Bob Glidden's ever trusty Ford Fairmont was a workhorse pro stock. many times since the late 70s, and he won 10 NHRA Chamionships in Pro Stock (9 of those in Fords), I only actually only talked with him a couple of times, and he was such a down to earth, loyal Ford racer, who seemed to really appreciate all his fans. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. NHRA legend and ten-time Pro Stock champion Bob Mad Dog Glidden passed away yesterday (December 17, 2017) at the age of 73. Saw Mr. Glidden at Memphis several years ago. In the same vein, we could always associate Bob Glidden with a Ford-powered entry. Bob Gliddens legacy in the sport is alive and well today with his son Billy who continues to be one of the hardest working, most resourceful, and dedicated competitors in the sport. 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 . Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died Dec. 17. 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. Digital mapping, computer modeling and CNC machines all but ensure that if a secret does get out, it will be replicated within hours. His 9.03 e.t. ETTA TALKED ABOUT WRENCHING ON BOBS CAR.SHE GAVE A LIFE SIZE POSTER OF BOB.SHE IMPRESSED MY DAUGHTER SUSAN SO MUCH SHE GOT A MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE AND NOW IS A GM ENGINEER . 1 five times, posted top speed eight times, and set low e.t. Glidden won 85 NHRA National Events. In pro stock. Glidden went on to win the race, setting low e.t. Glidden faced 29 different opponents in his 122 final rounds and had winning records against 26 of them, including W.J. Bob Glidden . Dec 17, 2017Brian Lohnes1320 Drag News, 1320 Spotlight, Apex Spotlight, BangShift 1320, BangShift News, XL Spotlight39. Glidden was beloved by his fans, more so in Johnson County than anywhere else. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Insanely, 1979 was better. In '79, the undefeated Fairmont was retired, and Glidden hopped in a Plymouth Arrow where he opened the season with a Winternationals victory. Top Rated Plus . Glidden came back in '85, led the points race all season, and won five national events. Brand loyalty was assume . Bob Glidden Net Worth . (12-6), Lee Shepherd (10-9), and Frank Iaconio (8-5). Just like the good old days. BOB GLIDDEN 1974 FORD MUSTANG II NHRA Drag Racing Pro Stock Full Color Sticker (#134461145486) n***f (2583) Past month. In 1968 because of his burgeoning success, Martin put his prodigy racer in the hottest thing Ford had to offer for sportsman racing, a 428 Cobra Jet Mustang stocker. If there was a singular season that summed up the life and times of Bob Glidden it was 1986. He literally never lost a race he entered with it. That victory was the first of three straight for Glidden, who won six of the final seven races that season. Your email address will not be published. Avery Finnivan Like everyone has said, Bob was a true gentleman and a ferocious racer. Because Ford had yet to provide Glidden with factory support and Chrysler was willing to pay him directly to go racing, he took the deal. He was born Feb. 7, 1927 in Dover, N.H., the son of Cecil and Ina (Littlefield) Glidden. He campaigned a series of 427 Fairlanes before switching to the more. THANKS BOB AND ETTA RIPBOB. He said that ever since Bob Glidden quit that the Fords are not competitive and that he was cheating. 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. He was an American drag racer. Hell I couldn't blame him a bit. Bob Glidden was born on August 18, 1944 and died on December 17, 2017. Its always nice to see a good guy and family man succeed in life, and surely he did succeed. It was a harbinger of things to come. Birthday: 1944. After coming close in 1980, Shepherd succeeded in stripping Glidden of his title in 1981. Due to his national and divisional success Glidden captured his second NHRA championship in 1975. +C $15.65 shipping. And sadly,those memories of Bob Glidden and Christmas Day will now be of when he left us and this earth. NOBODY ever has and NOBODY EVER will go undefeated in one calendar year. His last real competitive pass came in 2003, and he did return to the track in 2010 to consult with another team. His final win was at the Mopar Parts Nationals in 1995. Glidden won 10 NHRA Drag Racing championships and 85 events in his 25-year career in Pro Stock. There were wins but no title. 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. Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died Dec. 17. And when Bob heard of it he made him give the winning back .A man of great sportsmanship. I was a big Bob Glidden fan back in the Pinto days. He turned me on to Pro Stock as a teen. The greatest Ford racer of all time. May you rest in peace Mr. Glidden, and I call you Mr. because of the respect I have for you. He appeared in every final round of the season, winning three out of five. 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. Glidden held onto the title by the slimmest margin in 1980. Predictably, it was. He was retired from Pro Stock racing in 1997 and returned in 2010. Glidden began his drag racing career in the 1960s in a Ford 427 Fairlane. Mr. Glidden. Rest In Peace, Bob. 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. May you race in piece Mr Glidden. 1978 was a huge year for Glidden. A truly class act. He was voted #4 all time on NHRAs Top 50 list during the 50th anniversary season of the organizations existence. When you look at the history books those guys were like prize fighters trading blows and wins back and forth. 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. However, can we also agree that there is some degree of overreaction and pretentiousness within the powertrain community with regards to secrecy? Bob Glidden, American racing driver. Feb 8, 2002. when we were at seattle he was always willing to spend time talking clevelands still using his oiling and porting ideas today . God Speed kind sir. He talked about that short little Ford in ill-terms from 1982 forward. Enter Ford who immediately signed him to a factory sponsorship in fear that Glidden would take his talents under the GM umbrella. Following high school he enlisted in the United States Navy. 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 Ancuf Stock Forecast, While Glidden would not collect another NHRA championship after 1989 he continued winning multiple events a year for several years. Rest in peace. Bob Glidden was one such person for me. Bob Glidden's '73 and '75 NHRA World Champ 1973 Pinto Pro Stocker. However, this time they'd gone too far and Glidden was prepared to point that out. The engine technology landscape certainly has changed since Glidden epitomized the independent builder. That was one gnarly Shoebox ! He lived next door to CJ Rayburn a dirt racer and an ex drag racer. Hot Wheels SNAKE and Mongoose Front Engine Wild Wheelie Dragsters Sticker Small (#144935909952) n***f (2583) Past month. I\ve missed him since he retired. 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. 1970 Ford Boss 429 Mustang - Calypso Coral (Highway 61) 1/18. Throughout his career, Glidden almost single-handedly carried the banner for Ford. Bob Glidden Has Died At 73 One Of The Most Singularly Dominant Drag Racers In History Is Gone. It was Billy Glidden that ran the Winnebago PROBE ! Other accolades include back-to-back championships in 1974 and '75, three from '78-'80, and five championships in a row from 1985-'89. 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. "We decided that we either had to make the same kind of commitment to racing that he did or get out. 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. Bob, I love you my brother and I will see you again my friend. In 1985, Glidden led the points chase from start to finish, winning five national events. 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. Glidden was the number one qualifier AT EVERY RACE. He went on to work with Ford, developing engines for their NASCAR Winston Cup program. Pro Stock drag racing is one of the most secretive motorsport disciplines, at least in pit ritual. I also recall remember his son winning a race under questionable issues. 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. Name Date Site E.T. Bob knew Rusty was using it when Rusty ran the 6 with the Winnibago (sp) car. 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 raced like the same guy who showed up at that first event every day of his life for decades. 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. "Everyone in the NHRA community is saddened to learn the news of Bob's passing," NHRA President Peter Clifford said. 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. Bob Glidden was one of the first to catch my attention in the Pro Stock class and draw me away from top fuel or funny cars. Check the 6 second club.Billy Glidden made the club using laughing gas! Bob was a genuine hero to me. Twelfth Night Act 1 Scene 3, We all suffer with you and Thank You for all you do. RIP Bob. <p> Glidden's Plymouth Arrow</p>. No, it is mind boggling. Watching him kick all that GM ass in the 80\s was so fun to watch. Dec 9, 2008 #5 There was a write up in SS&DI years ago about exactly where they hid it, and how they plumbed it.