It set top speed at 177.86 on route to a runner-up finish at the opener in Pomona. The car only ran 5 races. For 1982 NHRA went from a power-to-weight formula to a new 500ci displacement limit for Pro Stock. These wins brought him and the Undefeated Fairmont, the NHRA Pro Stock Championship for 1978. BG] All the engines are the same. Glidden commissioned chassis builder Don Hardy to build a new Ford EXP for the season and was planning on running a 351 Cleveland engine in the car. A career so full of hard work, miraculous wins, and pain-ful controversy deserves to be celebrated, so we took on the legendarily private Bob Glidden and tried to get him to spill some secrets. (9/24/78), and The World Finals, at Ontario Motor Speedway( 10/8/1978). It's just free information if they saw it. Gardeners around the world have been growing these varieties for the past 8-10 years and are sharing their experiences with others. So as soon as I got out of Here are my 3 off the top of my head -. For 1989 Glidden switched to a Ford Probe that set a national e.t. See all 8 photos Glidden improved his engine building and race craft and that helped . For safety, a 4 bar roll bar was mandatory, a helmet and some sort of racing type seat belts were needed and, if you could go 150 MPH, a chute was required. I documented some earlier racing with Bob Racing racing Dyno Don at the 77 World Finals, Segway into the 1978 Pro Stock season. (he was a friend of Bob and when his daughter was of age dated Billy) He wanted them freshened up. For several years, Ed Martin helped me nancially to race. When it comes to yellow tomatoes, Carolina Gold is a popular determinate variety. However, roller rockers and Jomar girdles had become vogue by then. Eventually, in 1972, Glidden sold a pair of Super Stock Mustangs and purchased a Pro Stock Pinto from Jack Roush and Wayne Gapp. Glidden began his career in the late 1960s behind the wheel of a series of 427 Ford Fairlanes in the Stock and Super Stock ranks and later a 482 Cobra Jet, becoming one of the winningest competitors in the NHRAs Division 3. BG] I guess it would have been the, oh what was it, I called it the frog, it was so uglyI can't even remember what the car was called. He is most closely associated with Ford cars, a manufacturer that he used throughout his career, except in 1979, winning the world championship in a Plymouth Arrow. The new rules and approach to Pro Stock in 2016 is as different from its beginning in 1969/70 as the Wright Brothers are to NASA. The Ford was destroyed but Glidden climbed out unscathed. Falcon67. Bob Glidden. The car was raced only a couple times, running a known best of 8.93 at 145 mph. That was the first major event it ran. off topic----- I found an article on Mr. Glidden's Arrow from Sep 79 Popular Hot Rodding containg " You can take pictures of anything in the shop except certain cylinder heads and intake manifolds". HRM] Did you prefer one engine over another? On the first hard run, the Detroit Locker locked in Detroit, but not at Oswego, IL. BG] That car was built for the small-block engine, when we ran small-blocks, and by the time that car was nished, NHRA had changed the rules to big-blocks and we converted it over as well as we could. Vintage/Classic/Historical Engine Tech, 3V Performance Engine & Valve train Development, Race Cars & Parts - For Sale or Wanted, https://www.maxracesoftwares.com/forum/ .php?id=57. Its the engine he innovated with so much, that when his car suffered a brutal rollover in 1986 at Atlanta, he climbed out of the car and covered his hand-made dual-quad intake with his fire jacket and helmet. Bob Glidden owned Pro Stock in the mid- to late-1980s, winning five straight championships from 1985-1989, a streak that coincided with his domination of the NHRA national event in Phoenix,. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the lot at the auction site prior to the auction. We did everything by hand. Glidden retired from full-time driving in 1997, after an accumulated 85 NHRA national event wins, the most in NHRA at the time, which has been only surpassed by John Force and Warren Johnson. My intention had always been to race in the US 30 and Oswego Pro Stock, and since Linda and I had put everything into buying the Pinto, our intentions were altered. No blowers or nitrous were allowed (no sheet metal intakes yet) and maximum induction was two four barrel carbs, any size. The Boss 429 engine was designed to beat Chevy and Dodge and put Fords in the winner circle, but to make them legal for NASCAR, Dearborn had to offer them in street cars. When I was 12 years old, our main tractor broke down in the middle of the busiest season, and no one could get to it to