One of Drag racing’s All-time Greats!
Bob Glidden was born in Whiteland, Indiana on
August 18, 1944. He worked as a mechanic for Ed Martin ford in Anderson, Indiana,
who later would sponsor Him.
Glidden began drag racing in the 1960’s with a
Ford 427cid V-8 Fairlane, before switching to a 428 Cobra Jet Mustang in 1968.
Beginning in the Stock class, Glidden moved up
to Super stock, winning frequently before turning Pro in 1972. Selling His
Super Stock Mustangs in order to purchase a Pro Stoc Pinto from Jack Roush and
Wayne Gapp.
He quit His mechanic’s job at Ed Martin ford in
order to tur Pro fulltime, and finished second in His debutante Pro Stock race
in the 1972 final Supernationals.
Glidden scored His maiden National Pro Stock
victory at the 1973 U.S. Nationals. With His ford Pinto scorching the track
with a 9.03 seconds pass. With a record 152.54mph as the No. 1 qualifier.,
defeating Gapp in the finals.
For 1974, bob won a further three events,
including the Springnationals and His second U.S. Nationals, along with a
Division 3 event. As both Divisionals and National events were part of the
series.
Setting a new elapsed time record at bowling
Green, Kentucky and earning 400 bonus points. Along with defeating Gapp again
in the U.S. Nationals, allowed Glidden to “power” past Gapp and Wally booth for
that season’s championship!
In 1975 during a mid-season slump, Glidden
reacquired His 1974 Pinto and ultimately won seven NHRA events enroute to His
second straight Winston title.
A
Fan’s street-legal tribute to the most famous Pro Stock Pinto
1976 was an off-year for Glidden, finishing
sixth overall, followed by second in 1977 behind don Nicholson.
For 1978, Glidden began the season with wins in
the Winter Nationals and Cajun Nationals aboard his Pinto. Bob then transitioned
to a Ford Fairmont, which He went undefeated in. With five consecutive races at
season’s end.
Glidden claimed his third Pro Stock
championship that year, and his seven wins tied the legend us’ snake, aka don Prudhomme
for most Nationals wins that year.
His seven wins broke the previous Pro Stock
single season record of six wins by Bill Jenkins.
1979 would be the only year that Bob won a Pro
Stock National Championship in a vehicle other than Ford. Utilizing a Plymouth
Arrow to claim His fourth Winston Pro Stock crown.
Having retired His undefeated Fairmont, Glidden
went on a tear in His Arrow. Winning the season opener winter Nationals, and
going undefeated for 14 races and 50 rounds! With the streak ending in June in
Denver. Winning another seven National events that season.
His 1980 NHRA campaign would be His most
difficult, capturing an unlikely third consecutive Pro Stock title at season’s
end vs. the dominant Lee shepherd in a Chevrolet Camaro.
Glidden’s corporate backer Chrysler filed for
Bankruptcy, forcing Glidden to race on His own “Dime”. And by round three, had
parked the Arrow for a uncompetitive 1980 Ford Fairmont.
Switching to an unconventional big block motor,
the tide slowly turned in Glidden’s favour. With fellow competitors nicknaming
Him Mad dog that season!
Yet Glidden trailed Shepherd by 250 points
entering the season ending World Finals at Ontario, California. With Sheppard
simply needing to win round two to clinch His first Pro Stock Championship.
Shepherd broke a transmission in Round-2. While
Glidden went onto set fastest ET and win the finals from pole position to win
His fifth career Pro Stock title.
Bob
Glidden’s Unlikely Championship defines making of a legend
Glidden entered one last season in 1981 with
His Boss 429 derived big block V-8 Fairmont.
Then at ford’s urging, Glidden endured a
miserable 1982 season in a short wheelbase Ford EXP which was designed for a
351 Cleveland V-8 small block, before NHRA changed its rules to a straight 500
cubic inch displacement, catching Glidden unprepared.
Bob claimed that stuffing the big block in the
EXP made it the worst car He ever raced! Although managing to win once aboard this
unloved racecar. As Shepherd would reel-off four consecutive Pro Stock titles
between 1981-84.
Going
500 – Early days of 500-inch Pro Stock
1983 saw Ford, Glidden and Ricky Smith debut
the new Thunderbird, and the rest as they say is history…
Glidden won the first of five consecutive Pro
Stock titles in 1985, claiming five wins enroute to His sixth Pro Stock crown.
1986 started off slowly, before winning six of
the final seven races. Then in 1987, a further eight victories followed, including
His 60th “Wally!”
Glidden qualified No. 1 for all 14 races, made
the finals 10 times and won 42 rounds! Along with winning five straight races
at season’s end.
He retired His championship winning Ford
thunderbird after 19 Pro Stock wins. And won His fourth straight title aboard a
Ford Probe, which I believe He campaigned until His retirement in 1997.
Glidden won nine times in 1989, enroute to His
tenth and final Pro Stock Championship, winning 49 times during the 1980’s.
By His standards, Glidden won a paltry seven
times between 1990-93, with His 85th and final victory coming in 1995 at the
Mopar Nationals in Englishtown, NJ.
Glidden missed the majority of the ’95 season
due to having six-bypass Open Heart surgery during the off season and retired
in 1997 after two races.
Glidden attempted to contest the 1998 U.S.
Nationals, a race He’d won nine times, but failed to qualify. Bob then worked
on programs for Ford along with being a Crew Chief for multiple Pro Stock
teams.
Glidden was inducted into the Motorsports Hall
of Fame of America in 1994. Ranked No. 4of the NHRA’s Top-50 drivers in 2001.
And inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Bob and wife Etta had two sons, Rusty and
Buddy. With Rusty also racing NHRA Pro Stock, even defeating His father once in
1996. Before Glidden died at age 73 on December 17, 2017, having been diagnosed
with cancer the previous year…
