Age of Pro Stock!!! Bob "Xman" Williams#2096 Super Streetanother SRA member"Chance Favors the Prepared Mind". In 1975, it's safe to say Glidden dominated Pro Stock, clinching seven wins, five number-one qualifiers, eight top speeds, and six low e.t. While he did make several finals and won the Springnationals, it was a tough row to hoe in a car that was definitely not one of his favorites. In a star-studded career that spanned more than 25 years in the class, Glidden won 85 events and 10 season championships and was voted No. 1979. 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Bob Glidden leaves behind one of the most decorated legacies in NHRA and motorsports history. NHRA'S 50 GREATEST DRIVERS -- NO. Watching him kick all that GM ass in the 80\s was so fun to watch. HOULTON -- Robert (Bob) L. Glidden Sr., 83, died following a brief illness on Feb. 16, 2010, in a Bangor Hospital. He was 73. He was 73 years old, and passed away after a brief bout of illness. In 1968 he changed to a 428 Cobra Jet Mustang. The car rolled six times but the funnycar roll cage surrounding him held together. aerodynamic Ford Probe advantage. Unlike his previous years, he started the season strong. My info coming from an IHRA pro stock, I think it was Bill that nitroused the probe that he was running. After coming close in 1980, Shepherd succeeded in stripping Glidden of his title in 1981. Facing his first real challenge in the performance department in quite some time, in the form of the Lee Shepherd-driven Reher-Morrison Chevy Camaro, Glidden led the points chase only once all year: on the last day of the season. >Bob Glidden did not get caught using nitrous oxide..One of his kids, Just what does "pressurize a block" mean? John Force, left, celebrates Bob Glidden's induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. A true CHAMPION,GENTLEMAN, and THE BEST Pro Stock racer EVER. Ten-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Bob Glidden, who singlehandedly carried the Ford banner for most of a 15-year period, died Sunday night. Got a tour of hos trailer and everything. 2021 FOX News Network, LLC. Something tells us that the next time you hear a thunderstorm in the distance it may actually sound like a screaming Ford Fairmont with a skinny guy from Indiana behind the wheel, shifting the Lenco as the car hurtles down the big strip in the sky to a win light. He boasted eight wins between 1990 and 1993, and despite having a heart attack in late 1994, he took an 85th and final NHRA Pro Stock victory at Englishtown in 1995. May they carry on the legacy of their family and strength of their Dad. Rest In Peace, Bob. Chrysler ran into the financial rocks heading into the 1980 season so his deal there ended. In 94, Glidden was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and he took his place in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. Danny at work aked me if i had heard the news and the answer was yes, my next words right or wrong was that really sux. Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944 - December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer. Prayers for Bob and family. Glidden sold his two Super Stock Mustangs in 1972 and purchased a Pinto Pro Stocker from Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush and made an immediate impact. His wife Etta and sons Billy and Rusty provided invaluable support in his driving efforts, and his will to win and tireless commitment carried him across the finish line in first countless times. Bob Glidden, who died Sunday at 73, won 85 Pro Stock national events and 10 season championships and was a fixture on the SoCal drag racing scene. What did Bob Glidden die from? LOL. Thanks for the Memories,Bob. Bob graduated from Kennett High School in Conway, N.H. in 1945 and immediately joined the Army Air . I was never a Ford guy growing up, but the only Ford i cheered for was the one that had Bob Glidden on the window. His victory at the season-ending Winston Finals gave him 76 career wins, 49 in the 1980s alone. Insanely, 1979 was better. June 22, 2022; Posted by lisa marie michael jackson; 22 . It is with great sadness that we bring you this news. Bob knew Rusty was using it when Rusty ran the 6 with the Winnibago (sp) car. Then in 1980, at Englishtown, New Jersey, Bob and Etta attracted a crowd around their pro stock pit area. He collected $12,400 and on that day one of the greatest careers in drag racing history was born. Market data provided by Factset. 