rest in peace grumpy
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,903
Likes: 834
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
rest in peace grumpy
i just learned Bill Jenkins passed away last night. he was one of my favorites growing up and was privileged to talk with him at his shop and at the track. he was always pleasent in conversation to me while others around me say the name grumpy was on target.i haven't seen him in 25+ years but i will always remember his contributions to drag racing
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,245
Likes: 470
From: Glen Allen, VA
This is the first I've heard of his passing. Super Chevy just did a big feature on him and his 61 "Old Reliable" I think in last months issue. Definitely one of the great ones, and will be missed.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: winterville NC
woooow really sad to hear that about Grumpy......can remember many times seeing him at the national events when we were racing a lot. He did a ton of work with the chevy motor.....and will be truely missed...Rest in Peace Bill
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Coming of age in the late 60's, Grumpy Jenkins was my very first Chevy drag racing hero. His Super Stock Nova's, Camaro's, and later, Pro Stock Camaro's and Vega's were the epitome of naturally aspirated BBC's and SBC's, depending on weight breaks. Almost always a base color white car, I followed his exploits with great interest.
His legacy is already legend to many of us and now, his spirit shall propel carbureted Chevrolet V-8's for ages to come.
He has joined back up with the likes of Smokey Yunick, Dick Harrell, and Dave Strickler in Chevrolet racing heaven. RIP, my hero.
His legacy is already legend to many of us and now, his spirit shall propel carbureted Chevrolet V-8's for ages to come.
He has joined back up with the likes of Smokey Yunick, Dick Harrell, and Dave Strickler in Chevrolet racing heaven. RIP, my hero.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
In heaven, you never blow an engine, and you always get a good launch, and you never miss a shift.
I never met Grumpy Jenkins, but he was a part of my childhood, watching drag racing with my Dad......
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
I never met Grumpy Jenkins, but he was a part of my childhood, watching drag racing with my Dad......
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
There was a B-stock 1962 (or possibly 1963) Shaker Engineering Impala SS 409 from Saginaw that won its class at the Nationals that year. We were in the teardown shed right behind the Dave Strickler, "Aman R. Smith, Old Reliable" bubbletop Belaire tuned by Bill Jenkins. He was very friendly and was real informative in comparing headers, jetting the carbs, wet and dry bulb thermometers in deteriming relative humidity, tires, etc.
R.I.P Bill,
Jim
R.I.P Bill,
Jim
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
R.I.P. William Tyler Jenkins
G'day,
I'm deeply saddened by this. I never met the man, but I've read of his exploits in countless Hot Rod, Super Stock & Drag Illustrated etc. magazines over the decades. I worshipped him. He leaves behind a hole that is too big to be filled.
R.I.P Grumpy.
Condolences from Down Under.
aussiejohn
I'm deeply saddened by this. I never met the man, but I've read of his exploits in countless Hot Rod, Super Stock & Drag Illustrated etc. magazines over the decades. I worshipped him. He leaves behind a hole that is too big to be filled.
R.I.P Grumpy.
Condolences from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 67
From: Warrington PA
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
an amazing man to say the least!!!!
"Grumpy's" shop is located in Malvern PA., which is just outside of Phila.
One of the guys I worked with years ago had a side job working at a gas station (that's what we called them back then)
and told the story of how the "Grump" would stop at various stations on the weekends near his shop before heading to the track and test the pump premium gas on that particular morning before making a purchase. Of course that was in the early days.
It was always a pleasure to see him run at ATCO in NJ, or Maple Grove in PA.
As the saying goes, he knew more about Chevrolet engines than mostly anyone and we would be so lucky if we only knew half as much as he had forgotten. Indeed a man ahead of his time, he set the bar and the standard in the world of drag racing in his classes that other competitors strived for.....
He will be missed but not forgotten......
One of the guys I worked with years ago had a side job working at a gas station (that's what we called them back then)
and told the story of how the "Grump" would stop at various stations on the weekends near his shop before heading to the track and test the pump premium gas on that particular morning before making a purchase. Of course that was in the early days. It was always a pleasure to see him run at ATCO in NJ, or Maple Grove in PA.
As the saying goes, he knew more about Chevrolet engines than mostly anyone and we would be so lucky if we only knew half as much as he had forgotten. Indeed a man ahead of his time, he set the bar and the standard in the world of drag racing in his classes that other competitors strived for.....
He will be missed but not forgotten......
Last edited by 74 LS4-454; Mar 30, 2012 at 09:37 PM.
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
When I was growing up, I remember Bill driving that Chevy Vega pro stock beating the crap out of everyone with it. The man had talent. Thanks for feeding my Chevy addiction and inspiring me Grump. RIP. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
I have not one but, 2 copies of "The Chevrolet Racing Engine" one is shop worn and stained, cost $6.95 other is the $9.95 version of the late 70's I always wanted to get his autograph on my better version, would have brought both for the Grump to see. Learned a lot from that book, even Jack Roush was quoted as saying, Jenkins thought further and knew so more than the rest of us back then, I read his book......RIP, thanks for sharing
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
BAM! That hits like a ton of bricks. I just read an article where he was interviewed in one of my Chevy Performance mags. He lived a long and exciting life. Somewhere on God's dragstrip a 1966 L-79 327 powered Chevy II Nova is beating the snot out of a Hemi Belvedere much to the Angels amazement. Have a spendid afterlife Mr. Jenkins, you are a legend and will be missed.
Have a spendid afterlife Mr. Jenkins, you are a legend and will be missed.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
He is the no good cigar smoking SOB that convinced me and others to build a V-8 Vega back around 1977. It without a doubt was one of the most unsafe cars that I ever owned.
I never bit the guard rail in mine, but it did do 360's faster than I could get out of the gas.
I never bit the guard rail in mine, but it did do 360's faster than I could get out of the gas.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
I have not one but, 2 copies of "The Chevrolet Racing Engine" one is shop worn and stained, cost $6.95 other is the $9.95 version of the late 70's I always wanted to get his autograph on my better version, would have brought both for the Grump to see. Learned a lot from that book, even Jack Roush was quoted as saying, Jenkins thought further and knew so more than the rest of us back then, I read his book......RIP, thanks for sharing
I have his book too, just went to look for it without luck, but I have a HUGE library, so it will turn up one day.
Keep those Corvettes running.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
