From the start of his career, racing was always a family affair. Feb 8, 2002. A year ago, Billy Glidden found himself battered, bruised, and a bit stunned after making his first test hit of the 2017 season. Ten-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Bob Glidden, who singlehandedly carried the Ford banner for most of a 15-year period, died Sunday night. THANKS BOB AND ETTA RIPBOB. Bob Glidden was born on January 01, 1944 (died on December 17, 2017, he was 73 years old) in Whiteland, Indiana. 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. March 3, 2023 2:53 PM PT. Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944 - December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer. My thoughts and prayers to his family. six times, and he did it with three different cars, including his old '74 Pinto, which he reacquired after a midseason slump. what did bob glidden die of by | Dec 17, 2021 | baogang steel mill deaths Aviation History offers air enthusiasts the most detailed coverage of the history of manned flight, with action-packed stories and illustrations that put the reader in the cockpit with pilots and military (Army, Navy, and Marines) aviators to experience aviation s . He was the man to beat in pro stock in the late 80s. American drag racing legend Bob Glidden has died at age 73. I stretched the nose of the Thunderbird, smoothed out the bumpers, lengthened the hood, and added the scoop and wing. (12-6), Lee Shepherd (10-9), and Frank Iaconio (8-5). record at the Supernationals, locking in the season victory. 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. If there was a singular season that summed up the life and times of Bob Glidden it was 1986. Maybe even when Billy Meyersowned the thing? Houses For Sale In Sarnia, Pinetown, Anthony Caruso III on December 17, 2017 / 0 comments. Glidden retired from full-time racing in 1997 to help with Ford's NASCAR engine development. Heres the thing to remember about Bob Glidden. BOB Marley touched the lives of millions of fans through his reggae music. What was the big secret? One of the baddest pro stockers to walk the planet. In 1972, he turned professional driving a Pro Stock Pinto previously campaigned by Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush. God Speed kind sir. Bob Glidden leaves behind one of the most decorated legacies in NHRA and motorsports history. We didn't want to get out.". Were losing the great ones in the sport :^(. Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died Dec. 17. Market data provided by Factset. We'll send you raw engine tech articles, news, features, and videos every week from EngineLabs. Unrelated to ProStock, but still Nitrous, Dale Armstrong was caught playingaround with it on Kenny's Funny cartalk about simplicityhe used one ofthe two firebottles for the nitrous, and if I recall correctly, he used oneof the clutch timer solenoids as the nitrous solenoid, and simply ran theline along the frame and right up in front of the injector hat. 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. He ran even quicker at the season-ending Supernationals, where he reset his e.t. Yes, that champion of champions, Bob Glidden has joined Ronnie Sox, Bill Jenkins, Don Nicholson and Dick Landy in the racing heavens. He took some time off from racing after that, save for a few appearances in his son Billys small-tire Mustangs, but returned yet again in 2010. "We decided that we either had to make the same kind of commitment to racing that he did or get out. In 1985, Glidden led the points chase from start to finish, winning five national events. and top speed, and winning the race. Glidden leaves behind his wife Etta their sons Rusty and Billy. Glidden's Pinto carried him to a come-from-behind victory over rivals Wally Booth and Gapp. If before reading this you weren't familiar with Bob Glidden, you've probably seen his epic crash in 1986 in at least one Top 10 crash montages. 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. 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. He will be missed. However, this time they'd gone too far and Glidden was prepared to point that out. Godspeed Bob, were sure Grumpy met you at the gates and was talking smack to get you fired up the second you got there. 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. Glidden retired his undefeated Fairmont in favor of a Plymouth Arrow in 1979 and lost only three times all year. "When we started hiring outside people, it was really our downfall," admits Glidden. Mar 11, 2011. nvrdun said: I thought Cragar did make Bob Glidden wheels for a couple years??? As a MoPar guy, and a small block fan, He was the guy who made it work with the Arrow. Glidden came back in '85, led the points race all season, and won five national events. MUCH,MUCH THANKS. Enter Ford who immediately signed him to a factory sponsorship in fear that Glidden would take his talents under the GM umbrella. Name Date Site E.T. 