NHRA'S 50 GREATEST DRIVERS -- NO. Where Is Rusty Glidden Now . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Yup, it was a Probe. He then won the fall nationals and the World Finals beating Wayne Gapp and Bill Jenkins at those events. I apologize for the video quality as it was . 4 on the list of Top 50 racers from NHRA's first 50 years in 2000. 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. However, this time theyd gone too far and Glidden was prepared to point that out. His domination of the Pro Stock class set the bar high for other competitors and he will go down as one of the greats in the sport of drag racing. I remember reading about Bob\s work ethic. 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. 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. We didn't want to get out.". Bob Glidden was one such person for me. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. 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. He was 73 years old, and passed away after a brief bout of illness. (My personal favorite) Glidden sometimes came along with CJ. The time, effort and engineering required to compete and win in the manner the Glidden Family has is phenomenal and unmatched. The man was a legend not just because of his incredible performances on the track and the career numbers that he amassed. 10 minutes I still have the pictures from that meet ,people like that are hard to come by these days.. 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. Right out of the gate, he came out guns blazing with five of seven wins. He was retired from Pro Stock racing in 1997 and returned in 2010. 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. The following year, Glidden broke through for his first NHRA national event victory, at the U.S. Nationals, where he paced the quickest-ever Pro Stock field with a 9.03 at a national record 152.54 mph and defeated fellow Ford racer Gapp in the final. In a star-studded career that spanned more than 25 years in the. Glidden ear David Lindley, a multitalented guitarist who was a fixture in Los Angeles recording studios during the 1970s and '80s, died on Friday. Countless hours of development and experimentation, but the payoff was huge. 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. Owners,drivers and engine builders such as Bob are pretty much gone ,and well missed . It was restored by Bruce Weiss back in '1991. Birth Place: Whiteland, Indiana. 1976 was a down year for Glidden and one where he actually raced a Chevroletfor one race. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. (Photo by. Glidden won 85 NHRA National Events. 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. I know that I have to hustle to win and that I have to go all out to afford to race.". When we started hiring outside people, it was really our downfall. I hired them to get work done but all our information kept getting passed on. Here's a list of highlights from Bob "Mad Dog" Glidden's career: Before going pro in 1972, Glidden had great success in different Ford Fairlanes and even more so in 427 Cobra Jet Mustangs with sponsorship from Ed Martin Ford. In 1985, Glidden led the points chase from start to finish, winning five national events. Glidden's 1988 Winston championship, his ninth, followed a similar script. I am 70 years old and remember the Golden Age of Pro Stock!!! His potent and competitive Ford combination had been hit yet another time by the pounds-per-cubic inch parity regulators. May you rest in peace Mr. Glidden, and I call you Mr. because of the respect I have for you. The actor, who was 71, was discovered in a fume-filled car at his home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Glidden won 85 NHRA National Events. Glidden believes strongly that when . The relative unknown from Indiana traveled to the NHRA Supernationals in California, the final event of the 1972 season and managed a runner up finish to Bill Jenkins in his first ever pro stock race. If you have something to share let us know. He was my favorite. After coming close in 1980, Shepherd succeeded in stripping Glidden of his title in 1981. My condolences to Etta, Billy and Rusty. It was the classic Ford vs. Chevy in the early pro stock class. 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. June 22, 2022; Posted by lisa marie michael jackson; 22 . The 1976 season brought him back down to earth the hefty roll provides. Top Fuel teams will tear down their engines right in front of the spectators. 1, setting low e.t. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. aerodynamic Ford Probe advantage. Market data provided by Factset. I've>never heard this, and it just sounds like a load of BS to me..>>. Maintaining his job as a line mechanic at the dealer and racing a schedule that was busy but paled on comparison to what his later career would look like, Glidden graduated to super stock and became the man to beat in NHRA division three competition. Kind,Loving and Supportive Thoughts to the Glidden Family. All rights reserved. Avery Finnivan Yeah, Glidden had hoards of fans wherever he raced. 1978 was a huge year for Glidden. The car made sickening rolls on top of the steel guardrail edge and while the damage was incredible, Glidden was ok. He was a very nice guy, He will be missed. from United States. He was the man to beat in pro stock in the late 80s. 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. what did bob glidden die from. 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. Post author By ; maltese ray physical traits Post date junio 10, 2022; how to wipe imac g5 without disk . 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. I worked for John Zintsmaster and moved his 62 Chevy Impala factory racer. Bob Glidden Has Died At 73 One Of The Most Singularly Dominant Drag Racers In History Is Gone. record (8.81) in qualifying and beat Gapp in the final. Bob was a force to be reckoned with in his Pinto & Fairmont. Glidden won 85 NHRA National Events. By Jerry Bonkowski Dec 18, 2017, 6:03 PM EST. Im glad to have met him several times and saddened to know im not getting another chance in this life to meet him again. 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. That was one gnarly Shoebox ! Bob was born in Windom, MN, the son of Thomas and Helen Gertrude (Putt) Glidden on July 23, 1937. 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. We all suffer with you and Thank You for all you do. 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 showed up at the 1976 US Nationals in a Monza, much to the amazement of everyone. He was 73-years-old. After hitting the opposite guardrail, the car barrel-rolled six times and was destroyed. God Speed kind sir. 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. "He gave the inspiration to a lot of people that if you dedicate yourself to something you're gonna be successful at it. If anyone had doubts about Gliddens designs on success, their blood had to have run cold watching him race in 1974 and 1975. By Stephen Thomas Erlewine. 10. Like everyone has said, Bob was a true gentleman and a ferocious racer. Further on hidden nitrous, the Wayne County guys were supposed to have had adummy battery and cables which concealed their system. Lighter than the Ford and making scads of power through his genius as an engine man, Glidden did something that today seems thoroughly impossible. 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. He literally never lost a race he entered with it. Glidden, who had carried the Ford banner practically by himself throughout his career, retired in February 1997 to concentrate on engine development for some of Ford's NASCAR Winston Cup teams. Glidden went on to win the race, setting low e.t. The 1982 season brought on the NHRAs new format for pro stock. He also qualified No. I imagine we ran bigger ports than anyone else, but I dont have a clue what the other people ran.. What did Bob Glidden die from? June 10, 2022 . 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.". Mark. 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. 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. My condolences to his family. 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. Bob Glidden's opinion on engine stands 11-02-2016, 10:44 AM. Then theyd blast off the rust and build a new racecar. 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.