I remember I was at Martin 131 drag way , Bob had just made a run and returned to the pits. He removed the hood on car and started beating the carburetors with a ball peen hammer, not tapping , hitting them pretty hard. LOL I have often have thought about that . The right way, the wrong way and Bob Gliddens way.

I was always a big fan. This is me in '94 at Sonoma next to the Probe in the staging lanes. Later he was working on it and the car was on the stands idling. He was fooling with the carbs and the idle started to falter. He quickly turned one of the idle screws and it cleaned right up and he went back to what he was doing. Cigarette dangling from his mouth. Funny the little memories that are so vivid to this day. Still a Hemi at this point. The unbelievable accomplishments are astounding. By far one of the best ever and a truly great American.

Wow, talk about a legend. Always associated his name with winning and innovation. RIP Bob.

One of the greatest, RIP, Bob.



Never knew the Arrow was his first factory ride.....

Ed

A true racer. I like the fact he was able to win with whatever he built and drove.

Dammit! Super nice guy. Whenever I saw him race, he always had time for the fans.
RIP, Bob. You were one of the best.



I was there and had just walked down to the finish line. IIRC, he was the first to run a funnycar-type cage that season and it probably saved his life.



Tim

I got out of drag racing around '67 and into dirt track sportsman cars.

During the early 80's I was running Cleveland engines and he was one of three people who would take my calls and answer my motor related questions.. the other two were Jack Roush and Bud Moore.

One trip through Indiana I stopped by his shop... must have been out testing cuz I missed him. Should have gone back another time to thank him. A missed opportunity I regret.

RIP to a great man.

I was blessed to meet him once and talk a few minutes. Like others said, super nice and down to earth.

RIP

I don't remember exactly which year it was that he exploded a dampener on one of his Fairmont Pro Stock cars at Orange County, CA testing before the NHRA World finals. That damage was bad enough to the front end of the car, including to the frame rail tubes that NHRA started the after market SFI spec. dampeners mandatory after that on all cars that ran faster than 9.99 ET in the 1/4 mile
He was a leader in all things drag racing
R.I.P. Bob Glidden

Sad to hear.RIP Bob

In case you would like to look, great series...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr6qwGcMegM

I remember right up in a magazine about his Mopar, and he was quoted as saying the small block Mopar was a Chevy with goofy valve train.

May the Lord have mercy on him.

very good video. thanks for posting

Enjoyed it, I hadn't realized his Fairmont was undefeated after a year of racing it. ☺

I saw a tech article on the SBM back in the day. The Pro Stock people, that were running a SBM, welded in new lifter galleys (gallery?) into the block. The angles were too F'd up to work...
RIP Bob Glidden

Good write up:

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/bob-glidden-died-73-one-singularly-dominant-drag-racers-history/

A true legend, one of my favourite racers ever (even though most of his victories were in a Ford !!). Met him a couple of times for autographs in the eighties, when he was running both the NHRA 500inch, and IHRA mountain motors.
RIP, thanks for the entertainment!

So sorry to hear of his passing. Glidden was certainly one of drag racing's legends & I remember him running in so many events I watched over the years. I wonder what got him - 73 is pretty young. I will miss him.

I don't think I have seen anything from the family on this but I am sure it was heart problems.

I think it was in the mid to late nineties he had six way bypass surgery. I read that the doctors said he had three or four years to live after that. They did not realize how tough he was!

I saw Billy quoted that he fought to the very end to stay alive.

Bob was a heavy smoker and while he may have quit eventually I think the continued to smoke after his surgery.

Rip Mr. Glidden.