GLIDDEN VS. SHEPHERD: 1980 AN UNLIKELY CHAMPIONSHIP

For the latest in drag racing news, visit www.competition....
There was no Countdown to the Championship necessary to build excitement for the battle which took place the season someone stood up to what seemed like NHRA's Pro Stock bully.
The reality is, Bob Glidden was not a bully anywhere but behind the wheel of Pro Stocker. He was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet but on the race track he pushed the competition around. In fact, once Glidden took over the NHRA Pro Stock point lead in 1978, he never relinquished it until January 1980 when a trio of Texans stepped up to say enough is enough.
Reher-Morrison-Shepherd proved to be this Superman's kryptonite. In this documentary style feature from CompetitionPlus.com, travel back to a season when Lee Shepherd raced the seemingly unbeatable at every race throughout the season, setting the stage for the final event. Hear the story from those who lived through this war, including an interview with the late Bob Glidden.
Be sure to download the CompetitionPlus.com mobile app; its a free download at the Apple Store or Google Play.
www.competition...

[@richardbrewer6846]

The true days of drag racing, not like today! Wish it was back! I remember those Glidden and Shepherd days, they were the best! We lost two good racers, god bless them both.

[@rodneydukes7616]

Those were the days for sure.

[@biscuitboy3617]

Glidden was without a doubt, the hardest working man in Pro Stock. Coming up through the ranks, and doing it all out of his own pocket, at a time when other drivers had sponsorship and he did'nt have much of sponsors until they seen his winning success! We will never see the kind of dynamics that this era of Pro Stock brought out in all the racers.

[@Joetrout]

In all of drag racing

[@BobbyTucker]

I remember Ford doing a commercial with Bob Glidden and his Ford Probe running through the quarter mile, and Bob Glidden driving his race car t6hen the same color Ford Probe in street dress, Bob Glidden always looked to be an Office worker type, lol.

[@Mike583]

@@BobbyTucker Just goes to show,looks sure can be deceiving! I once met an old man in bib overalls. It was at a Union 76 truck stop off I-10 in western TX. Behind the t/s was a very wide garage with an office & several overhead door stalls. Every stall had some type of Ford in it. Come to find out he was a multimillionaire! He owned a Ford p/u race team. I talked with him for about half an hour. A very nice,down to earth guy,this was in the mid to later 80's.

[@kevinmott8668]

I cant believe hes gone...i met him several times at the tracks across this country...even with years between meeting him....he remembered my name...he was legend before his time..i have the greatest respect for the Glidden family and God called him home to work on his race car...God bless you bob...

[@mikecarr1378]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty what do you know ???

[@joemvin.j3-16]

​​@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty Jesus Christ appeared to my Dad 92 (to Dad's left & behind me) in the ER at 6am 2019 Dec 17 - and then Dad saw his Mom & Dad (young!) to the right of the foot of his bed! - in visions just 1 hour before Jesus took him Home to Heaven. Doctors & medical staff confirmed something supernatural happened in that room. The candystriper (assistant who brought me to Dad's room at 4:30am) came in again as I was about to leave at 7:30am - she told me she knew my Dad saw his parents before our Lord took Dad to Heaven. In the following hours, I received 2 confirmations from people who were not in the ER (I called them to let them know about Dad)! - they had visions of what happened in the ER, and knew Jesus appeared to Dad to his left behind me, and then Dad saw his Mom & Dad at the foot of his bed. (His Mom died when Dad was 17 and about to go into the Marines, his Dad died 55 years ago.) You sir - why are you denying Jesus died on the cross for our sins? Why are you denying Jesus as Saviour, and God sent His Son to die for us? Why are you denying God? If you continue to deny Him here - when you die, and you are immediately in front of our Heavenly Father - He will deny you too and you are in hell for eternity. Jesus is waiting for you to come to Him, and ask for His Forgiveness and declare Jesus as your Saviour. Praying for you. 🙏🙏

[@joemvin.j3-16]

​@@mikecarr1378 please read this entire thread.

[@joemvin.j3-16]

​@@terryrhyne9112 please read this entire thread.

[@joemvin.j3-16]

@kevinmott8668 Yes I believe Bob Glidden is in Heaven too. 🙏🙏🙌🙌 Please read the rest of the comments. Jesus Blessings!!

[@canismajorconservative8094]

Bob Glidden was a very unique person. He built his own cars, and motors. Invested everything he had into his passion of racing. I am all into Chevy but Bob Glidden always had my respect. I met him at the Indy US Nationals when he drove the Motorcraft Thunderbird. We were in the staging lanes and Bob was down to earth and talked to me as long as I wanted. I never felt he had the big head even once. Another great person was Eddie Hill. He was like Bob in many ways. Humble and a great person. Memories of my young days, so many years ago .. RIP Bob Glidden

[@Joetrout]

He was the best! I remember at the motorplex in ennis he had lost in the semis. This was towards the end of his career. I went to his trailer, most racers would be upset when they lost, they would pack up an leave. I was hesitant at first to ask for a autograph, when he saw me with a pen just came over started talking was not one bit upset! You would think he was in the finals by the way he was laughin and talking. Always will remember that! Thanks BOB

[@sparkyguitar0058]

I had to reply to this. Year's ago IHRA Northern nationals. Rain delay, sat with Eddie Hill and his wife probably 45 minutes talking shit. They were so nice, Invited me in the hauler and everything. Then after the rain went to the fence and ran into Glidden who was checking the track. We talked racing and Ford history and just all kinds of cool stuff. 2 weeks later at Super Ford meet Glidden and Ricky Smith were match racing. We talked again there and he actually remembered certain stuff we had talked about and looked up some of it to confirm facts. Blew me away. Great guys both of them.