1997 Ford Pro Stock, Bob Glidden, die cast car, Platinum Series, Limited Edition. Houses For Sale In Sarnia, Pinetown, He also qualified No. I have 4 pro-stock models on my shelf, Bill Jenkins, Ronnie Sox, Lee Shepard, and Bob Glidden. By NHRA.com (Whiteland, IN) -- Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died on Sunday. In keeping with the spirit of this conversation but in the context of our mission, weve set up a hotline for ideas: [emailprotected]. So he made the finals three races in a row winning once. Birth Place: Whiteland, Indiana. Leo. While many people would have thought he was crazy, Glidden raced to feed his family and while he was switching brands, he would not switch off the competitive spirit that he used to dominate so hard in Fords. Brand New. I briefly met them at MIR, and their enthusiasm. NEVER HAPPENEDway back when he was running IHRA,Glidden refused to a teardown.Instead of justpumping a couple of cylinders,They wanted a complete teardown.Bob packed it upand left.He never raced IHRA after that >Unrelated to ProStock, but still Nitrous, Dale Armstrong was caught playing>around with it on Kenny's Funny cartalk about simplicityhe used one of>the two firebottles for the nitrous. News, Racing He was born Feb. 7, 1927 in Dover, N.H., the son of Cecil and Ina (Littlefield) Glidden. He was the third most successful drag racer of the professional class drivers (sixth when counting sportsman national event winners). We raced the country roads of Whiteland and Greenwood with a group of people, during a time of life that can\t be duplicated. A Ford campaigner from the beginning, Glidden's success in Pro Stock stemmed from his apprenticeship in Stock and Super Stock. Glidden started the season of 1978 in his Pinto winning the Winternationals, pulling a runner up at the Gatornationals, and then winning the Cajun Nationals. After a disappointing 1976 season, in which he finished a distant sixth behind Larry Lombardo, Glidden rebounded to finish second behind Don Nicholson in 1977 before reclaiming his number-one ranking in 1978. Then theyd blast off the rust and build a new racecar. Surely will be missed by all who follow the sport. in nine national events with his Ford Fairmont in 1978, so it was shocking that. About Bob Glidden. He was a 21-time IHRA winner, leading the tour with nine wins and 10 final-round appearances during his 1976 championship season. Bob die $31.50. Glidden died in Whiteland on December 17, 2017 of colorectal cancer at the age of 73. Bob Glidden was one of NHRA's first and finest stars NHRA star Bob Glidden, who won 85 Pro Stock national events and 10 season championships, died Sunday at the age of 73. BOB Marley touched the lives of millions of fans through his reggae music. 1, setting low e.t. Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944:- December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer. Not even speculation about Bob in the media? The 1989 season was Glidden's most dominant campaign, in which he won nine times en route to his 10th and final Winston title. He was dominate. He was 73-years-old. 1970 Ford Boss 429 Mustang - Grabber Blue (Highway 61) 1/18. RIP Mr, Gliden.You will like the others of your caliber are and will be missed. In a star-studded career that spanned more than 25 years in Pro Stock, Glidden won 85 events, 10 season championships, and was voted No. Aug 18, 1944 Whiteland, Indiana, United States Died on 17 Dec 2017 (aged 73) American racing driver. Bob went on to indirectly accuse KurtJohnson of it, but had no proof. And when Bob heard of it he made him give the winning back .A man of great sportsmanship. After the Mile High Nationals? Top Rated Seller. and top speed, and winning the race. HOULTON -- Robert (Bob) L. Glidden Sr., 83, died following a brief illness on Feb. 16, 2010, in a Bangor Hospital. Always the best in my eyes an what a nice tribute to send him off!.RIP Bob Glidden.I have been Dreaming of someday having that Ford HEMI power under my hood..IT WILL HAPPEN!FATSNAKE COBRA IIFOREVER FORD! Sponsored. He also qualified No. Actually, MTX, you're correct the supposed way this was accomplished was by"gun drilling" the motor plates, and hiding the solenoids inside the cagetubing. 4 ranking on its Top 50 drivers of the sanctioning bodys first 50 years. Bob Glidden had enjoyed the best season of his career thus far seven wins. 1988 was really close to 1987 in the sense that Glidden completely owned the second half of the season winning five of seven races and winning his ninth title. No acid involved in this process. He, like so many other prolifically successful people in any form of sport never considered himself great, even in the face of clearly being so. I thought i was a full on mechanic after that. I met a former partner (Bobby Allen) while working in the used cars business in Ft. Wayne IN. Its always nice to see a good guy and family man succeed in life, and surely he did succeed. Met him briefly at Seattle when they were running the Arrow. With his wife, Etta, and, later in his career, sons Billy and Rusty by his side, the man known as Mad Dog for his tireless work ethic and dominated the class in the late 1970s and 1980s, winning back-to-back season championships in 1974-1975, three in a row (1978-80) and five straight (1985-89), Everyone in the NHRA community is saddened to learn the