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. American drag racing legend Bob Glidden has died at age 73. It came as a shock this Monday morning to learn that drag racing legend Bob Glidden had passed away on Sunday evening. He finished second to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins at the Supernationals in his new ride, his Pro Stock debut. He was 73. From the start of his career, racing was always a family affair. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 4 on the list of Top 50 racers from NHRA's first 50 years in 2000. Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message, Don't get me wrong I admire people like Bob Glidden and I look at Drag, Bob Glidden did not get caught using nitrous oxide..One of his kids, I think that was Billy at Gainesville,driving the winnebago, what is the scoop about Scotty Cannon pressurizing the block with nitrous, You do not have permission to delete messages in this group. During this time in NHRA history, racers ran both divisional and national events to gain points. At the Supernationals Gapp got one back on Glidden, beating him the finals. he was bad ass. Ironically, it was Glidden's incredible success that sparked the Reher-Morrison team. 10. Mark. John Force, left, celebrates Bob Glidden's induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. 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. After early-round losses at the Winternationals and Gatornationals, Glidden was dealt a devastating blow at the Southern Nationals when a gust of wind caught his parachute and sent his Thunderbird into a tailspin following a semifinal victory over Butch Leal. Then in 1980, at Englishtown, New Jersey, Bob and Etta attracted a crowd around their pro stock pit area. 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. Glidden did nothing to the manifold other than port match the runners to the modified W2 heads. Bob Glidden, the 10-time NHRA pro stock champion, an IHRA pro stock champion, a native of Whiteland, Indiana, and one of the greatest drag racers of all time has died at age 73, surrounded by his family. Baloo The Builder Tool Box, Just like the good old days. When we started hiring outside people, it was really our downfall, admits Glidden. Glidden held onto the title by the slimmest margin in 1980. But EngineLabs is not designed to be a clearinghouse for proprietary and highly sensitive informaton. Lough Ramor Fly Fishing, In the same vein, we could always associate Bob Glidden with a Ford-powered entry. A vengeance ride of a season the sport has never seen before or since. MY FAMILY MET BOB AND ETTA AT LANCASTER SPEEDWAY IN 95.IT WAS A MATCH RACE THAT WAS RAINED OUT.THEY SPENT A LONG TIME WITH US-TOTAL STRANGERS .BOB MODESTLY TOLD US HIS RACING CAREER AND ABOUT HIS WIFE. Played several Saturday morning basketball pickup games with Bob at the high school that school year, 1980-81. what did bob glidden die from - mitocopper.com When you look at the history books those guys were like prize fighters trading blows and wins back and forth. Not just the engine itself but the race weight he was allowed to use in competition with the Arrow. 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. As someone else pointed out, its very rare for someone to be that successful with two different brands at the professional level. 1970 Ford Mustang Boss Pro Stock - Bob Glidden (MIC) 1/18 Where Is Rusty Glidden Now . Bob ran this car at exactly two races, but I saw it in Pomona and fell in love with it. God Speed kind sir. For the first time in a long time, Glidden had his work cut out for him in 1980. Did you see that Bob Glidden has died? He lived in Whiteland. 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. How did Bob Marley die? Pro Stock Legend Bob Glidden Passes Away At 73 - Dragzine Feb 13, 2021 - Explore sam stoltz's board "Bob Glidden", followed by 311 people on Pinterest. A true drag racer who drove, tuned and engineered. Rest in peace. Glidden came out like the Incredible Hulk in 1985 and leveled everyone. He was retired from Pro Stock racing in 1997 and returned in 2010. He said that ever since Bob Glidden quit that the Fords are not competitive and that he was cheating. When did bob glidden passed away? - vbuole.afphila.com RIP. Tom Sizemore, Troubled and Controversial Actor, Dead at 61 Glidden's Plymouth Arrow | Facebook Take 5 With Bob Glidden - MotorTrend 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. 1970 Ford Boss 429 Mustang - Calypso Coral (Highway 61) 1/18. Yes, unfortunately, Bob Glidden died a few days ago. So Bob got caught, but there was no fuss made of it by NHRA? Unfortunately, but predictably, many in the industry will charge that were not a friend of the profession; but rather, we are the axis of evil and will seek to expose proprietary intelligence that is more classified than the CocaCola formula. 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. Farewell Bob Glidden - Drag Race Central Copyright 2023 BangShift LLC. Bob Glidden was born on January 01, 1944 (died on December 17, 2017, he was 73 years old) in Whiteland, Indiana. 