Tinker Gladden's G & M Motorsports

Tinker's story

The Tinker Gladden name has been synonymous with drag racing and street rodders alike for many decades. At age 11, Tinker went from peddling parts to a service station mechanic, to racing his first go kart. He helped build a 32 Ford flat head with 3 two-barrel carbs, and could always be found hanging around the first speed shop in the area, Bob’s Speed Shop and Delmarva Speed & Custom. At age 12, he learned to weld and started building all kinds of racing parts and cars. Around this time, Tinker also met his good friend Jack "Jumpin' Jack Flash" Phippin of Salisbury, MD. They tried steering him in the right direction, which led to his building many fast cars, altereds and dragsters of the future.

The history of Tinker Gladden can be traced back to the early 1960’s when he hung his first sign up: “Tink’s Auto Repair”.

Since 1961, the business has grown into a full-devoted shop—selling speed parts, racing fuels, to building race cars and street rods. Today, Tinker runs a super comp dragster on a weekly basis and sells parts and racing fuels at the race tracks to help cure the “racers appetites”.

Over the years, Tinker has accomplished many goals. He was the first to build a rear engine dragster in his hometown and the very first to drive his hot rod from the West Coast to the East Coast. Tinker is on the Walk of Fame down at “Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum in Ocala, Florida. You can also find his plaque on the Wall of Fame in the Museum of Drag Racing in Pomona, California--dedicated by some of his many racing friends.

Building cars and parts has made him the successful person he is today and gives thanks to all that helped him.

Tinker Gladden's G & M Motorsports
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
410-430-8580 or 410-896-3539
www.gladdengmmotorsports.com

Site Created: September 2004