RIP Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins

R.I.P. Grump

 

Does anyone know how old Grumpy was. He was around for ever

 

Bill was 81. Im told he was admitted in to the hospital the evening the 21st and that afternoon, he had been working at the shop. He spent close to 60 years in the business and worked right to the end. He will be missed.
Doug

 

RIP grumpy...

 

so long Grump. thanks. RIP

 

RIP grump

 

Grumpy thanks for all the good times we had at Aquasco Speedway back in 1961 with the Old Reliable Biscayne. R.I.P.....JT

 

Look at any older footage of Pro Stock, even within the last couple years, and there he is at the line with his notebook writing down the rounds as they happen (after his driving years). I also have an old VHS about the early days of Funny Car and Super Stock that have him in the car on camera, bangin gears. The shift is clean but he's pissed about it, shaking his head. Too early? Too late? Neither. Just his intensity in action. Met him briefly at an early PRI show in Columbus. Yeah, he was Grumpy alright. Thanks for everything and RIP.

 

What a Legend! One of my Heroes, also. Those guys are getting away...

 

He will be missed. RIP
He is the reason I had a street vega. It had 69 Z28 302 engine in it along with a turbo 400, and a needed heavy stall on the converter, because of the cam shaft. probably one of the most fun and fastest street cars I have owned.

 

RIP Bill. He was the reason pro stock is such a great class.

 

That's an old diehard gearhead for ya.... He was well known for his 331 sbc buildups...
Rest in Peace my friend...

 

I also had a white Vega with a small block in it...

 

I'd like to find a Vega not Pro Stock'd, just street ready. I was 13-14 when Grumpy first started racing them; what memories for me.

 

"Sunday! Sunday, at Motor City Speedway! Grumpy Jenkins and his earth-shaking Chevy Vega!"

Ah...memories.

Thanks, Grumpy...RIP.

 

Sorry to hear that an influential guy from my past has gone to that great dragstrip in the sky. I will always remember his thunder.

 

RIP Mr Jenkins.

 

I tried to find that video on youtube. Can somebody post it?

 

yeah , Bill also had a big zoom lens 35 mm camera and took photos of the scoreboards during every round of Pro Stock , it was HIS class after all

 

RIP, Mr. Jenkins.

 

R.I.P GRUMPY!!! you will be missed!

 

A true American icon that will truly be missed...RIP Grumpy.

 

Yea RIP, Grumpy Jenkins, God SEED,
I got a set of his heads on my BBC

 

Sad to lose another legend..RIP Grumpy

 

Another "great" from a very innovative era passes. Lots of legends were from that time. I read one of his books a while ago. Very impressive mind. Nowadays, it's mostly who has the most money, and the most team cars to play interference.

 

The Grump was an automotive engineering genius....amazing some of the little incidental changes he would make on an engine, drivetrain, and chassis that made him inch out the competition at the far end.....amazing man

 

Hi
I am a new guy to this group.

Saw a couple couple of Bill Jenkins triva questions and will add my own.
First saw Bill RACING at WOODBINE NJ at the "ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIP DRAGS" this was the fourth event of the 1956 NHRA Safety Safari series.
Worked with him at the LANCASTER PA DRAG STRIP when it was running .

? trivia : Who was the sanctioning body for that strip.

Missing Bill and drags that were fun.

Charlie

 

G'day,

RIP Mr. Jenkins.

I not saying that he had an influence on me as a teenager but my first new car was a 1973 Vega. My first drag car was another Vega. And I still have 1 of the 14 Vegas that I have owned.

ms

 

R. I. P. Grumpy.