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. Late in the 1978 season, in the midst of completely devastating the competition in the Fairmont, Glidden was approached by Chrysler and offered a sponsorship deal to compete in a Plymouth Arrow for 1979. Predictably, it was. He said that ever since Bob Glidden quit that the Fords are not competitive and that he was cheating. In the same vein, we could always associate Bob Glidden with a Ford-powered entry. 10. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Hi gangI was under the impression that the reason NOS isn't allowed in t/f is thatwhen it's being used, there are no header flames.Doug, To e-mail me, remove the batspam from my e-mail address.Can't find that rare record, cd, or tape? Met him briefly at Seattle when they were running the Arrow. No press>coverage either. According to NHRA's website,Bob Glidden will drive Larry Morgan's Dodge RT. Glidden won seven times in 1975, including at the Winternationals, Gatornationals, Fallnationals, and World Finals, to capture his second consecutive Winston title. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Register He won three major events, two of which were the Spring and U.S. Nationals. Lough Ramor Fly Fishing, Tom Sizemore, the powerful character actor known for his roles in films including Saving Private Ryan, Natural Born Killers, Heat, Black Hawk Down, and Pearl Harbor, has died at the age of 61. He qualified number one 23 consecutive times and claimed nine national victories. On Friday, July 6, 2001 at 9:12:42 AM UTC-5. That was technology that I didnt intend to pass on. After that crash in 1984 at Atlanta, he earned my utmost respect. When all was said and done, Glidden had tied Don Prudhomme for most national event wins in a season with seven, including five straight, and had broken the Pro Stock single-season record of six set by Jenkins in 1972. The engine technology landscape certainly has changed since Glidden epitomized the independent builder. After finishing the 1978 season with seven straight victories, Glidden opened the 1979 season with a victory at the Winternationals and didn't lose a round until June, when a foul start in the second round of the Mile-High Nationals snapped his streak at 14 races and 50 rounds. Glidden retired his undefeated Fairmont in favor of a Plymouth Arrow in 1979 and lost only three times all year. He is most closely associated with Ford cars, a manufacturer that he used throughout his career, except in 1979, winning the world championship in a Plymouth Arrow. He appeared in every final round of the season, winning three out of five. He was acting as crew chief for Larry Morgan(I believe that\s correct). A truly class act. 1983 was another successful season and frankly a dream season for anyone but Bob Glidden. It came as a shock this Monday morning to learn that drag racing legend Bob Glidden had passed away on Sunday evening. He was dominate. Bob Glidden's Willie Rells 1988 Ford Probe. A cross-pollinating workforce, as Glidden noted, is partly responsible for fewer secrets within the industry. Bob "Xman" Williams#2096 Super Streetanother SRA member"Chance Favors the Prepared Mind". We did everything in-house, says Glidden, who won five straight Pro Stock titles from 1985 to 1989. I thought i was a full on mechanic after that. The 1976 season brought him back down to earth the hefty roll provides. That was one gnarly Shoebox ! Glidden died in Whiteland on December 17, 2017 of colorectal cancer at the age of 73. John Force, left, celebrates Bob Glidden's induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Dec 9, 2008 #4 Its funny how he actually had to put nitrous in his car and show the NHRA to proove that people could do it and hide it . Bob Glidden, who has been sick for the past several weeks, has died. The Winnebago car driven by Billy was a Pontiac owned by Harold, On Sun, 15 Jul 2001 15:57:33 GMT, dilley <, Glidden refused a teardown in the pits where his top secret heads and intake, Thank you James , Finally an answer I can swallow, eeewwww wait , bad choice of, The deal here was they wanted him to tear it down out in front of god and, I thought he was covering the carbs, and years later I was told he was, << It sure don't sound like Bill Bader asking, I was going strictly by memory, I thought I remembered it being a, You are correct. Glidden set the B/SA national record in the above pictured machine. Bob. 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. 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 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. Getting back on the horse after such a crash wasn't hard for him though, because a month later he returned in a new Thunderbird to the Cajun Nationals. In 1985, Glidden led the points chase from start to finish, winning five national events. For the first time in a long time, Glidden had his work cut out for him in 1980. 