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. We'll send you raw engine tech articles, news, features, and videos every week from EngineLabs. Heres the thing to remember about Bob Glidden. Bob Glidden Wiki & Bio - Everipedia 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. Remember, Ford was not giving Glidden factory support so he was beholden to no one but himself. Bob. Copyright 1996-2021, NHRA. 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. Glidden faced 29 different opponents in his 122 final rounds and had winning records against 26 of them, including W.J. 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. He was 73-years-old. Due to his national and divisional success Glidden captured his second NHRA championship in 1975. The 10-time NHRA Pro Stock champion passed away on Sunday after being hospitalized earlier in the month for an undisclosed illness.. 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. Later in the 70s and during the latter half of the 80s he was dominant in the class, claiming five titles straight in the 80s and three additional titles in the 70s. By the end of the season, Glidden tied Don Prudhomme's record of most national event wins in one season and broke the Pro Stock single-season record of six set by "Grumpy" Jenkins in '72. Bob was born in Windom, MN, the son of Thomas and Helen Gertrude (Putt) Glidden on July 23, 1937. Glidden won 85 NHRA National Events. 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. 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. 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. He also was the 1976 IHRA World Champion and finished second to Bruce Allen in 1985 Pro Stock standings. The number 1 pro stock driver of all time. Bob Glidden - Wikipedia When did bob glidden passed away? - fasareie.youramys.com Bob, I love you my brother and I will see you again my friend. In a star-studded career that spanned more than 25 years in the class, Glidden won 85 events and 10 season championships. 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. Bob Glidden, one of the most prolific Ford drivers in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, whose career spanned three decades in the Pro Stock division, died on Dec. 13, 2017. It was a harbinger of things to come. The son of a sharecropper, Glidden lived what many would consider the motorsports equivalent of the American dream. No, it is mind boggling. "Everyone in the NHRA community is saddened to learn the news of Bob's passing," NHRA President Peter Clifford said. It was an honor for Bo and Mark to meet their childhood idol as . 1997 Ford Pro Stock, Bob Glidden, die cast car, Platinum Series, Limited Edition. His 9.03 e.t. Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died Dec. 17. 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. One of the baddest pro stockers to walk the planet. He did it all himself. Nitro Member. He was dominate. Yes, that champion of champions, Bob Glidden has joined Ronnie Sox, Bill Jenkins, Don Nicholson and Dick Landy in the racing heavens. "He was a true competitor who left a lasting legacy of excellence both on and off the track. 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. Bob Glidden was one such person for me. NHRA's 50 Greatest Drivers - No. 4, Bob Glidden June 10, 2022 . That was one gnarly Shoebox ! "Everyone in the NHRA community is saddened to learn. Billy, continue carrying the banner! Countless hours of development and experimentation, but the payoff was huge. There were wins but no title. Five championships in a row. It sure don't sound like Bill Bader askinghim to do something like that but who knows. Thank you for all your accomplishments to the sport and my condolences go out to the Glidden family. Legal Statement. Im at a loss to express my dismay and sense of loss. He was one of the greats at a great time in the sport . May you race in piece Mr Glidden. In 90 I and a friend were taveling north through Indiana . He was 73. He campaigned a series of 427 Fairlanes before switching to the more potent 428 Cobra Jet Mustangs in 1968. Following high school he enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1956-60 on USS Loeser destroyer escort. Bob Glidden won 10 NHRA Pro Stock championships in his 25-year career in the drag racing series. As a MoPar guy, and a small block fan, He was the guy who made it work with the Arrow. Bob Glidden Net Worth . News, Racing +C $15.65 shipping. He turned me on to Pro Stock as a teen. Other than a pressure cooling, I was wondering about this "pressurized block" thing too You want, I don't know, thats why I was asking you guys , sounded kinda stupid to me, what i think he mean's is the nitros was plumbed through the block to hide it, >what i think he mean's is the nitros was plumbed through the block to hide it, The Wayne County team did indeed get caught with NOS in their carsIt was, On Sat, 14 Jul 2001 09:01:49 -0700, "Ron Zeppin", << He got caught when one of the photo's of the car, Might be BSLike I said, I got it second hand, but the guy I got it from. 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. According to NHRA's website,Bob Glidden will drive Larry Morgan's Dodge RT. Remembering Bob Glidden, one of NHRA's best that there ever was Glidden won 85 NHRA National E or redistributed. Digital mapping, computer modeling and CNC machines all but ensure that if a secret does get out, it will be replicated within hours. