Bob Glidden 1980s

from the 1980s/90s TV series The Exciting World of Speed and Beauty

[@1951RKP]

Slightly modified was a total understatement for what these cars are and have been. Extremely expensive to campaign a competitive Pro Stock car then and now. Glidden indeed is one of the greatest ever. He was a innovator that didn’t take the easy way out by racing a Chevy that had much more R&D and way more parts available. He developed the small block Fords in the early years and the Shotgun Ford Boss Hemi in the later years. Sad Ford basically turned their back on him in later years. Think how many wins Glidden would of had if there was 23 races a season like there are now.

[@dennisschell5543]

Bob was the GOAT!!! RIP...😓

[@ChrisWilliams-fs1zp]

Amen

[@captjim007]

I met Bob back in the 80's. He was always a class act. It was a sad day for me when I heard he passed. God I feel old.

[@robertwestbrook9344]

Met Bob at a Gainesville V.I.P. event sponsored by Motorcraft after Saturday rounds, in 90, he let me sit in the Probe he was campaining that season, what a class act, I became a ford fan that day and presently own a 1988 Thunderbird turbo coupe, thank you Bob, Ethan, Billy and Rusty for your contributions to drag racing, R.I.P. Bob you are deeply missed.

[@DanielThomason1]

Got the chance to meet and shake his hand in 87&88 at Bristol. A dedicated family man and very serious drag racer! RIP Bob.

[@Ford_Raptor_R_720hp_V8]

*Glidden's Cleveland Powered Ford Fairmont, Won Every Round for a Year.* *Then NHRA made him Add Weight, and let his Competition take Weight Out,* *so they could be more competitive with Glidden.*

[@rexbridewell7966]

I still have my Winston hat that he signed I believe in 85. Super nice guy my favorite drag racer never forget kneeling behind that chief auto parts thunder chicken and watching 8500rpm launch so impressive. The following year spectators could never get that close again.

[@burningblue1254]

"Detroit production cars slightly modified" an absolutely absurd comment. Other than the template of the car, nothing is stock about it other than a few body panels. Glidden is the best and always will be. Showed his prowess on the track while WJ whined and cried.

[@badass6.0powerstroke10]

Saw this Legend many times at Englishtown. Absolutely the Best. He made a FORD Dominate the Pro Stock Class for years. Put Fords on the map. Hardest working man and team in racing. Bob, Etta, Billy, and Rusty were quite a team. Those 87-88 Motorcraft Thunderbird Turbo Coupes were my Favorite Glidden cars, Bob's favorites too. We lost a true Legend couple years ago. RIP Bob we miss you. And you will Always be the Best...

[@Daveoceanair]

Actually that's incorrect and I'll tell you why. I love Bob Glidden he had the baddest ass Fords. But you're forgetting all about Mr Jack Roush. Gap and Roush is the ones that actually started coming in and dominating. As a matter of fact Bob Glidden bought one of his old cars. The Tijuana taxi who can forget that? Jack and Bob were absolutely the best Ford guys there was.

[@badass6.0powerstroke10]

@@Daveoceanair Yes, Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush, the old Maverick. They were a Little before my time. There were a Few that made Fords fly, Dyno Don Nicholson, more of a Nitro guy tho, if i remember correctly, Jon Kaase that worked with Dyno Don is a BBF Genius. Built lots of Big Inch IHRA Engines, mostly Ford. When it comes to the science and research of building a Killer Big Block Ford Engine, and making his own Engine Parts, such as Cylinder Heads, i really wanting his SR-71 BBF Heads. Jon Kaase is one of the Best. Glidden also did alot of Research, and Testing, he just kept doing something until it worked. And his family was right there all the time working just as hard as he was. In my book #1 Goes to Bob. Seen him at Englishtown many times throughout the 80,s and 90,s i also have a few signed shirts. Bob Always signed "Thanks Bob Glidden" so respectful even to his Millions of fans. It's just a shame he's no longer with us. He's up there Burning Rubber and leaving Holeshots with Lee Shepard. Wish i was a Little older when they had there rivalry.

[@Daveoceanair]

@@badass6.0powerstroke10 I follow Jon Kaase now. That's another Ford wiz. You want Ford power he's the man.

[@DanielLopez-tb2fl]

@@Daveoceanair You know that, back in the day,Jon Kaase was "Dyno Don" Nicholson's crewcheif

[@Daveoceanair]

@@DanielLopez-tb2fl I did not. Great info thanks 👍

[@NeilLB7]

I always made it a point to see Bob Glidden at every US Nationals I went to here in Indiana. He always spoke with me if he was there at the trailer and was such a nice guy to be around. I was a Ford fan...and his car was KING to me.