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. The top was gone, carbs and everything were gone.. He was a very nice guy, He will be missed. 5 product ratings - Revell Kit 7167 1/24 Bob Gliddens Motorcraft Thunderbird Pro Stock Open. Due to his national and divisional success Glidden captured his second NHRA championship in 1975. I briefly met them at MIR, and their enthusiasm. I remember the tale of them stripping and sandblasting a Pinto unibody, then leaving it outside to rust. 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 reached 76 career wins by the end of the season, with 49 of them in the '80s alone. Its always nice to see a good guy and family man succeed in life, and surely he did succeed. 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. Drag racing lost a true icon. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout Returns for 2023, [Gallery] Upstairs at the 70th Annual Detroit Autorama, Fourth World Series of Pro Mod Takes Place this Weekend at Bradenton, FL, Fueling the Fire Bracket Race & Street-Strip Fuel Delivery Systems Part 2. In pro stock. what did bob glidden die from. NHRA'S 50 GREATEST DRIVERS -- NO. 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. Flying the Ford banner nearly his whole career, Glidden had amassed 85 national event wins and at the time of his retirement and held the NHRA record for most wins. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Such a dominant person in the Pro Stock wars. He lived next door to CJ Rayburn a dirt racer and an ex drag racer. He and his trusty Pinto came away with four wins and a runner up. How did Bob Marley die? He was 73. Glidden spent much of his racing career in Ford cars, but he spent some time in a Plymouth Arrow and after retiring as a driver, he served as the crew chief for a few different teams, including the Mopar Pro Stock camp in the mid-2000s. 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. June 10, 2022 . American drag racing legend Bob Glidden has died at age 73. News, Racing Glidden won 10 NHRA Drag Racing championships and 85 events in his 25-year career in Pro Stock. Bob Glidden Remembering Bob Glidden, one of NHRA's best that there ever was. and top speed in his final-round victory over Frank Iaconio. Till we meet again R.I.P. We have all seen the video of his famous wreck in Atlanta when wind caught a parachute sending his car hurtling into the guardrail. (BTW, there will be a story on that very topic coming soon!). After barrel rolling six or seven times, Glidden crawled out of the rollcage and shrugged off the safety crew only to remove his fire jacket and place it over the intake manifold. So Bob got caught, but there was no fuss made of it by NHRA? He graduated from Spencer High School in 1956. 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. After sporadic wins in the early '90s, Bob Glidden was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994. The smile on her face said it all. 2021 FOX News Network, LLC. If your name isnt Glidden you have no right to see. Nothing was considered easy or mundane. Glidden believes strongly that when . Rest,In Peace, Bob Glidden. Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944 December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer. All rights reserved. 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! Bleeding, but OK he had protected his work. 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. It was the classic Ford vs. Chevy in the early pro stock class. After a slump in 1976 and clawing back up to the podium in 1977, Glidden took back the crown in 1978, collecting 16,035 points and claiming several victories not only in his trusty Pinto, but in his Ford Fairmont (a car that was later undefeated). Im glad to have met him several times and saddened to know im not getting another chance in this life to meet him again. The races you had vs WJ & Sheperd (and many others) were legendary. I meet Mr. Glidden at an NHRA event in Baytown, Tx. A self-taught mechanic who overhauled a broken family tractor at age 12 because he was the only person not working in the fields, he went onto a career as a Ford mechanic where he not only excelled in the garage but also in sportsman racing promoting the very dealership he worked for, Ed Martin Ford. Got his autograph on T Bird model of his car I made at the 85 Summernationals. It's determined by the amount of wor. record (8.81) in qualifying and beat Gapp in the final. or Best Offer +$11.90 shipping Pro Stock drag racing is one of the most secretive motorsport disciplines, at least in pit ritual. Back to Login. 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. Everyone in the NHRA community is saddened to learn the news of Bobs passing, said Peter Clifford, NHRA President. He woke up every morning with a drive to succeed and a nagging fear of failure in the back of his head. He raced it in 1978, 1980 and 1981 and won thirteen national even titles. He was 73. <p> Glidden's Plymouth Arrow</p>. 