Three-time world champion and four-time Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby champion chuckwagon driver Tom Glass has died at the age of 77. Glass passed away after suffering a stroke on Friday, according to the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA).
The WPCA extended its deepest condolences to the Glass family and to all who had the privilege of knowing one of the true legends of chuckwagon racing. Glass was the face of the sport, with a career record second to none. His trademark checkerboard wagon became synonymous with championship racing.
A Legacy of Champions
A third-generation chuckwagon driver, Glass began his career as an outrider in 1963 at age 14. Three years later, he took the reins of his own outfit, continuing the tradition established by his grandfather Tom Lauder and his father Ron Glass—both Calgary Stampede champion chuckwagon drivers.
Glass won his first major title at the 1972 Ponoka Stampede and went on to record more than 30 career show championships. In addition to his world and Rangeland Derby titles, he captured two Calgary Stampede aggregate championships, four Ponoka Stampede crowns, and two Cheyenne Frontier Days titles. Before becoming an elite driver, he also won Rangeland Derby outrider championships in 1965 and 1971.
Beyond the Track
For the past 15 years, Glass served as the colour commentator for Rangeland Derby broadcasts, sharing his vast knowledge and passion for the sport with fans worldwide. Outside chuckwagon racing, he was a pioneer in the Canadian motion picture industry as an actor, stunt coordinator, and stunt performer, appearing in Hollywood productions such as Maverick, Beverly Hills Cop, and Legends of the Fall.
The checkerboard chuckwagon became the symbol of the Glass family and a championship tradition that Tom proudly passed on to his son Jason, himself a world champion and Rangeland Derby title-holder. Glass was also a founding member of the WPCA, helping transform chuckwagon racing into the modern professional sport it is today.
Glass is survived by his wife Joanne, three children, and five grandchildren.