news of Bobs passing," said NHRA PresidentPeter Clifford. He was surrounded by his loving family. You could very easily get lost with your own changes. when we were at seattle he was always willing to spend time talking clevelands still using his oiling and porting ideas today . Glidden won 85 NHRA National E or redistributed. Glidden sometimes came along with CJ. That, and a sponsorship package that he felt was unsatisfactory, convinced him to pull the plug on his drag racing operation just two races into the 1997 season. Through the middle 1960s Glidden competed in a lightweight 427 powered Fairlane among other cars like the Galaxie above which were terror machines in the stock and super stock scene of the midwest. After a skin-of-the-teeth victory over Butch Leal in the semi-finals in Atlanta, Glidden's parachute didn't deploy correctly. HOULTON -- Robert (Bob) L. Glidden Sr., 83, died following a brief illness on Feb. 16, 2010, in a Bangor Hospital. Back to Login. I taught and coached Bob Glidden's son, Rusty, when he was in the 7th grade. Dont email us your competitors cam profile, but you can ask us to do a story on adapting a NASCAR-like camshaft with multiple grinds to help your Saturday night dirt-track car even out cylinder-to-cylinder variation. 10 bids +$9.10 shipping. Ford Motor Company Director Edsel B. Ford II said of Glidden for me, Bob represented what drag racing was all about during his era. The smile on her face said it all. In '79, the undefeated Fairmont was retired, and Glidden hopped in a Plymouth Arrow where he opened the season with a Winternationals victory. He races for more than 25-years in the sport, as a Pro Stock driver. The small-tire icon turned Pro Modified racer left the starting line at Orlando Speed World hard when his "tired" Mustang abruptly turned right and impacted the retaining wall before crossing the track where it struck the left retaining wall. I think it was Weld, but either way there was a wheel with a signature decal on one of the 5 spokes. He woke up every morning with a drive to succeed and a nagging fear of failure in the back of his head. 29356 - Limited Edition of 2,500. But if EngineLabs is to be successful, our prying eyes and ears need to uncover at least a few of the latest and greatest tricks from the engine shops, the aftermarket and leading manufacturers. $2.75. Played several Saturday morning basketball pickup games with Bob at the high school that school year, 1980-81. Saw Bob helping Mark Pawuk at the wintenationals years back. Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died Dec. 17. 1970s Drag Racing-Bob Glidden-1972 Ford Pinto-Pro Stock-1977 NHRA US Nationals. 1 at a record 23 consecutive races, including all 14 events in 1987. The time, effort and engineering required to compete and win in the manner the Glidden Family has is phenomenal and unmatched. Link: :: rag Racing Online:::InnerVIEW - Bob Glidden - 12/09/08 . and top speed in his final-round victory over Frank Iaconio. All rights reserved. Etta and Bob Glidden Visit bo-mar. From the start of his career, racing was always a family affair. Pre-Owned. Thats why he quit. He appeared in every final round of the season, winning three out of five. Ford had pared back their support and he did not feel as though he had the resources to compete at the level he wanted so rather than do something he did not feel 100% about he retired from the seat. Like everyone has said, Bob was a true gentleman and a ferocious racer. 1983 was another successful season and frankly a dream season for anyone but Bob Glidden. Unlike his 1979 championship season, Glidden won his third straight and fifth title in 1980 in dramatic fashion. Unlike his three previous seasons, Glidden came out of the blocks flying, winning five of the first seven races and seven of the first 11, and he never looked back. and top speed, and winning the race. There were wins but no title. His last real competitive pass came in 2003, and he did return to the track in 2010 to consult with another team. 10. Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944 December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer. While the car did not perform to his standards at Indy, the point was made and while the 1976 season frustrated Glidden, it set the stage for a run that no one in the world of drag racing could have fathomed in the seasons to come. Morgan offered Glidden the ride after he crashed the Pontiac. His potent and competitive Ford combination had been hit yet another time by the pounds-per-cubic inch parity regulators. It was the classic Ford vs. Chevy in the early pro stock class. After that crash in 1984 at Atlanta, he earned my utmost respect. With valuable sponsorship from Ed Martin Ford, where he worked as a line mechanic, Glidden became one of Division 3's most prolific winners before turning Pro in late 1972. This happened under Satan's, I mean, Billy Meyer's, Larry