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Bob Glidden's Restored 1973 Pinto - YouTube Looking back: Bob Glidden 1944-2017 - MotorTrend Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944 - December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer. 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. Robert Bob Glidden, 78, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, MN. The 1977 season was one where Glidden returned to form. He started out in Stock and moved up to Super Stock. 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. One of the most fortified cornerstones of any engine programwhether at the OEMs, on a major race team or in a weekend warriors garageis secrecy. 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. He campaigned a series of 427 Fairlanes before switching to the more. DI CLASSIC: The Bob Glidden Interview - Drag Illustrated His victory at the season-ending Winston Finals gave him 76 career wins, 49 in the 1980s alone. Glidden died in Whiteland on December 17, 2017 of colorectal cancer at the age of 73. what did bob glidden die of - Master in International Business Bob was a genuine hero to me. Frosty and I are thinking of Etta and the family, lifting them in prayer, hoping for their peace, and sending our love. 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. However, can we also agree that there is some degree of overreaction and pretentiousness within the powertrain community with regards to secrecy? He will be missed. In pro stock. He was the third most successful drag racer of the professional class drivers (sixth when counting sportsman national event winners). 5 product ratings - Revell Kit 7167 1/24 Bob Gliddens Motorcraft Thunderbird Pro Stock Open. The success of today's Greg Anderson is not entirely unlike that of a certain Midwestern kid with an unshakable will to win that started breaking backs in . He ran even quicker at the season-ending Supernationals, where he reset his e.t. I was a fan of his as a Pro-Stock racer but still am a Chevy fan. He was 73. Images courtesy of Ford Motor Co. We didnt attempt major changes, adds Glidden, who was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005 and is ranked Number 4 on the NHRAs Top 50 Driver list. 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. I did a Goodyear tire test at Norwalk with BOBBY G. We ate lunch on the starting line where someone had placed 1 chair Mr. Glidden insisted I take the chair,while he and his family sat ON THE TRACK. Predictably, it was. Sure there were the flirtations with a Chevrolet in 1976 at Indy and the record-setting season of 1979 in a Mopar, but for the most part, the cagey veteran from Whiteland, Ind., was always a dyed-in-the-wool Blue Oval man. He won three major events, two of which were the Spring and U.S. Nationals. After the Mile High Nationals? R.I.P. A lady fan walked up and asked for his autograph. However, this time theyd gone too far and Glidden was prepared to point that out. 1988 was the last year of the Thunderbird for Glidden, but the car wasn't retired until he won his fourth straight title. The 1976 season brought him back down to earth the hefty roll provides. By Jerry Bonkowski Dec 18, 2017, 6:03 PM EST. I met a former partner (Bobby Allen) while working in the used cars business in Ft. Wayne IN. 1976 was a down year for Glidden and one where he actually raced a Chevroletfor one race. Well said Sammy. In recalling his Summernationals triumph, which he attained by defeating the Lombardo-driven Jenkins Monza in the final (8.55 to 8.71), Glidden said, "That was by far the biggest spread that I ever had over the guys in any race that I've ever ran. I hired them to get work done but all our information kept getting passed on. After coming close in 1980, Shepherd succeeded in stripping Glidden of his title in 1981. BOBBY G. Prayers and condolences to Etta, Rusty and Billy. All rights reserved. After a skin-of-the-teeth victory over Butch Leal in the semi-finals in Atlanta, Glidden's parachute didn't deploy correctly. "When we started hiring outside people, it was really our downfall," admits Glidden. Bob Glidden was born on August 18, 1944 and died on December 17, 2017. Unlike his previous years, he started the season strong. The former mechanic went on to claim nine more titles through 1989 and retired in 1995 with a total of 85 event wins, the most ever by a driver at the time. you erned it. I saw Gildden at one of woodburn dragstrips pro stock nationals in Oregon about 1989 he whooped WJs ass with a 7.277 to a 7.279 everyone razzed the professor when wj wasnt off sulking and refusing autographs mr.Bob was giving EVERYONE a e ticket tour of his car including a kid with ms that he let sit in the car for prob. Bob Glidden had enjoyed the best season of his career thus far seven wins. What did Bob Glidden die from? He was one of my Heros back in the 80s and made me a fan of pro stock for years to come. 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. Lancia Montecarlo Spider For Sale, Articles W