work on it, so I ended up overhauling the tractor myself. Gliddens accomplishments didnt end at the 1,320 either, he is listed 4th on NHRA Top 50 drivers (1951-2000), he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005 and he received an induction to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994. With wife, Etta, and sons Billy and Rusty, by his side, Glidden was dominant in the latter half of the decade, winning five straight titles. He never thought about when the streaks would end, acknowledging them, he admitted, would have ended them. the ex ports came up thru the plate at same angle as the valve to almost to the top of plate. Finally MSD came to the rescue. HRM] What was the worst race car you ever drove? That was all I wanted to do the Oswego/US 30 Pro Stock circuit. I would paint the ends with black magic marker. They innovated a lot of things, between them and W.J., they were tough competitors. Some racers used Mallory Magnetos. FORUMS. Even I had to recruit help from the stands on a couple of occasions. Neither of which are perfect (not bad though) parts to build off of. face/gasket was a half of a sphere approx. Glidden set world records that stood for over 10 years mainly because he bought up all the stock of those special Shogun 429 heads he used and nobody else could get them.. he probably learned something from those heads. Tunnel rams were allowed. Hemi-headed Ford engine. The Dana rear had a 35 spline spool (No more Detroit Lockers). BG] All I will tell you is that it wasn't me. There were no trick parts to it, Glidden added. He swept 5 of the first 7 events and 7 out of the first 11. We made all of our manifold runners by hand. While he briefly drove a Chevrolet and Plymouth, Ford fans consider him the ultimate Blue Oval driver. MCE Engines, Los Angeles, California. I forget now who prepared those heads but it was certainly NOT Glidden. BG] When I looked up through what was left of the car, the top of the manifold, the carburetors, everything was gone. Are there any racers you admire? [Editor's note: Glidden is referring to the 1982 rule change that mandated all Pro Stock engines be 500 ci and all cars have a minimum weight.]. Information found on the website is presented as advance information for the auction lot. I made this video to document, a week with Bob Glidden, with his early cars, initially, and then just the '76 Pinto. 70 gram, conduit-looking wrist pins were tool steel held with double spiral locks. But even with success in Pro Modified, my heart has always been with Pro Stock. The entire venture went away after we sold Bob Glidden several engines in the winter of 1984. As flat tappet lobes frequently began to flatten, and springs were breaking, most Pro Stock racers finally went to roller cams. Search from the map below or add more conditions. Boss 302 ought to qualify since the heads are more or less shared. It reacted like a broken axle would. The monster engines came later with the advent of better aftermarket castings and rotating parts. Bob Glidden will certainly never be forgotten. BG] I don't know if we were so good. Glidden was victorious in 1987 eight times, which included his 60th NHRA national win. BG] None of those. A group that it seems most people have forgotten was Reher and Morrison, from back in the old days. Had a championship. Still, in a build-ing over here at my shop, I'm sure there are probably 50 or 60 manifolds that we experimented with, all of which we made by hand. Next stop on the tour, was National Trail Raceway, June 11, 1978, Bob lost to Richie Zul. . However, RST 106 on large potato leaved types did well when grown in grow bags. They factored pounds per cubic inch, which varied with brand, type and model. Halfway into the Fairmonts existence, Glidden secured a deal with Chrysler to run a factory-backed effort in 1979. The shame of it is that Ford pulled the backing from him after all those years of hard work and the love he has for racing and Ford. Bob drove Fords almost exclusively throughout his career, at times carrying the banner virtually on his own. We went into that with NHRA's word that they would not change the weight breaks, but after the frst race, they did. Show my location. The rule of thumb with compression is that, in the range between 8.0:1 and 12.0:1 compression, one full ratio is worth approximately 3 to 4 . Bob Glidden was so angry that he could have chewed an engine block in half. "We really didn't have any sort of an engine to use. Select the pin () to see company information. The rods we used were Brooks aluminum windage rods with knife edged beams. Most built their own stuff and tuned it, and raced with only one or two volunteer helpers. Cylinder