[@anthonymontey7540]

You didn't build his own car just as Motors

[@trailerparkcryptoking5213]

Anthony Montey Don Hardy. Floydada, Texas built his cars until the mid 80’s and Hardy told me that the Gliddens were very hard to please and left it at that.....

[@trailerparkcryptoking5213]

I sat at McClain’s Truck Stop Cafe in Fort Stockton, Texas with John Force drinking coffee (he was good friends with one of my dad’s friends). Force was a non-stop bullshitter and never quit talking, then a man walked in the cafe and Force waived him over to our table. It was Eddy Hill. So now I am 18-19 years old and a small time drag racer and huge follower of the NHRA so I know how special this occasion was! Those two started telling stories that very few people have ever heard. Force absolutely hated Don Prudhome! Now they are partnered up on Austin Prock’s dragster....I doubt Prudhome knows how much Force detested him. Also in Ennis, Texas at Texas Motorplex a little old lady was walking through the pits holding a cute little dog and my wife walked up and complimented her on her cute puppy and they made nice casual conversation. About 5 minutes in, a man walked up and started talking to his wife that was holding the pup. I looked at him and it was Big Daddy Don Garlitts? We stood there and talked casual conversation for several minutes, none of it was ever about cars, just casual life. My wife had no idea who we were talking to and when we walked away I told her. She could have cared less about his drag racing status, she was just impressed at how extremely nice people they were!!!

[@michaelrogers4285]

Bob and Etta Glidden, true legends of Pro Stock. But even better human beings, with very good work ethics. Thank you for all the great memories, and RIP Bob 🙏

[@arkhsm]

Bob was so humble when he won, and he couldn't wait to get back to the start line; so he could give his crew chief a big hug !!

[@r.hernandez6152]

Bob Glidden. What classic man. Given credit to one of his rivals It takes one great driver to recognize another!

[@chrisnizer1885]

I can remember the first time we saw Glidden's Ford Fairmont: big, square, and as aerodynamic as a shoebox. Compared to the Camaro's it looked as aerodynamic as a cinder block. Then we saw it run like a scalded dog: FAST! Couldn't believe a car like THAT could run mid 8's at 160 mph. Only Bob Glidden could do something like that. Thanks for the great classic video my friend, great stuff indeed! 👍 👍

[@edwardhoffmaniii3190]

That Fairmont the first one never lost a round of competition and retired undefeated for an entire season. And qualified number on in 95% of the races entered. No other Pro Stock car in history can claim that dominance.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

There's this kid today who goes by the name Cleetus McFarland, he runs in the 6's with a big square body, so I guess Glidden isn't the only one who "could do something like that"!!

[@daleostrom3613]

@Anarchy Is Freedom Fifty years of technology and power adders gives Cleetus an edge...

[@billshiff2060]

We were pitted across from Glidden on a super hot day. I was feeling really sick with severe cramps and pain so that I was ready to go to the hospital. Then Etta came around and handed out salt pills 💡! That was it! I was getting heat stroke and didn't know it. To this day when it's hot I make sure not to get salt depleted and every time I think of and thank Etta Glidden for that.

[@Jvcomet]

Bob Glidden. All time hero. Miss him and the real pro stocks

[@captjim007]

Bob and Lee were some of my idols. I met Bob, he was a class act.

[@stewartdeerfield]

I remember as a young kid going with my older brother and his Ford friends watching drag racing in Southern Calif. Bob was the only Ford guy who was even qualifying and he was pretty much beating everyone. Drove a Mach 1 with his wife as his crew chief. Wow!

[@bradbroemmer9085]

Steve Evans announcing, Lee Shepherd, Glidden, the M&M Boys, the Yuill Brothers, and Frank Iaconio. Don't get no better than that.

[@TheThemattyo1]

Bob was fan friendly , at just 5 years old bob picked me up in 72 at pomona ; put me back down and handed me his hat--signed".

[@cowboy742]

Lee Shepherd died in 1985 at age 40. He was preparing for the forthcoming Gatornationals and had leased the race track to test a new car. It was extremely windy. He had just finished a practice run and deployed the parachute. The front end of the car came off the ground and he lost control. The car veered to the left and Shepherd had the wheels turned to the right to correct it when the front end came back to the ground. It rolled several times and landed upside down. At the impact, he was ripped from his harness and thrown from the vehicle a distance of 163 feet. He was transported to an Ardmore hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. The severe crosswind was determined to be a major factor in causing the accident. He was a resident of Arlington, Texas, and was a five-time national drag racing champion in Pro Stock, four times in NHRA and once in IHRA. He had garnered 29 NHRA national event wins. He had been racing since 1970. Bob Glidden died in 2017 at age 73. He was one of the most dominant forces in the history of NHRA Drag Racing. 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. 4 on the list of Top 50 racers from NHRA's first 50 years in 2000.