4: BOB GLIDDEN . Very sad day indeed,the world has lost a very Great and Humble person,a sport Icon, and mentor to all in the racing community. HOULTON -- Robert (Bob) L. Glidden Sr., 83, died following a brief illness on Feb. 16, 2010, in a Bangor Hospital. I didnt have an answer but I figured that some of you on here would. Saw Bob helping Mark Pawuk at the wintenationals years back. This performance was called total domination. 1970 Ford Mustang CJ428 - Light Blue Q . 10 bids +$9.10 shipping. The greatest Ford racer of all time. In keeping with the spirit of this conversation but in the context of our mission, weve set up a hotline for ideas: [emailprotected]. Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944 -December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer.He was born in Whiteland, Indiana.He retired from Pro Stock racing in 1997 and returned in 2010.. Glidden retired as the driver with the most wins in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) history at that time (a feat recently topped by 16 time Funny Car champion John Force).He was the third most successful drag racer . We went inside Bob was not there ,Billy came out and talked to us.He said dad says no one in the shop when we have an engine apart .I remember a wall full of Wallys .Just a real family making a living racing. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The passing of \Dyno Don\ Nicholson,Bill \Grumpy\ Jenkins,and now Bob Glidden. After hitting the opposite guardrail, the car barrel-rolled six times and was destroyed. Frosty and I are thinking of Etta and the family, lifting them in prayer, hoping for their peace, and sending our love. He was a self-made man who left his job as a mechanic at a Ford dealership to go racing full-time with a dream, a tireless work ethic and a winning determination.. 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 President Peter Clifford. NHRA NHRA Glidden served in an advisory and crew chief role for a number of Pro Stock teams during the 2000s and 2010s, including Cunningham, Gray Motorsports, Knoll-Gas Motorsports, and Don Schumacher Racings Mopar effort. - Bob Glidden Glidden began his career in the late 1960s behind the wheel of a series of 427 Ford Fairlanes in the Stock and Super Stock ranks and later a 482 Cobra Jet, becoming one of the winningest competitors in the NHRA's Division 3. Watching him kick all that GM ass in the 80\s was so fun to watch. After barrel rolling six or seven times, Glidden crawled out of the rollcage and shrugged off the safety crew only to remove his fire jacket and place it over the intake manifold. He got caught when one of the photo's of the carshowed a "Mist" coming from this line going into the injector hat!! However, can we also agree that there is some degree of overreaction and pretentiousness within the powertrain community with regards to secrecy? He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994. Bob ran this car at exactly two races, but I saw it in Pomona and fell in love with it. After battling illness, word spread across Facebook on Saturday that he had died, but that was refuted . He put his Probe in the winner's circle one more time, at the Fallnationals, for his 67th career victory. That commitment resulted in four consecutive Winston championships for the Reher-Morrison team (1981-1984), but the satisfaction of claiming their fourth title was tempered somewhat by the fact that they no longer had the quickest car in the country. He also qualified No. It came as a shock this Monday morning to learn that drag racing legend Bob Glidden had passed away on Sunday evening. Bob die $31.50. After the Mile High Nationals? 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. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with the Glidden family at this difficult time., When asked to what he attributed his success, Glidden once said, "Common sense and the will to survive. I remember when he crashed at Fremont, his car lay on its side. He was 73. He was an American drag racer. prestel publishing submissions. Glidden retired as the driver with the most wins in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) history at that time a feat recently topped by 16-time Funny Car champion John Force and he was the third-most successful drag racer of the professional class drivers sixth when counting sportsman national event winners at the time of his death. 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. He won the first two races of 1975, beating Wayne Gapp, the guy he stole the title from in 1974 along the way. Glidden retired his undefeated Fairmont in favor of a Plymouth Arrow in 1979 and lost only three times all year. 