Heath has it exactly right. And Bob made Rusty own up to it, or stay away from the family. The engine technology landscape certainly has changed since Glidden epitomized the independent builder. His legacy will continue to inspire racers of all stripes for years to come. He was the third most successful drag racer of the professional class drivers (sixth when counting sportsman national event winners). In 2001, the NHRA honored him with the No. Well said Sammy. A super stock Cobra Jet was later added to the fleet. In a situation that would become all to familiar to him during his pro stock career, Glidden became such a focus of rules makers and fellow competitors that his car was torn down at every available opportunity. For those who raced with him on local streets many decades ago, when he and his friends put every spare dollar they. Country: United States. Bob Glidden was one such person for me. BOB GLIDDEN 1974 FORD MUSTANG II NHRA Drag Racing Pro Stock Full Color Sticker (#134461145486) n***f (2583) Past month. I think Bob was the greatest drag racer ever, next to Big Daddy. He was one of my Heros back in the 80s and made me a fan of pro stock for years to come. Baloo The Builder Tool Box, http://deadobituary.com/ He was voted No. They had a major falling out over themess as well, as Bob admitted both that they did it, and how they did it. That season, Glidden won seven national events, went undefeated in divisional competition, and earned the maximum number of points available at four national events by qualifying No. He put his Probe in the winner's circle one more time, at the Fallnationals, for his 67th career victory. Bob Glidden, who has been sick for the past several weeks, has died. Till we meet again R.I.P. The pro stock class was only two years old when a young Greenwood, Indiana, Ford mechanic named Bob Glidden began his climb to pro stock and drag racing glory. What did Bob Glidden die from? The son of a sharecropper, Glidden lived what many would consider the motorsports equivalent of the American dream. In fact it was one of Bob's old Probes, thatnever got close to running a 6 with Bob's legal horsepower under thehood. Glidden came out like the Incredible Hulk in 1985 and leveled everyone. A True Hands on Racer and Billy has taken the reigns over. In the late 1970s and especially from the 1980s through the mid-1990s, Glidden was the sport's biggest driver for much of his career before John Force became the most prolific racer in NHRA history in the late 1980s through today. His potent and competitive Ford combination had been hit yet another time by the pounds-per-cubic inch parity regulators. But EngineLabs is not designed to be a clearinghouse for proprietary and highly sensitive informaton. The actor, who was 71, was discovered in a fume-filled car at his home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Ironically, it was Glidden's incredible success that sparked the Reher-Morrison team. In the summer of 1978, Glidden embarked on one of the sport's legendary winning streaks that included nine straight national event victories and stretched a complete calendar year. Wrenchski Large editor/Editor at large Nitronic Research-Drag Racing's definitive websiteWWW.NITRONIC.COM"I'm gonna have fun if it kills us all"(remove spleen to e-mail). He was acting as crew chief for Larry Morgan(I believe that\s correct). She understood the excitement and thrill of the fans. It is a comeback story, it is a perseverance story, it is an amazing story. Gliddens career was marked by incredible amounts of personal dedication, success, domination, and a work ethic the likes of which the sport has seldom seen. Glidden won 85 NHRA National Events. He talked about that short little Ford in ill-terms from 1982 forward. Bob Glidden Remembering Bob Glidden, one of NHRA's best that there ever was. Lough Ramor Fly Fishing, Mr. Glidden. By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher. The first generation of Pro Stock cars were governed by the weight-per-cubic-inch benchmark, which evolved in a spiders web of weight breaks often decided by inside politics. EngineLabs is launching this week with the objective of analyzing the many avenues of engine technology, especially racing and street performance. With very little notice, he had to resurrect the old Boss 429 architecture to compete against GMs purpose-built DRCE platform when the 500-inch rule was mandated. That was technology that I didnt intend to pass on. I was just standing there when he asked me if i wanted to help I was hesitant at first but my dad told me to go, so i went with him and he let me change a spark plug on his thunderbird. 1978 was a huge year for Glidden. Enter Ford who immediately signed him to a factory sponsorship in fear that Glidden would take his talents under the GM umbrella. In the summer of 1978, Glidden embarked on one of the sport's legendary winning streaks that included nine straight national event victories and stretched a complete calendar year. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Birthday: 1944. He also qualified No. Maybe even when Billy Meyersowned the thing? Brian, thank you for putting together a wonderful tribute to Bob Glidden. R,I.P. He was a legend because of the way he approached the sport, because of the fact he never took success for granted, and because of the fact that a sharecroppers son from Indiana who started off in life as a self taught mechanic making a living in a Ford dealership became one of the most vaunted racers in American motorsports history. My condolences to Etta, Billy and Rusty. Nothing was taken for granted. I want to express my deepest sympathy to his wife and boys. During 1972 he and his wife Etta decided to do what they had always wanted to do, which was to race on a professional level in the NHRAs pro stock category. In a star-studded career that spanned more than 25 years in the class, Glidden won 85 events and 10 season championships and was voted No. When Bob Glidden was inducted as number four on the NHRA's Top 50 Drivers list, panelist Bob Frey said of Glidden's talent, "There never was, and probably never will be, a more dominant driver in our sport." On Sunday, December 17, Glidden died at age 73, after being admitted to an Indianapolis hospital for an undisclosed illness on December 5. We are born to a certain family and then there are those who become family. He was 73. In 1997, after receiving a sponsorship package that he wasn't too keen on, Glidden formally retired from behind the wheel after only two races of the season. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You may not like Fords, and you certainly did not like them when Bob Glidden raced but giving anything but respect to this man is a massive, massive mistake. Time left 12h 35m left. He stopped and took the time to have a photo taken with her and talked with her for a few minutes. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1996-2021, NHRA. Bob is the last to go, but that\s Bob. Bob was among the best builders and drivers in the sport. Yet in 1978, not one of them could hold a candle to the record-setting Ford Fairmont legendary driver Bob Glidden was about to unleash on the field. He did it all himself. Gone were small blocks and weight breaks and in was a 500ci displacement rule and a 2,350b race weight. If there was a singular season that summed up the life and times of Bob Glidden it was 1986. Owners,drivers and engine builders such as Bob are pretty much gone ,and well missed . R.I.P. Glidden died in Whiteland on December 17, 2017 of colorectal cancer at the age of 73. record at 7.277, the quickest Pro Stock run in NHRA history, at the Supernationals, which he won to clinch the championship in the car's debut. Mike Magda is a veteran automotive writer with credits in publications such as Racecar Engineering, Hot Rod, Engine Technology International, Motor Trend, Automobile, Automotive Testing Technology and Professional Motorsport World. RIP Bob he was a class act . It came as a shock this Monday morning to learn that drag racing legend Bob Glidden had passed away on Sunday evening. At the next race, the Summernationals at Englishtown Glidden unveiled his doomsday weapon, the 1978 Ford Fairmont that would become the only undefeated pro stock car in NHRA history. That season, Glidden won seven national events, went undefeated in divisional competition, and earned the maximum number of points available at four national events by qualifying No. Glidden, who died Monday at age 73, was a 10-time NHRA champion with a then-record 85 wins when he retired in 1997. He stumbled out of the car and immediately covered the intake manifold (or what was left of it) with his fire jacked to protect the design and not allow any competitors to see it. In 1972, he turned professional driving a Pro Stock Pinto previously campaigned by Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush. Try http://dornbos.gemm.com, >So Bob got caught, but there was no fuss made of it by NHRA? Nope, he thanked Jerry Haas, the chassis builder as he should have. Mark. That was a never ending deal.. Bob Glidden was born on August 18, 1944 and died on December 17, 2017. Star of 70s TV series On the Buses Bob Grant has been found dead at his home, after apparently committing suicide. March 3, 2023 2:53 PM PT. Bob Glidden, drag racing legend and 10-time NHRA Pro Stock champion, died Dec. 17. from United States. Although I saw him race ( and win!) Glidden earned the nickname Mad Dog due to his intense work ethic. In 1986, in one of drag racing's great comeback stories, Glidden overcame a slow start and a horrific crash at the Southern Nationals in April to win his seventh Winston title. [Bob] conceded that many of his competitors knew far more about the internal-combustion engine than he did, but none of them had his will to win.