[@randycoursey7230]

I absolutely love Bob Glidden. I'm a big Ford fan and watching him beat Chevrolets week in and week out made me feel so proud. Rest in peace sir Bob Glidden! ❤️🇺🇲👍🗽

[@Inthefoxhole]

He was iconic. But a cheating bastard.

[@russellnigh9337]

A Heim Joint in the front end of the Monza he was driving broke, Reher&Morrison won a lawsuit against the chassis builder

[@SealofPerfection]

@@russellnigh9337 Not what happened. A crosswind hit the car, he pulled the chute and it yanked the car to the right and started to flip. His seatbelt broke and he was ejected from the car. His wife posted the details on yellowbullet years ago.

[@russellharper3027]

@@Inthefoxhole Which one?

[@chrisnizer5702]

Bob Glidden was one of the nicest, most approachable drivers I ever had the pleasure of meeting when I was at the '81 Winston World Finals at OCIR. Thanks for the video my friend, good stuff! 👍 👍

[@dohcsmr1175]

One must give RMS credit. The Cleveland was just wearing there ass out HP, Air Flow and reliability wise. The short stroke and big air flow of the 348 crank big block started to get them close to the Cleveland’s. Glidden did have a higher weight break at 7 to 1 compared to 6 to 1 for the Chevy. And Glidden driving around him in some of there races proves how much better the Cleveland was. But to come up with the Combo they did and Hole Shot Glidden like he did was epic. I miss those days of Pro Stock.

[@531671967]

Aaahhhh, Steve Evans. The voice of my teen years and some of the best years of my life ! Rest easy Steve.

[@fordfairlane662dr]

I remember watching Bob Glidden back in the early 80ies..he was a force to be reckoned with!!!

[@bradley-eblesisor]

Bob Glidden, my hero and the hungriest drag racer, ever in my opinion.

[@boruff68]

Now THIS is drag racing !!!! The best era of pro stock.

[@jaychester4280]

Wow! What a blast watching this! I grew up in the 1970's and 1980's and remember reading about a lot of this in SSDI, and watched tape delay on TV whenever I could. My high school buddies and I still attend at least one NHRA event every year. Too bad pro stock sucks so bad now. They really need to relax the rules, make it more affordable, and make them run stock bodies, etc. like the old days. It's too much like NASCAR now - expensive and BORING.

[@Romans--bo7br]

Jay Chester.... I completely agree with you, and the same for T/F & F/C as well.... but this is what happens when you allow Big Corporate money into the program... and of course "Wally" gave it his blessing, knowing full well, that it was going fatten NHRA's bank account, hugely as well....... not to mention his own! I grew up through the 50s & mid 60s and I can remember the days of 100 plus fueler's showing up to qualify for a 64 car field!! I don't think that there's That many on the entire planet that are running any more, is there?..... certainly not in the US... I mean competitively, not counting "cackle fests" in California. Personally, I would love it to just go back to plain old, affordable, grass roots drag racing.... but, with the way and where, that I Know this country is going..... it's all going to be a moot point, especially starting this fall (2020) or shortly after, when they begin phase three of the take-down. It will be quite a while before drag racing (or much of anything else!), returns again... If ever.

[@riverchaseautomotive3067]

@ i99⁹⁰

[@BobbyTucker]

@ , I'll never forget my favorite class, I'm not sure if it even exists anymore, AA/FAs, you could feel the cars running as they pulled up to the lights and were staging. They were mostly running in the 7 second bracket, they were fast.

[@Romans--bo7br]

@@BobbyTucker.... I don't think I ever saw a AA/FA make a pass with more than One Wheel touching the pavement at the same time... except when staging at the tree. lol BIG Kahonees to drive them, for sure.... a Lot more so than shoeing any of my FED's through the years, that's for sure!!

[@arkhsm]

Factory Stock IS the new Pro Stock !!

[@suzyjohnson4667]

I was there in 1980@Ontario. Rooting for Bob and Ford. What a day, life is good!!

[@andyharman3022]

I loved the mechanical ingenuity of this era, before all the performance parts you could ever wish for became available from Summit or Jegs. These guys had to use some ingenuity, and then work hard for the performance gains. Reher and Morrison were running small blocks, but knew they couldn't compete with Glidden's 4V Cleveland. So they decided to build a destroked big block, went to the junkyard and got a crank out of a 348 W-motor. Then all of a sudden, they had an advantage. But Glidden had an engine with furnace-brazed liners that had a bigger bore, but was afraid to use. But he had to, in order to compete. And when he plugged in the 343, he had a tenth on everybody. At Seattle, he got drilled on the starting line, but ran Shepherd down for the win. That's power. Glidden's car was holding him back all year. Look at the way the front wheels would pop up at launch, and compare to RMS's car, which would just go straight down the track. RMS had a better chassis all year.

[@larrywhaley3753]

best way to end this vid , you can see how happy she was ,

[@donmelvin7102]

It was great just to see Mc Clennan and Steve Evans reporting again. Glidden was the man that year. Talk about winning against the odds!