[@chrisgreenfield9217]

Possibly the greatest ever in all motorsports

[@andrewshuford]

No drag racer today has the passion for horsepower like Mr. Glidden, it's all about keyboards and boost today, most young drag racers nowadays have no idea what indexing a sparkplug is...

[@ricardocorbie6803]

The First Family of Drag Racing!! They were always the team to beat,, and Still my all time favorite driver/Hero!! Rest In Peace 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@wesleycook3181]

He was the man when it came to finding extra airflow through intake and heads RIP mr glidden

[@Mike583]

I was born & raised in IN,only lived about 30 minutes from them. I always enjoyed going to Indy & watching him race! It really hurt me when I'd heard of his passing. I didn't know anything about the health issues he'd been dealing with for years. He earned the nickname "Mad Dog" because he deserved it! I'm 69 now,but I'll always have my great memories of this amazing family & all they accomplished with those beautiful Fords! RIP Bob,you are sorely missed. ❤💔🇺🇸

[@mchristr]

Such a tragedy that Lee Shepherd was killed. Imagine the continuing duels he and Glidden would have had. I really miss the days when Pro Stock cars at least resembled their production counterparts.

[@TheThemattyo1]

That crash was ugly ".....Bob Picked me up off my feet in Pomona when I was a kid . When he put me back down he took his hat off and signed it , and put it on my head. I'm grown now and have a few hot rods--all pump gas) now here in 2021 I put that very hat on the dash of my 64 Fairlane when I take it out. We latinos had a nick name for Bob, we called him .......... "white lighting".

[@kwantoon]

What an awesome memory. I grew up watching Bob race on tv with my dad and we were a Ford family through and through. I felt a connection to that guy, almost like I was watching my family race. When I think about drag racing I think about Bob and his family.

[@TheThemattyo1]

@@kwantoon yeah he was fan friendly.

[@user-cq4wb5kk7t]

He was a true gentleman never had a bad thing to say about anyone and true as it is he took Ford to another level

[@ChrisWilliams-fs1zp]

Etta Glidden 😎🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸1st lady of drag racing. Now and always.

[@mhenderson1000]

I'm a WJ guy, but the Maddog Glidden was relentless..Bob was the best drag racer during the 70s, 80s, and 90s..He was virtually unbeatable unless he made a mistake and that didn't happen that much..RIP in peace my Champion!!!

[@tonyd842]

Miss you bob! A true American icon!

[@carrolljoshua23]

Mr. Glidden the only Ford in the NHRA that could run with those GMs,I.E Chevy ,Pontiac, Olds . Three against one sooner or later they figured it out. A great man God Bless

[@Daveoceanair]

I would agree he was probably the top Ford pro stock no question. But there were many others competitive that won a lot of races. Gap and Roush. How do you not forget them? Dyno Don another Ford Mastermind.

[@arkhsm]

@@Daveoceanair I think he means in the big block era !!

[@Daveoceanair]

@@arkhsm could be but he didn't mention that.

[@chadkent1241]

@@arkhsm His perfect season of 32 and 0 was done with the 351 Cleveland.

[@arkhsm]

@@chadkent1241 That was the ultimate season, but Bob also managed to make the Shotgun blast holes in the opposition in the second half of the '80s pretty well too !!

[@andrewshuford]

I watched Bob and his teammate Ricky Smith both run at Bristol Tn. back in the late 80's when they run IHRA it was something i'll never forget

[@Inthefoxhole]

Ricky Smith got caught cheating.After that he went the GM way.A fact..He got caught running Nitros in his Motorcraft T Bird..A Fact

[@user-cq4wb5kk7t]

He always took time for the fans and don't forget his wife was good at the sport also

[@c-chris3065]

Back in the day Bob is the man with the plans...Go Bob Go jack 📣.jet red FORD Thunderbird can fly.

[@MattDaugherty-ws4ut]

RIP bob

[@mybelovedson]

Bob made a ton of changes in NHRA Pro Stock in his crash in 1986 he had just put the very first funny car style cage after his crash NHRA mandated it in all pro stock's that was the life saver for Bob. for must of Glidden racing career he ran FORD but ford drop him because everyone else had cough up him

[@nurburgringdreaming2221]

IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME

[@davidbower6019]

Met him in Columbus, Have everyone of his wins (86 on) on tape.

