Bill "da Grump" Jenkins photo tribute

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

Maybe just keep this one going already...you can always ask the admin to change the topic title later on to Bill da Grump Jenkins Tribute...

Sounds good.



M68

[mopar68]

M68

[mopar68]

Not a bad replica...and for sale too at an not unreasonable price.



More pix here:

http://topnotchvehicles.com/v-web/gallery/album19

M68

[mopar68]

Pro Stock's BEST era, in my humble opinion. Can I get an amen?





M68

[Geerhead55]

Amen,,, the decade of the 70s was my favorite time period of Pro Stock without a doubt.Even with the weight break fiascos, the factory politics, NHRA rules revisions, driver and team changes and even brand swaps(Bob), it was great following along with the innovations and competition that was provided by that generation of Pro Stock racers.
I've had the Grumpy's Toys book for some time now, and I'd recommend it for anyone. I wish they'd do one for Glidden and the Mopars of Sox & Martin and Landy.
Danny Durham

[James L Miller]

Originally Posted by mopar68

Pro Stock's BEST era, in my humble opinion. Can I get an amen?M68

I saw the Vega's and Pinto's as the beginning of the end of what was Pro STOCK. The weight breaks were a terrible idea and got completely out of hand by the end of the 1970s. The tube chassis stuff allowed them to modify them to where now they don't look like anything stock. They should just call it PRO and leave the stock off and out of the rulebook. I think NHRA will follow NASCAR in a few years and allow EFI into PS. I think the first years were the best because at that time, you could buy a 427 Camaro, 429 Boss Mustang or 426 Hemi Cuda or Challenger. PS now is basically a funny car with carbs and gasoline.

[mopar68]

M68

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by James L Miller

I saw the Vega's and Pinto's as the beginning of the end of what was Pro STOCK. The weight breaks were a terrible idea and got completely out of hand by the end of the 1970s. The tube chassis stuff allowed them to modify them to where now they don't look like anything stock. They should just call it PRO and leave the stock off and out of the rulebook. I think NHRA will follow NASCAR in a few years and allow EFI into PS. I think the first years were the best because at that time, you could buy a 427 Camaro, 429 Boss Mustang or 426 Hemi Cuda or Challenger. PS now is basically a funny car with carbs and gasoline.

You make some good points there. My favorite era is from 1970-74. In spite of the all-tube frame construction of cars built in the latter half of 1972 thru 1974, for the most part, they still resembled production vehicles.

I agree 100% with your assessment of modern Pro 'Stock', especially the last two decades, and especially so, the past few years, with cars that look like something straight out of Bizarro World. There's nothing 'Stock' about these ultra-expensive and sophisticated de facto carbureted funnycars sans fliptop bodies, and everything $PRO.

The real Pro Stock class died a long time ago. Time way overdue for NHRA to rename the class like you say.

M68

[Liteweight]

My pet peeve in ALL professional NHRA classes is that most of the drivers now are nothing more than hired guns. Gone are the days of the innovators such as da Grump, Dandy Dick, S&M, The Swamp Rat, The Snake ,,etc where the owners were the R&D department, fabrication department, engine shop, chassis shop etc. These guys did it all. Not so much today huh??
Anyway, I'm done with my B fest, let's try & keep this thread positive.
I have another idea in keeping this thread going & would like to make a suggestion of keeping it soley for our passed 1/4 mile heros from a era & time we will never see again . I quess you could say it's somewhere where we can pay homage to the guys & girls that were the innovators of the sport we all love.

liteweight