[@mxmissile4588]

Speaking of odds, can someone document how much weight Glidden had to carry vs the chevys to keep it even. This is the "elephant in the living room" no one will talk about.( Especially all the GM media.)

[@razorwire3056]

I remember an interview... I think it was in SS/DI with Bill Jenkins. They asked him to rate other drivers. I forget what he said about most but I remember what he said about two. "Who is the best pro stock driver?" Grump said, "Lee Shepherd. No one else comes close to his talent." Not Bob Glidden? "No. Bob Glidden was the hardest working man in the pits. He could have made a refrigerator run 7 seconds. If he put as much effort into picking up beer cans as he does those cars, he'd be a millionaire. But Lee Shepherd was the best pro stock driver who ever lived." Coming from Bill Jenkins, that was as much praise as any two men could hope for.

[@sbains560]

Bob Glidden was the man Plain and simple

[@johnnytalburt1764]

The Professor had more Wins than Bob Glidden did so what does that make him

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

@@johnnytalburt1764 The Wo man?

[@mikecarr1378]

@@johnnytalburt1764 He raced longer because the rules were in favor of GM ,MONEY....

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Maybe it's because I am getting old, but I enjoyed Pro Stock in the 70's and 80's. There were certainly an abundance of really fine drivers and Bob and Lee were always exceptional. Of course Warren Johnson and Bill Jenkins were great too! I enjoyed them all!!!

[@Joetrout]

I think it was good until the 90’s then just went sour

[@richardcarter8134]

Don't forget the annoucers..the late great Steve Evans..big Dave McClellan..like no others..and Diamond P sports did a great job

[@rodneylogan6817]

I remember meeting Bob Glidden at Gainesville he was he was an inspiration for me and drag racing I built a 351 Cleveland and I put it in a mustang 67 but meeting Glidden I couldn't believe it was always my hero rest in peace Big G. Thank you so very much

[@ericbrandt829]

Bob Glidden was a 1 MAN ARMY but, his wife Etta worked equally as hard and the family all helped to make for some of his success....He didn't "Back into" the championship by good luck....He worked his Azz Off! Even made a winner out of the Chrysler "A" Series motor....Something the long term Chrysler teams had failed to do.....

[@bluedoggg1]

He was a genius at his craft. RIP Bob Glidden.

[@georgetown2057]

Both great racers and great men

[@trailerparkcryptoking5213]

Saw the Gliddens at Pomona Winternationals Feb 1986. Bob was walking around the pits on a mission being surrounded and followed by several men in suits and ties that I suspect were Ford executives. Etta was at the car standing there with a mug of coffee in her hand while one of the boys was under the car turning wrenches. He would crawl out and talk to mom and then crawl back underneath and continue working. It was an all inclusive family race team! Bob Glidden was the best drag racer in history!!! He wasn’t a narcissist ass hat like John Force!!!

[@richardbrewer6846]

That's a fact!

[@Romans--bo7br]

Don't leave out the "Father" of Pro Stock.... Bill Jenkins (one of the greatest Chevy race engine minds [along with "Smokey" as well] that ever lived!), nor "Big" (Garlits & his wife, Pat - R.I.P.)... either.

[@jeffbrown1611]

The greatest drag race of all time is Bob Glidden he held up Ford alone against all challengers and beat them all Sheperd, Leal, Alderman, WJ, and so many others. Drag racing has not been the same since .

[@chadkent1241]

Kenny Bernstein did fairly well the few years but he raced Fords in his Escort funny car. The 1st to hit 260 and 270 and champ in 85 and 86.

[@hessranch]

That’s damn right. You know who else carried Ford, Dyno Don Nicholson

[@rodneydukes7616]

Shepard beat Glinden a lot of times. Rip chevy.

[@RandysFiftySevenChevy]

Rooting for Chevy but had to love Bob and his family Ran into him at Pomona in the late 90s, he was helping his son qualify. Spent a few minutes chatting and i could tell that he was all business, and got out of there. He was a good human.

[@ToddWright2]

Bullet Bob is my the only drag racing "personality" I have ever liked. He was humble, outworked everybody, and did it at a time when championships were won--not bought. An inspirational guy. RIP. Lee Shepherd, too. A different trajectory, but a feared opponent who was very bright and circumspect, that was taken way too young. RIP.

[@mc2whls]

Bob Glidden, greatest Pro Stock Driver. RIP Bob

[@bradyneff5654]

@King Hannibal and that’s a fact. Rip lee gone wayyyy too soon

[@richiedick8997]

Lee shepherd was my p s guy but glidden was a ford genius nobody made a ford run like bob maybe tricky ricky but not like glidden

[@strattuner]

@@richiedick8997 not only could he make fords run,he took our small blocks to a whole new level,BOB WAS FORD AND MOPAR GENIUS,if they didn't make mopar i'd drive ford,ford is durability just like mopar,RIP BOB GLIDDEN

[@johnpopoff7950]

R.I.P to both of them they elevated the pro stock class.

[@chadkent1241]

The only people that ever called Bob Glidden a bully were the ones he was beating their asses at a track.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Chad Kent no doubt, they hated ol Grumpy Jenkins too but the man was a real racer like Bob

[@eddylee587]

The ol saying goes...."Put Up or Shut up!!" Glidden all the way!