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. While Glidden would not collect another NHRA championship after 1989 he continued winning multiple events a year for several years. He led the points from the first race to the last and there was never a question at any point in time who was going to be collecting the big check at the end of the year. The number 1 pro stock driver of all time. His potent and competitive Ford combination had been hit yet another time by the pounds-per-cubic inch parity regulators. Glidden's Ford Thunderbird, which he received in mid-1984, was the dominant car in the last half of the 1984 season and for all of 1985. Etta and Bob Glidden Visit bo-mar. The king of the pro stock class has passed at age 73. Where Is Rusty Glidden Now . It pulled the back of the car hard right and sent it head-on into the opposite guardrail. He crawled out, staggered once, noticed the hood was gone, took off his jacket and covered his home made intake manifold. He drove his new car, a Ford Probe, to a national e.t. Throughout his career, Glidden almost single-handedly carried the banner for Ford. Got a tour of hos trailer and everything. Glidden also had a 42 round win streak, you now, because thats what the guy did. RIP Mr, Gliden.You will like the others of your caliber are and will be missed. By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher. Bob is the last to go, but that\s Bob. He went on to work with Ford, developing engines for their NASCAR Winston Cup program. When we started hiring outside people, it was really our downfall, admits Glidden. record of 7.277, the fastest in NHRA Pro Stock history at that time and won the championship. In 1968 he changed to a 428 Cobra Jet Mustang. We raced the country roads of Whiteland and Greenwood with a group of people, during a time of life that can\t be duplicated. Upon his moving to the professional ranks, Glidden quit being a full-time mechanic and sold his two Cobra Jets to buy a Pro Stock Pinto from Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush. Glidden, who amassed a record 16,035 points and lowered the national record to 8.59, fielded two winning cars that year: The first was his tried-and-true Ford Pinto that carried him to victories at the season-opening Winternationals and Cajun Nationals, and the second was his famed Ford Fairmont, with which he won the Summernationals and finished the season undefeated in national event competition. Goaliath Basketball System Canada, at 152.54 mph was enough to beat Wayne Gapp in the final round. They had a major falling out over themess as well, as Bob admitted both that they did it, and how they did it. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with the Glidden family at this difficult time., When asked to what he attributed his success, Glidden once said, "Common sense and the will to survive. Bob graduated from Kennett High School in Conway, N.H. in 1945 and immediately joined the Army Air . Brian, thank you for putting together a wonderful tribute to Bob Glidden. He further went on to speak of rampant N2Ousage in Pro Stock at the time, but was told in not so many words to "FO" byNHRA. Well that blows. After coming close in 1980, Shepherd succeeded in stripping Glidden of his title in 1981. He also qualified No. R.I.P Bob. Edit Now Racing career Glidden began his drag racingcareer in the 1960s in a Ford427 Fairlane. Bob Glidden Net Worth . 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. Copyright 1996-2021, NHRA. Yesterday, we had two very special guests at bo-mar: Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden & his wife Etta! He races for more than 25-years in the sport, as a Pro Stock driver. Surely will be missed by all who follow the sport. During the eight race 1973 season Glidden had a runner up finish to Butch Leal in Canada and then at the US Nationals he defeated Wayne Gapp in the finals to win the first of NINE Indy titles in his career. he was bad ass. Rest In Peace, Bob. He was surrounded by his loving family. Visited his home a couple of times and he showed me his garage where he and his wife worked on his cars. His last came in 1995 at Englishtown. Glidden had been very successful running a small-block Ford in the early era, including a stretch in 1978 when he won a record nine straight national events. There were wins but no title. A Ford campaigner from the beginning, Glidden's success in Pro Stock stemmed from his apprenticeship in Stock and Super Stock. The first major chapters in the Glidden book may be done but the family story still continues to add chapters. 68 TorinoGT Fastback, 1982 Mercury Capri RS (bought new) 1975 Bronco. "He gave the inspiration to a lot of people that if you dedicate yourself to something you're gonna be successful at it. Yes, unfortunately, Bob Glidden died a few days ago. Glidden's late-season surge that year included a victory at his final Division 3 race in Bowling Green, Ky., where he set both ends of the national record (8.83, 154.90) to earn an extra 400 points (in those days, Pro racers earned points toward the Winston championship at a combination of national and divisional races).