walls were honed to a mirror finish. However, this time they'd gone too far and Glidden was prepared to point that out. Glidden got his start while working as a line mechanic at Ed Martin Ford in Indiana before making racing his full time career. Bob Gliddens Undefeated 1978 Fairmont Was Ugly, But A Perfect Transition, Ask ten-time world champion Bob Glidden what he remembers about the only known undefeated Pro Stock car in drag racing history and hell tell you it had an appearance that only a mother could love. Bob Glidden is inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in April, 2005. HRM] Throughout your career, you primarily raced Fords. It was very much the same to what Pro Stock cars are today, Glidden confirmed. I leaned early that exhibition promoters watch who brought the fans to their feet. Dealer Locator. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. Size was limited because there were really no large stroker kits like today, or oversized aftermarket blocks to go into the later mountain motor size range. They barely have full felds in Pro Stock today because people can't aford it. My favorite or ultimate? This is my favorite Bob Glidden car. But it has always made me wonder what it was about or was it a ploy or did maybe something else use to be in there. Bob Glidden won every one of those 5 consecutive races. by bill jones Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:27 am, Post He used the Probe to win at the Fallnationals, which was his 67th career victory. If a racer ran a canted-valve engine such as the Ford Cleveland, they had to add another 50 pounds. . No big dreams, I just desired to run the local Chicagoland version. I don't know if this is true or measurable of an old wives tail. He raced a Fairlane, and Mustangs, in super stock, my favorite is his 68 Cobra Jet Mustang. The timing was perfect because the end of the Fairmonts tenure was plagued with pencil whippings administered by the NHRAs tech department. BOSS 429 wrote: The Aheads wouldn't fall out of a tree for nhra pro stock,The bastard a460 (style) head was better. It was a small-block 340. Powered by a. On the Buick forums, there are guys who blame you for protesting Buddy Ingersoll's turbo car, although he has said in interviews that it was Rickie Smith who got him banned. They put weight on me and took weight of the Chevrolets. His last real competitive pass came in 2003, and he did return to the track in 2010 to consult with another team. We promise not to use your email address for anything but exclusive updates from the Power Automedia Network. Glidden won only a single event, the NHRA Springnationals, with three Runner-up finishes. This docile appearing Ford passenger car would go on to qualify No. NOTIFICATIONS. Rod bearings were chamfered with pin hole and extra clearance, netting .0035. I like that. Glidden ran Ford engines displacing as few as 332 inches and as large as 340. And he completed the season with five straight wins and his eighth Pro Stock championship. Bob Glidden passed away at 9:40 pm, Sunday eveninghe was with his wife of 54 years Etta, and their sons Billy and Rusty. HRM] What do you think of today's Pro Stock class? The connecting rod. We won $10,400 at that race and we had about $18,000 invested in everything: our car, spare engines, spare parts, our truck. When Bob Glidden was inducted as number four on the NHRA's Top 50 Drivers list, panelist Bob Frey said of Glidden's talent, "There never was, and probably never will be, a more dominant driver in our sport." On Sunday, December 17, Glidden died at age 73 . One of my first writing heroes was Robert Benchley and his first book I read was when I was a freshman at LaSalle Peru (IL) High School in 1954. This car was a serious player in UDRA and the Chicagoland Pro Stock class. HRM] Can you talk about the rumors of nitrous? He went to the finals in his very first race. The red and white Thunderbird. It was ugly but looks never won races, Glidden admitted. While researching materials to use as an exordium for an English assignment, the humor literature section caught my eye. Any perceived advantage when it was debuted was quickly dissolved by the end of the season. He says the Cleveland is 200 pounds lighter than an FE block, and a Mustang coupe is 200 pounds lighter than a fastback or convertible. BG] The way I did the plenum, the top of the runners going to the engine. by joe Sun Feb 06, 2005 12:01 pm, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited, General engine tech -- Drag Racing to Circle Track, I had read a comment I beleave it was Bill Jones in a post about wleding cylinder heads and made mention that there was gold in the ports of Bob Gliddens cyl. Glidden won three more titles in the 1970s before relinquishing his stranglehold on the class to Lee Shepherd briefly in the early 80s. Those early 1970-75 local and regional level Pro Stock rules were very liberal. 