[@deansapp4635]

I loved Bob Glidden and Dyno Don Nicholson

[@jerrytee2688]

Wow, great episode, these retro-documentaries are the best. Being a "Chevy Guy" I was an Iaconio/R-M fan, but always had the utmost respect for the Glidden family. My younger brother was a die-hard Glidden fan. Made for fun spectating back in the day.

[@dannymiller4335]

Bob Glidden, the best ever

[@danawilkes8322]

I went to Ontario 1978. Too many people around Bob, so I went over and talked to Etta for awhile, and she was a very nice person to talk to. I miss those days...

[@kevs56chev]

Chevy guy here with utmost respect for Bob Glidden. What a terrific sportsman. Huge RMS fan too for the same reasons. Great era for pro stock.

[@jarheade3823]

I was there on that day,.. I went home the day before after the Sportsmen qualifying and saw the Glidden family hard at work that night,.. The next day I got there when the gates opened and still the Glidden's were working on that Fairmont. I remember seeing Billy Glidden eating a sandwich with his hands black and full of grease.

[@jpol3808]

Love the retro videos. Takes me back to where life, though it had its troubles, was way less hectic and complicated, as it is today. Thanks. Jpol.

[@johnbecay6887]

how did the NHRA turn this exciting class 40 years ago into such a modern snooz fest that they are in danger of losing the class altogether?

[@Joetrout]

Factory money talks now. Chevy owns pro stock and harley owns pro stock motorcycle

[@rchydrozz751]

All boring. I stopped watching and going to races years ago. The best racing is local 1/8 mile stuff.

[@thoof2001]

Like so much else, money ruined it and idiotic rules made the bulbous monstrosities you see today. Pro STOCK?? Not since the late 1980s, over 30 yrs ago. Now, all NHRA has to do is go for the BIG bucks, pull a NASCAR and let Toyota in and kill Pro Stock for good. I'm already out.

[@sillygoose2508]

They took the rule book from nascar and became very aggressive of denying their fans of excitement

[@deborahchesser7375]

Joe Trout simple and boring as that

[@twwap294]

Thanks so much for that recap from those of us who couldn't be there!

[@stealthbomber2126]

I liked Lee, he was a great driver and a super nice guy. But in the small block era he never beat Bob without Bob being handicapped in some way. By mid 84 Bob had matched Lee on the tree and was beating him on the clock. Those two made drag racing great for many years, R.I.P. to both men.

[@PaulBoss351]

The Gliddens are some of the very best people, not only in the history of drag racing, but as American citizens.

[@sfranklin9073]

Politics aside, we have people rioting in the streets. When I was growing up, the only thing we watched in the streets was drag racing. I saw Bob in the Eighty's. Another was Roy Hill. So many great drivers and teams in the day.

[@JAAB9296]

Lee was one if not the best pro-stock drag racers ever, had the privilege of talking to him two times, he was a great guy. 1980 was my first full year of drag racing as well. When Lee passed my crew chief said well, that is all she wrote for Reir Morrison in two years they wont be competitive. I asked why do you say that? He replied, because Lee Shepherd dose ALL of their head work and is one of the best drivers in pro-stock. Turned out he hit the nail on the head. RIP Mr. Shepherd, you were the best of the best !

[@hdvictoryford5329]

Agree about LS. Don't forget the NHRA factored BG. And the NHRA catered to R&M and allowed them to run a much lighter car than BG.

[@rosskrause3926]

I was a TIG welder and the company I worked for was less than an 1/8th mile across the street down 1 block from Reher-Morrison..I didn't even know they were there,but I heard engines running wide open 6 days a week,I guess on their dyno..I decided to walk their way during my lunch break and saw a small sign the had Reher Morrison on it..like it was a secret place. That was and still is in Arlington,Texas. This was some of the best racing ever..

[@Santor-]

Every time I go to the hardware store and see Glidden paints, I think of the late Bob Glidden. Thank you sir, for the best entertainment of my life. Perhaps one day you could show us all some tricks at the dyno in the clouds.

[@tint661]

Bob Glidden's Pro Stock Arrow was on display at the 2020 Chrysler at Carlisle Show. I got to see Bob race for the first time in 1982 at the Cajun Nationals in Baton Rouge, LA. He had the Ford Fairmont at that time.

[@Gump-tion]

This upload was freakin great, man! Thank you so much!

[@SNAFU_73]

the 28 thumbs down on this vid are obviously not true drag racing fans :)

[@myretirementlife8731]

The 2 best pro stock teams ever to run the quarter mile. So glad I was able to witness this era of drag racing. Nothing today can compare to those days!

[@Dartman6]

Great video! This happened before I was able to see a lot of drag racing on TV, and I've only read about such battles. What impresses me most about this rivalry was the tremendous respect each team had for the other. So refreshing to see this compared to todays trash talking and bitterness. Thanks to Bobby Bennett for putting this together!

[@hammer6238]

The punks that call themselves Pro Stock drivers today are a complete, total JOKE. These gentlemen were the best, and set the bar to high for today. I don't even watch drag racing anymore.

[@daleostrom3613]

I think the unlike champion would be Shepherd. You do realize that NHRA made Bob a carry hundreds of pounds of extra weight just so Shepherd could compete. Without the NHRA weight brakes nobody would have ever beat Bob and his Cleveland Fords.

