RIP Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins
 

God speed grumpy grumpys toy pro stock vega Detroit dragway ran Dyno don Nicholson

Grumpy is the reason that many of my generation got into the HP game. I love that he enjoyed his mechanical innovations more than the championships. Rest in Peace.

Condolences to the Jenkins family and all of his followers, he was a legend. RIP Grumpy!

+1

That Vega was fast!RIP!

RIP. Back in the early 70's we would get as close as possible to his cars whenever he was at Martin US 131 Dragway hoping to pick up on any classified secret. He relentlessly explored the gray areas of NHRA rules and
had a fun time doing it. Made owning a Vega cool... with an sbc of course.

Old story was when he was competing in a class that only allowed stock factory heads he would buy up all the sbc heads in his area. Then flow test them all and keep the best ones and send all the others back.

Great Man - Great Legacy!
 

I hope in my time on this planet that I can learn and retain maybe just 10% of the great engine mechanical knowledge this man developed and used in his career. I met him personaly a few times in the 60's and 70' and I can say that without a doubt his so called "grumpy" was just a way of hiding his big heart and pride. He will be missed by many but his legacy and contributions to the drag racing and engine building world will live on for an eternity! RIP Bill.

Betst Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

A true legend !!!!!!!!! RIP

RIP Mr. Jenkins.
One of his quotes I remember well.
"When the results disprove the theory, go with the results and get a new theory"

The "MAN"!

Jenkins won six of NHRA's eight national events that year, and with his $35,000 win at the Professional Racers Association event in Oklahoma, an increase in manufacturer support, and an expanded match race schedule, Jenkins grossed $250,000 to match NBA star Wilt Chamberlain's salary as the highest paid pro athlete in the country, resulting in coverage in Time magazine, the first time a drag racer had been given mainstream recognition.

Yes he was, a Philly area legend (and drag car legend). My father used watch what he was doing with motors and such. RIP Mr. Jenkins.

Awesome find. Can't believe it brought that much.

he's probably having a beer with smokey yunick....

He had a trio of heads up match races around the state with Sox, we hung out in his pits ,anyway the last race he took a photo with us, I have to dig it out now and frame it,one of his mechanics worked for Danny a while ago also.


http://i41.tinypic.com/23wu0eg.jpg

Standard issue for the chevy guys.


http://i40.tinypic.com/fc5ysy.jpg

The guy was a class act. Business all the way, but after the races, he was a blast to hang with at the bar.

One of my buddies that we drag race with bought his old 68 camaro less engine and tranny a couple years back. We talked with Bill over the last season about duplicating a 427 engine just like the one that was in the car when he run Pro Stock. Bill built the engine, dynoed it and personally brought it here to chicago last fall during the Rosemonts car show in November. He even brought a pair of Holley carbs that are correct date coded for the year of the engine. They are the original ones that he used on his engine in that car. It was'nt cheap by no means, but, well worth the price now. This engine will be the very last one to exit his shop, that was built by him himself.

I just wish I had more time to spend talking with him at the car show last year. He will truely be missed by many of us drag racers.

R.I.P. "Da Grump"

So sad to hear, an inspiration of mine seeing him and Don racing back in the day always made me love the sport and trying to make things faster.....enjoy everyday of life while you can and make the best of your time here!! RIP

Rip

I think I read that book 100 times when I was a young pup just learning!!!!!!!!

+2

Tom, is this showing our age?

:cartman: