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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. I have 4 pro-stock models on my shelf, Bill Jenkins, Ronnie Sox, Lee Shepard, and Bob Glidden. 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. Dont know of any other racer that ran 2 different brands, and Absolutely Dominated with both. Well said Sammy. We'll send you raw engine tech articles, news, features, and videos every week from EngineLabs. I hired them to get work done but all our information kept getting passed on. I\ve missed him since he retired. HOULTON -- Robert (Bob) L. Glidden Sr., 83, died following a brief illness on Feb. 16, 2010, in a Bangor Hospital. 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. The son of a sharecropper, Glidden lived what many would consider the motorsports equivalent of the American dream. Competing at the NHRA pro mod level, he does things his own way and lets his car do the talking, much in the same way his dad did. 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. 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. Forward to 2011 and I see him in pits in Phoenix again. At the Supernationals Gapp got one back on Glidden, beating him the finals. Taft Isd School Calendar, The first major chapters in the Glidden book may be done but the family story still continues to add chapters. We didn't clinch the points title mathematically until just before [Indianapolis], but mentally, we felt that we had won the title right there in Englishtown.". 1979. News, Racing 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. That victory was the first of three straight for Glidden, who won six of the final seven races that season. Owners,drivers and engine builders such as Bob are pretty much gone ,and well missed . 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. I know that I have to hustle to win and that I have to go all out to afford to race.". He also was the 1976 IHRA World Champion and finished second to Bruce Allen in 1985 Pro Stock standings. He turned me on to Pro Stock as a teen. Five championships in a row. Gliddens reputation for secrecy, of course, was memorialized following his wild finish-line crash at Atlanta in 1986. This includes national and divisional races before turning on the red light at the Mile High Nationals. Mar 11, 2011. nvrdun said: I thought Cragar did make Bob Glidden wheels for a couple years??? Nothing but RESPECT for the whole GLIDDEN Family, Etta, Rusty, Billy, Shannon, the whole gang. 4: BOB GLIDDEN Bob Glidden did not have any special training or a degree in mechanical engineering. Long before racing professionally and the making of the Legend, Bob Glidden and I were friends. 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. However, can we also agree that there is some degree of overreaction and pretentiousness within the powertrain community with regards to secrecy? RIP Bob Glidden.You\ve been my favorite since the first time I ever saw you! Iheartradio The Bull, We'll give you credit for the submission (of course) and what is cooler than showing all your gang that you have a story on Bang Shift? He was dominating with five number one qualifiers, he set low ET a half dozen times during the season and all the while, NHRA rules makers were adding weight to his combo, moving weight from others, and basically playing musical chairs to keep things in balance. Thanks for the Memories,Bob. Bob Glidden was born on August 18, 1944 and died on December 17, 2017. NHRA, FOX see positive television numbers following season kickoff in Gainesville, Top Fuel's Terry McMillen remains determined to return soon for 2021 season, Pomona event postponed to later date; racing continues in Las Vegas, NHRA Launch puts motorsports positions at job seeker's fingertips, Darrell Gwynn, Paul Lee join to donate a $25,000 wheelchair at Gatornationals, Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Sunday Preview. He was 73 years old, and passed away after a brief bout of illness. Kind,Loving and Supportive Thoughts to the Glidden Family. 4 on the list of top 50 drivers released by the NHRA in 2000. She understood the excitement and thrill of the fans. Glidden entered the season finale in Ontario, Calif., trailing Shepherd by two rounds and caught a huge break when Shepherd's transmission broke in the second round. He was 73 years old, and passed away after a brief bout of illness. what did bob glidden die from. 1987 was more ridiculous domination. 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. He was dominate. 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. For the first time in a long time, Glidden had his work cut out for him in 1980. In pro stock. 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. 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.. 1983 was another successful season and frankly a dream season for anyone but Bob Glidden. John Force, left, celebrates Bob Glidden's induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. After that crash in 1984 at Atlanta, he earned my utmost respect. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. Condolences to you and your family. The 10-time NHRA Pro Stock champion passed away on Sunday after being hospitalized earlier in the month for an undisclosed illness. He and his trusty Pinto came away with four wins and a runner up. We raced the country roads of Whiteland and Greenwood with a group of people, during a time of life that can\t be duplicated. 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. Bob was among the best builders and drivers in the sport. 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. Unlike his 1979 championship season, Glidden won his third straight and fifth title in 1980 in dramatic fashion. Okay, Bob, its nearly 30 years later. You could see it in her eyes. I've been reading some of my old car magazines and in a 1980 Super Stock & Drag Illustrated they did a couple articles on BG and in one it said that in their very well equipped 7000 square foot shop one thing you don't see is a single engine stand. He died on 8 November, and an inquest has been Glidden was named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame in America in 1994 and ranked fourth on the list of top drivers from the NHRAs first 50 years in 2000. C $5.87. 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. Bob Glidden (August 18, 1944 December 17, 2017) was an American drag racer. On Friday, July 6, 2001 at 9:12:42 AM UTC-5. NHRA legend Bob Glidden dies. Aug 18, 1944 Whiteland, Indiana, United States Died on 17 Dec 2017 (aged 73) American racing driver. RIP Bob you were the greatest. Brian, thank you for putting together a wonderful tribute to Bob Glidden. He ran even quicker at the season-ending Supernationals, where he reset his e.t. A year ago, Billy Glidden found himself battered, bruised, and a bit stunned after making his first test hit of the 2017 season. Bob Glidden Born (1944-04-18)April 18, 1944 Whiteland, Indiana Died December 17, 2017(2017-12-17)(aged 73) Whiteland, Indiana Occupation Drag racer Spouse(s) Etta Glidden Children Rusty and Billy See something missing? Humble and relentless at its best. Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden, one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing, died Dec. 17. Hell I couldn't blame him a bit. (andyes, one of the cars WAS Harold Stouts). I was a fan of his as a Pro-Stock racer but still am a Chevy fan. Hey, how many owners has IHRA had? 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. After coming close in 1980, Shepherd succeeded in stripping Glidden of his title in 1981. 1970 Ford Boss 429 Mustang - Grabber Blue (Highway 61) 1/18. Frosty and I are thinking of Etta and the family, lifting them in prayer, hoping for their peace, and sending our love. See more ideas about bob glidden, drag racing cars, glidden. 1988 was the last year of the Thunderbird for Glidden, but the car wasn't retired until he won his fourth straight title. He was 74 years old. Bob, and condolences to the family. Between the truck, the trailer, the car, and a spare engine with parts they had $18,000 invested in what they hoped would be their future. 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. I heard it caused a lot of stress for the entire Glidden family, because of Bob's hard line on the cheating issue. This was a man who was doing exactly what he was put on this Earth to do. That car came into its own during the second half of the year and he appeared in the Indy finals and won the World Finals to close the season and give everyone a taste of what was to come. He started out in Stock and moved up to Super Stock. He was my favorite.