[@davesilva75]

Couldn't compare a sbc head at that time to a cleavland head. ! Bob would be 4 tenths faster without the weight.!

[@AndyGeesGarage]

@@davesilva75 Shepherd was running a destroked big block at that point. A 427 with a 348 crank for 362” to take advantage of the weight breaks Gliddon’s Cleveland was 420 cubes The extra weight was because of the extra cubes it was in the rules not because the NHRA made him carry extra weight because he was too fast.

[@Mike583]

@@AndyGeesGarage I've never heard of Bob's small block being that big for NHRA racing! I have heard that when everyone was racing the small blocks,when Bob kept winning, NHRA penalized him by adding weight to his car! He'd find more hp in his engines & kept on winning! That's how they gave him the nickname "MadDog"!

[@daleostrom3613]

@@johnnytalburt1764; That makes NO sense. Bob had the fastest ProStocker on the planet. So fast that He had to run hundreds of pounds heavier, just so other cars manufacturers could compete. Because NHRA kept adding weight to his combination, He eventually started sandbagging.

[@johnnytalburt1764]

@@AndyGeesGarage I think your right it was his son and your right about everyone cheating I remember when Bob Glidden crashed his Pro Stocker and when the crash was over he crawled out of the car and took his jacket off and covered up the Intake they were all hiding secrets on how to go Faster

"It's more than the money right now" Somehow I don't think it ever WAS about the money for Glidden. Man, I miss racers like Bob.

[@andyharman3022]

It was definitely about the money with Glidden when he built the Chrysler. He won multiple championships for Ford, but they wouldn't sponsor him. Chrysler offered Glidden a full sponsorship deal, and that's why he ran the Arrow in '79. Won the championship.

@@andyharman3022 Ed Martin Ford dealership sponsored him when he worked as a mechanic there from '68 until he quit s/s to get into pro stock. He was sponsored by Ford motorcraft, the parts arm of Ford from 83-97 Ford quality care being his sponsor later in those years 93-97 I believe, only in 84-5 did he have a different full sponsor 7-11 and Chief auto parts but Ford still had a very prominent contingency sticker on that car and from what I understand he was still getting parts money. He did engine R&D for Ford sponsored Nascar teams up until a year before he died. Him and Rickie Smith were both Ford sponsored in the 80's when the aero birds debuted. He raced to win, I worked for Don Nicholson as a transporter in the 90's and he said Bob would've raced for food and gas money if that was the only prize. When Jim Cunningham tried to get him to come back in 2010 Bob couldn't push the clutch in he was so weak, he wore 20 lbs of leg weights every day for 2 weeks and worked out daily to get back in that car!! Sorry for the essay, but Glidden, Kuhlmann, Nicholson, Bonner and Feurer were my heroes of the blue oval and always will be. I love and own all makes, even have an old Dodge van for some reason, but Ford was my first obsession. Edited because I kept calling Glidden, Bill for some reason, one too many bourbons maybe, lol.

[@andyharman3022]

@ Yes, Bob had steady sponsorship from Ford after 1980, but I was writing about the years before that. He went undefeated with the Fairmont in 1978, yet wasn't making any money. Passion only goes so far, and Bob had to look to the future. So he took the full ride sponsorship from Chrysler and won the Championship for them in the first year. That had to be a wakeup call for Ford that they couldn't take him for granted. Bob carried the banner for Ford in Pro Stock when nearly the whole field was GM. It seems like Nicholson and Roush were Ford's favored drag racers, and Glidden was on the outside, even though he was winning more races.

@@andyharman3022 Yeah, that Arrow was fast as hell, beat the record he set with the Fairmont. With his win record, Glidden should've been Ford's flagship driver from the get go. I think Gapp and Roush helped him get his foot in the door further as after the Arrow he had their attention for sure. That Fairmont was something else, Nicholson said when Glidden raced Bill Jenkins once, he popped the chute at the 1000 ft. mark just to show him how bad he was beating him!! LMAO, I wouldn't want to have been around Grumpy's pit after that happened. I spoke to Larry Widmer of Energy Dynamics, the guy that came up with the super swirl Boss heads that Glidden ran in his Tbirds and he said that Fairmont was "Quicker than the word of God" in it's day. I sure miss drag racing like it was, I won't even watch NHRA now. I'd rather watch those stock appearing drags, they bring back the spirit and innovation to the sport. Good talking to ya Andy, stay safe.

[@humblewisdom8976]

What class acts those guys were. To be able to admit you hate racing the other guy and yet so much respect between them. F.O.R.D First On Race Day!!

[@johnjohnsn7633]

Unfortunately, NHRA has effectively "regulated out" both Ford and Mopar... turning it into 'Pro Camaro'. 😒

[@rodneydukes7616]

Dream on.

[@phillight352]

I could sit and watch Old ,60,70,80s Racing better than the game show,s and Love island

[@oonioomphs9440]

Well put together. Thank you for memorializing this.

[@romeoalphafoxtrot9517]

This was the era when drag racing was the real deal. Now, forget about it. A complete unwatchable joke! Who even cares anymore? Thanks for all the great memories guys! You rock!