[@bluesky-ud9wg]

The Red Bird was possibly the most beautiful PS car ever built

[@anthonynorthover2693]

One of the greatest pro stock driver.😊😊

[@randalltravis29]

I like it alot! I built the red and white thunderbird model. I love it too.

[@MattDaugherty-ws4ut]

He was a nice man I met him in 1994 June of the spring nationals he tap my hat my father was very happy when bob glidden beat warren Johnson my dad couldn't stand warren warren broke on the starting line in round number 2

[@mannyricketson4517]

There's a great woman behind a great race car driver

[@dennislaws5187]

One of the nicest men I ever met, At Atlanta in the late 80s there was a line for autographs and pics me and my son and daughter, all of us wearing Bob Glidden tshirts, were next, he took my camera from my hands and said get in the pic with me and your kids. handed the camera to the next person in line, and we got a group pic, Great man and Driver/mechanic,

[@toddoverby5538]

I'm a Ford guy. But Ford did not support Glidden like they should have. He won inspite of Ford not because of Ford. They didn't develop stuff for Glidden. He developed it for Ford. You take away Bob Glidden and Carol Shelby and Ford is almost nonexistent as far as racing goes IMO. It ain't easy being a Ford person sometimes.

[@dogman_]

Production engine? Those engines are big as hell. What car did they come in @ 300hp? I remember that red Ford Motorcraft Thunderbird in the 80's. I always went with the other guy, but seemed like no one could beat him.

[@MGB18]

NHRA Pro Stock is a total joke and disgrace today. Which is precisely why most fans couldn't care less about the class anymore. What drew fans to the class was the factory wars, FORD vs GM vs chrysler. Today it's a boring AF all GM field. Unless NHRA changes it's Pro Stock rules to satisfy FORD, GM, and chrysler equally, the class will continue to die a slow death. Going back to small block power with 4 speeds would be a good start.

[@petertredo6523]

Some people ... .

[@StainlessTIG2]

NHRA and NASCAR ruined professional racing by giving the Chevy boys race purpose spec engines to outrun the Fords. Only racing I watch is the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown. I believe Ford is leading in the most wins column with their SBF pushrod and mod motors. I was reading that their are three motors in certain NHRA classes that are outlawed, and those three are the BBF, Hudson, and 500 Cadillac engines because of bore spacing. I just watch NMRA and NMCA and Ford is always in the winners circle with Ford power!

[@kwantoon]

Ford haters are a dime a dozen because they simply cannot compete. Bob proved that a properly built Ford is an monstrous force to be reckoned with.

[@matthewjones5450]

lets count the 500 cubic inch engines in 80s cars 0

[@dohcsmr1175]

Glidden won with small blocks, big blocks, Chrysler and Fords. It did not matter. They won. He beat Reher and Morrison with a 340 inch Cleveland to the RM de-stroked big block. Deal is he was better. Don’t hate. Appreciate.

[@chadkent1241]

@@dohcsmr1175 His perfect 32 and 0 season was done with the 351 Cleveland

[@dohcsmr1175]

@@chadkent1241 His 32 and 0 streak was with a 340 c.I. Cleveland with a Boss block. I thought the same thing it was the tall deck Cleveland. It was a stroked short deck 302 Cleveland.

[@Zddcffggfgv]

Slightly modified lol

[@bradleymorris8875]

Rad. Innovation not imitation

[@larrythomas3624]

So, was he actually caught with a little spray of Nitrous? I heard many years ago that there was a tiny bottle hidden inside the hoodscoop that would fog a little hint of N2O over the carbs for just a few extra ponies. In Pro Stock 10 or 20 extra HP would've been a huge deal. Story was that the tube was fiberglassed into the hood and so was the wiring which grounded to a dzus fastener. The hood would come off and go in the truck for tech inspections when someone would complain about something being fishy, but everything (without the hood) specked out clean!! I'm not trying to talk trash at all... that's just what I've heard. Nothing against him or his cars or team.

[@larrythomas3624]

I dug around on the net a little and there is a bunch of interesting stuff about all of it. The Gliddens and Wayne county Mopars and accusations about Johnson. There is a little something to it anyway.

[@killyonbibbs5601]

That's pretty cool

[@NeilLB7]

I was under the impression that Billy Gliddens car was the cheating car and Bob showed the Tech folks how they were doing it. From that point they blamed it on Bob and basically black balled him...even though it wasn't on his car.

[@michaelwdagle7410]

What happened was Bob didn't believe teams were using nitrous so Billy and Rusty built a car to show how easy it was too their dad. Bob brought this to the NHRA's attention.