Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins
 

I just read on Drag Central that Grumpy passed away today. Did Chevrolet proud.:thumbs:

I seen him race several times. A big pioneer in small block Chevy racing.

One of the best, a real legend in drag racing circuit.:sadangel:

He will be missed. I watched him in match races several times in the 70's and 80's. Met him once in Ohio at a race there. He was Grumpy but a nice man.

Jimmy

:sadangel:


I grew up a Grumpy fan. Firstly he is a fellow Pennsylvanian. Lots of folks don't know that he is an Ivy League school graduate - Cornell University, and you guessed it, his degree in Mechanical Engineering.

One of my most cherished photos is of me, my car, leaving the starting line at York US30 Dragway with Grumpy's entourage in the background. I'm guessing the year was 1974.

Love his Vega and Camaro years. Love that he beat factory backed and financed teams as an independent. Love that he hated to loose.

Gods Speed, Bill Grumpy Jenkins

def one of the best.

Sad news.... :sadangel: :sadangel:

Condolences his family and friends :flaghalfmast:

Mark :salute: :salute:

:sadangel: rip.

I loved his pithy comments when he had his moderator hat on.

BJK

Prayers up for family and friends.:sadangel:

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13330571752601


I like the part he made the same as Wilt Chamberlin as the higest paid pro at $250K . A long ways from Kobe Bryant's $24.8 Mil.

The "Grumpy Corvette"

http://www.corvettereport.com/corvet...ette/#more-670

QUOTE: "Back in 2007 at the Corvettes at Carlisle Show, it seemed that the bright guys from K. C. Kerbeck, in Atlantic City, NJ thought it would be a lot of fun to dress up an out of the box, $44,950 Corvette with a few official Corvette accessory items, add some stripes, letter the car with “Grumpy” and “JENKINS/KERBECK” graphics.

Then, to really send up the flag, they got the grumpy one himself to come by on Saturday, sign autographs, and grunt through endless bench racing stories".


http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...pyCorvette.jpg

:iagree:100% Bowtie Man

Sad Day.......40 years ago my old girl friend from College lived right around the corner from his shop in Malvern, Pa. Made my intro to him in '73......we both frequented the same cigar shop in Exton, Pa and hoisted a beer or two.

he was a true Bow-tie legend and a pioneer in what is now Pro-Stock drag racing. If there is drag racing in heaven, Grump, Ronnie (Sox) and Dick (Landy) are staged and ready to go !

I was blown away to hear this news this morning, as strange coincidence has it, this past Tuesday night, Ken Dondero who drove for Bill and also Dyno Don and Dandy Dick Landy , called me after a few years of not hearing from him.....we talked about the OLD days. I would crew for Ken when he came around the New England area for a match race...as a young kid ...being around people such as these was amazing. Bill was the master of the small block and making horsepower from it, a legend in dragracing, and a good man. May he rest in peace.

RIP Grump.

You sure could make a small block Chevy engine sing real pretty music. Never will forget his 72 Vega.

http://www.nhra.com/UserFiles/image/...rch/grump2.jpg

My all time favorite. :sadangel:

Just to clarify...I assume this "Grumpy" is not the Corvette Forum member (moderator) we know as "Grumpy?" I did not know of the drag racing Grumpy but he sounds like good people. I'm sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to family and friends.

R.I.P.

http://www.nhra.com/UserFiles/image/...rch/grump3.jpg

Did so much for the sport. Will be missed. RIP.

:iagree:My prayers sent:blueangel:

A great guy and what a great race car driver

:sadangel:

The Best
 

As a teenager living in Chambersburg, PA, I would go to York US 30 Dragway every Sat and watch him race in SS class. He was a legend in his time and would give them Fords and Dodges hell, plus put on a great drag racing show. He will be missed.

Back in 63 my older brother with his little 2 1/2 yr. old son and me went to Atco, NJ to see a meet between "Old Reliable" and Ronny Sox's Mercury Comet. He almost ran over all of us. They didn't call him Grumpy for no reason! :yesnod: Sorry to hear of his passing and for his family. But, he sure did help Chevrolet even if he was a prick.

Drag Racing has lost an Icon.
I saw him at the Summer Nat's in the 70's at E Town. The man had more tricks up his sleeve than most could possibly think of.
Big Rivalry between Chevy and Mopar back then. He left Sox & Martin scratching their heads more than once.
God Bless "Grumpy", you will be missed.

Back in 1964 at the Summer Nationals at INDY...I was staying at the same motel as he was. I was in the motel parking lot working on my C Modified Production 55 Chevy. He came over and helped me with a problem I was having with some slightly oversized slicks . He showed me how to shave the outer edges so it could pass tech...And then gave a name and address of a local tire shop that could do the job in the morning. He will be missed by all...a real asset to drag racing.

RIP Grump.
Thanks for all you have done for the sport....:flaghalfmast:

I remember all of those awesome pictures in Hot Rod Magazine. Another time, another place. RIP Grumpy.

Proud to say I saw him race at Cecil Co., Maryland "back in the day". One of the reasons I love drag racing. :flaghalfmast:

Da Grump, long ashes to you... :flaghalfmast: :salute:

I remember watching him drag as a kid and reading about him in Craft Craft.

A master of Chevrolet horsepower. RIP Grump.:sadangel:

From the NHRA announcement: "Jenkins always took greater pride in his mechanical achievements than in his driving. Among his innovations are drag racing's first dry-sump oiling system, the first kickout oil pans and Pro Stock strut-style front suspension, and gas port pistons, slick-shift manual transmissions, cool cans, and the electric water-pump fan."

An amazing list of innovations. These are things we take for granted, and they were all his.