[@kelvinbryant7602]

Ur right Robert NHRA sucks n Racin period thank S for the old timers

[@johnpopoff7950]

All of racing has gotten to be a joke. Too many rules regulations just look at NASCAR anf F1.

[@mchristr]

On point. Pro Stock has become cartoonish. Hopefully the NHRA will follow NASCAR and bring back more stock looking racecars.

[@careymaurer2585]

Steve Evans in my opinion was a huge part as well.

[@jackgilreath3113]

Absolutely agree. Sterile garbage now, and not a full qtr. mile. They can keep it.

[@chryco63]

Amazing story!! Thank you for this! So many hold-your-breath moments!

[@arkhsm]

So good that if they made a movie about it, they'd say it had a typical Hollywood ending !!

[@jorgemercado4223]

Am a chevy guy but this guy wow the man period ..

[@KennyInVegas]

I so miss the early 80's racing at THE SPEEDROME in Vegas......... RIP Bob and Lee

[@burningblue1254]

Bob is and was the man. I respect Lee very much as he was a hell of a driver but Glidden had the mechanical smarts that eventually overpowered any holeshots. He would set both ends of the record . IMHO eventually Glidden's performance was becoming too much even for Lee's driving. Nothing was left to chance. He cut the 2 4 barrel carbs at one time into 4 deuces that were positioned right over top of each of the 2 cylinders. He wouldn't use an engine stand as it created an ever so slight distortion on the front 2 cylinders so the rings wouldn't seal as well. He never let himself gain weight as the 2250 pound minimum included the driver so he would rather apportion the weight thoughout the car. Ever see Larry Morgan?

[@georgeseco91]

What I love the most of the Pro back in the 80, is they still look like Cars that where built by people trying to make the Car faster by ideas and just trying different things. To you young People y don't know what you are missing.

[@stevemason5173]

Here I am back again to feel the thrills of the good ole' time drag racing. It seems there is nothing going on in 2023 that can bring you the excitement like the rocking and racing days. There will never be drivers like Glidden, Shepherd, Sox, Jenkins, Garlits, Bernstein and all the others in NHRA. Same goes for Petty, Allison, Kulwicki, Martin, Earnhardt, Wallace, and all the others in NASCAR. Even the rock~N~roll stars like Skynyrd, REO, Aerosmith, AC/DC, and many other greats of the 70s and 80s. I really am glad for you~tube to take me back to those grand ole days when the music was loud and great, the cars were hot, and the ladies were "FAST"... It's a good way to kinda keep our perpetual youth alive and well!!! 🤩👍👍👍

[@rodneydukes7616]

Ya buddy! It was the days.

[@StainlessTIG2]

Bob Glidden was my hero! I remember all these wins and championships for the Ford camp! I’ve always have kicked ass with ford power! NHRA needs to get the brand identity back into NHRA pro stock class because it’s so terrible to watch nothing but Comaros. 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and the 90’s where the best decades for pro stock!

[@davidhager5206]

Bob beat them with 351 Cleveland they said need to have big block only, then again Bob beats them , then comes deck height rule. That ruined Ford Bob couldn't even qualify

[@StainlessTIG2]

@@davidhager5206 NASCAR is the same exact way. NASCAR gave Chevy a race purpose engine(SB2) back in 97’ because the SBC Chevrolet couldn’t keep up with the Cleveland headed 351-W. Ford didn’t get a race purpose engine until 2010.

[@Mike-kn6uh]

Ford never got a race purpose engine in drag racing.

[@StainlessTIG2]

@@Mike-kn6uh I meant NASCAR. Ford’s FR9 NASCAR race engine was introduced in 2010 replacing the Cleveland headed Windsor. Chevy got a race purpose engine in NASCAR in 1996….The SB2. Honestly, Chevy was using race purpose Buick and Pontiac cylinder heads on the 350 Chevy block in the 80’s. Ford was running the Cleveland’s up until 1986 when NASCAR banned them. Yeah you’re right, Ford never had a race purpose engine in NHRA. The Boss500 was built by Ford for funny cars.

[@Mike-kn6uh]

@@StainlessTIG2 yeah they wouldn't allow ford or Chrysler to be on level with chevy. Warean Johnson and the rest of the bowtie bunch kept crying until nhra let them design the DRCE. Drag race competition engine and and changed the deck higth rule to rule bend ford out of it. I wouldn't walk across the street to watch it.

[@mtlassen1992]

8 seconds at 160MPH nowadays there are some street legal cars doing that. Not in a million years we thought.

[@JW-zs1pz]

I was a teenager and going to OCIR on the weekends or Thursday or Friday qualifying. Lee Sheppard and Bob Glidden was the best showdown of two drivers. Lee and Bob were a wonderful duo that faced off and it was something very special at the time to witness cause it was only those two out there so far ahead of the competition. It was AWESOME!!!!

[@jamesmotley2409]

Graduated highschool in1981 and remember this rivalry.I had a mustang in highschool so was a ford man but I loved all ameican V8 musclecars and Reher Morrison and Lee Shepard team were my favorite chevrolet team.Warren Johnson and Oldsmobile were favorites also.

[@coupe50h]

I work for a guy that used to own one of Warren johnsons Oldsmobiles. I didn't know warrens history until recently

[@gunwrencher1566]

What a great stroll down memory lane. Thank you!