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Glidden was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005. FORUMS. They had run a points meet earlier that year in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and they blew the engine up. Really, the championship was over before the World Finals, and we went to the World Finals with really no chance to win. We were just really heated competitors. That same September, I bought a running UDRA/Chicago Pinto Pro Stock with a Gapp and Roush 366 Cleveland and Lenco. Sadly, as Pro Stock approaches its 50th anniversary, NHRA Pro Stock is experiencing short fields. He fought like you wouldnt believe, his son Billy confirmed. Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Dragzine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE! And, yes, Glidden was a mother with his 1978 Ford Fairmont, which never lost a round of competition, national, regional or match race. For years and years, he won his share and I won mine. Obviously, multiple factors affect bearing performance in an engine, and the experts agree the first step is knowing what the end use of the engine will be. We worked hard at it and we had a lot of good luck. Top ring was .043 and second slot held a 1/16 ductile second ring with a 1/8 oil ring package below. The experts all agree that cleanliness is the most important factor during installation, and the lack thereof is the most common problem that leads to bearing failure. Racing bearings are different from those recommended for street use, and theres a lot to consider. Ford's sales literature said the Laser Stripes were so wild that "some people think they should have a switch to turn them off." Once he realized he wasn't dead, Glidden famously threw his racing jacket over the remains of the engine to protect its secrets. The quest for an edge for those with mega deep pockets had gotten out of hand, spending with ridiculous amounts for composite engine parts like rods, valves, pushrods, and titanium valve springs, which now are also illegal and dangerous. THere was no engine size limit, but it had to be the same brand as the car. This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, http://www.nhra.com/museum/features/feature16.html, http://www.dragracingonline.com/special/top5_1.html. But there were 29 Pro Mods with a weak purse. We had a lot of luck. BG] You know, I was pulling all year for Erica [Enders] to win the 2014 championship, which she did. Mickey Thompson phased them into his Mustang Funny Cars, and the Boss 429 is the engine that he experimented with his compressed-air supercharger. Home of world class custom built blueprint engines for street, racing, and pleasure. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with the Glidden family at this difficult time.. In 1972, he turned professional driving a Pro Stock Pinto previously campaigned by Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush. He was humble with the fans, and feared by his opponents. Glidden's penchant for secrecy, notable even in the notoriously tight-lipped Pro Stock class, meant his innovations remained his own, but it also led to rumors and suspicions amongst his com-petitors. It's neat to see he once raced an FE. In 78, IHRA went to unlimited CI with a set weight. And despite the slow start, he hoisted the Wally at the final seven events to claim his seventh Winston NHRA Drag Racing title. Glidden locked in his third Winston title in 1978. Glidden was back for 1986, but things didnt go as planned. A self-taught mechanic, Glidden grew up in Whiteland, Indiana. 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Glidden also set a speed record in 1983 with a pass of 182.18 mph. No braze and the ports were BIG!!!! In ihra the fastest about this time (87) was a 6xx ci (BOSS) engine. Why Ford? The T-Bird was an instant hit with fans, and it wasnt too shabby on track. You had to deal with what they made for rules. Many early Pro Stock racers still used flat tappet cams. I have heard that they are going to get Pro Stock back to more stock parts, and if they do that, that could help. This year, I am considering a few varieties for graft, Growing Tom Wagner's Varieties of Tomatoes: A Gardener's Guide With Tips & Advice, Tom Wagner is a renowned horticulturist who has created several varieties of tomatoes, including the popular "Fort Vancouver Yellow Pear", "Pennsylvania Catchfly", "Santa Anna" and "Sunspot".
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