[@eda8877]

Great video ! What a year that was.

[@Clownworldmatrixviewer]

I was super pumped on drag racing as a child! I grew up in this area!

[@hdvictoryford5329]

Great racing. This is why pro stock is dead today. NHRA kept factoring BG. Instead of waiting till the others caught up, they made BG carry more weight 3X's. Also, it was great because the cars they used were the same size as what you could buy at any dealer. Loved going to the track for those reasons. But the NHRA catered to Chevy and to certain big money teams. Hence the NMRA started where at least Fords could run without penalties or factoring. Is this why the NHRA is dying a slow death? I think so and am glad.

[@scottkirtley2096]

Don’t watch nhra cause im a ford guy.

[@garrywest7737]

The greatest & end to an era of drag racing.

[@LulaRoberts]

Two of the best Pro Stock Drivers on the 80's. This may never be deupacated again no time soon 🤔. Got to meet Lee Sheppard in person got his autograph and saw Bob GLENDON at the Ford Shareholder meeting in Delaware before he pass away.

[@deanow3631]

Diamond P Motorsports, enjoyed watching on the weekends.

[@KR1736]

These are tremendous. Thank you.

[@garysheppard2126]

PM

[@jkmsaturn]

Lee Shepherd has the best starts of any racer I have ever seen . . . sensational.

[@mrmoparrr]

Rather see the Ford win it over the GM product! RIP BoB G !

[@klausvonschmit4722]

Talk about the sweet days of Pro Stock! Passenger seat, rockin a pair of Levi’s, the baddest pinto ever to grace our eyes in person but, also for all that enjoy watching these awesome videos that Mr. Glidden campaign with a Boss 429 if I’m not mistaken. Obviously, her cubic inches were slightly different than her OG cubic inch! Mr. and Mrs. Glidden were very cool and were always kind and willing to sign his status photo/card and shoot breeze with my Daddy and I on Thursday’s, and or, Friday’s! Of coarse, Sunday’s attitudes were slightly different and totally understandable.

[@sadwingsraging3044]

I remember watching that season unfold. Great way to kick off the 80's! I was pulling for the Camaro.

[@videoman77365]

I lived down the road from the East Tex drag strip. On Sundays, I could hear them running. This was in porter texas 1966

[@shitbox7413]

I wish Pro Stock was still like this, factory bodies, and factory architecture engines, if it were I would watch, it’s bullshit nowadays. RIP Lee and Bob. ✌️

[@dishrod3516]

Who knew a Fairmont could be kinda sexy

[@charlesgreer7641]

I remember when I was a teen my pops and I bought just about every car mag on the shelf and one issue had a guy that built both style of fairmont two doors the one like Bob ran with 4 headlights and the slopped back glass and the two headlight with the coupe style back glass. They were built identical except color same stance same wheel and tire combo and both looked awsome. When my pops told me they were built on the fox chassi and everything offered for a mustang short of body parts would bolt right up i always wanted to build a fairmont sleeper the only problem was I couldn't decide which style looked better they both looked nasty to me. In a good way.

[@garybrinker4522]

They look as good as the Malibus of the 80s

[@joemvin.j3-16]

GREAT VIDEO!! 👌👌👍👍💪💪 THANK YOU !!

[@pittsky]

I met Bob in 1991 in Seattle. I was star struck and he and his family was so kind. We took pictures.

[@JA51711]

It is great seeing American ingenuity and engineering make a comeback with these fantastic and incredible drivers and mechanics during this time

[@mk1cortinatony395]

Bob and Lee both classy. Amazing to see this again

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

Great post, these were the best years for pro stock. Grew up by Rockingham motor speedway. I was at the all races from 1972-1984. I miss those days, NHRA has deteriorated horribly. I spoke to Bob Glidden, Don Garlits and several more. Don wore oul black and white tennis shoes, and his shoe would flop when he walked, he lost some of his foot in early days, I think from a front engine dragster accident. It was so cllo as a teenager seeing these cars, being in the pits and watching these guys work on the cars, you could walk right up to the cars back then. Warren Johnson was another strong competitor too, I watched him adjust his Val es one time. It was another world back then. Thank you for posting this, I miss my dad, he was the reason I'm a gear head. 👍👍🏁🏁

[@crazylarryjr]

The reason for the statement of, "This is the last you'll see of the arrow", was that NHRA weight factored the arrow three times, in the year he ran it. Glidden had a two year undefeated streak (79-80), going into that last race with shepherd with the arrow. Including a midyear change to the Plymouth arrow, then back to the Fairmont mid year the next year. It wasn't long after this. that Pro stock was limited to 500 cu in only and no weight breaks

[@mmmadog]

I remember Jr High in the 1970s and we would wait for the latest car magazine to come out and find out who won pro stock or lucky enough to catch some of it on tv.

[@chrisdevalcourt648]

I understand Glidden's concern of Shepherd's starting line reactions. I raced against him in 73 when he was running modified eliminator with the Ford maverick. Very competitive! I also red lighted in the final round against Lee at a 1/8 mile strip around Waco! I left drag racing in the mid 70's and later heard that Lee was killed in a race accident. I remember him as a really nice guy!