Bill Jenkins

TOM KASCH · 03-29-2012, 02:11 PM

WE are very sad to hear this, was hoping he would get better. Here is some of our pictures and some other scans.

Bob Bender · 03-29-2012, 02:13 PM

What a sad day..................RIP Grump

Rich Biebel · 03-29-2012, 02:26 PM

The Grump raced many times at my home track....Island Dragway.

Saw him match race Stahl there with their A/S cars in 1966
Camaro's, Chevy II's all in SS a couple years later and then in the Modified classes and soon Pro Stock.
Saw him Match race before there was Pro Stock.....
Him and Landy one night put on quite a show by themselves.
Nothing like it today....rosin burnouts.....cigars hanging out of both their mouths...Loved it...

Any car with a Jenkins Competition arrow on it was one that was usually fast and probably a record holder at one time or other....

Truly a one of a kind.....RIP Grump....

Lyn Smith · 03-29-2012, 03:07 PM

The story goes he was given the nick name "Grumpy" by one of his employees after he was short with someone on the shop phone.The Motorsports hall of Fame site gives this explanation " his continual search for improved performance left little time for idle chatter".

George Fitzpatrick · 03-29-2012, 03:07 PM

So very very sad. RIP

Andys dad · 03-29-2012, 03:21 PM

Now I am really having a bad day.....

An inovator and risk taker - a true ICON of our sport

What an impactful person

See you at the finish line Bill

:-) peace

TOM KASCH · 03-29-2012, 03:29 PM

Those were the days !
loaded wrong side of picture

TOM KASCH · 03-29-2012, 03:34 PM

here he is and thats the way it was !

Hemi Moose · 03-29-2012, 03:30 PM

This is just terrible news, he was one of my racing heros...RIP Grumpy maybe you Ronnie & Dick can enjoy some more match races.

.

GarysZ24 · 03-30-2012, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOM KASCH

WE are very sad to hear this, was hoping he would get better. Here is some of our pictures and some other scans.

I'll never forget that the day after my older sister passed back in April of '72 (I was a 13yr old kid who knew nothing about drag racing even though I loved cars, and auto racing). I went to the grocery store with my mother, and in passing the magazine rack noticed the Car Craft magazine that had a color picture of his '72 Winternationals winning Vega on the cover! That's what got me hooked on drag racing, and gave me a liking to the Chevrolet Vega, and I have Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins to thank for turning an otherwise dreadful week back then, into a passion of mine like no other...introduction to the world of drag racing!

What "Da Grump" did with those cars (all of them for that matter), was something I'll always be thankful for knowing about, and cherish the memories of reading about all of the following victories he had with his Vega's later in that year and afterwards. R.I.P. Grump...

I agree with you whole heartedly Doug Blackley...Buster Couch is about to start a heavenly match race featuring Lee Shepard, Ronnie Sox, Da Grump, Dyno Don, and Dandy Dick Landy...imagine how great a match race that is!!!

Someday, I hope to find a copy of that special magazine, because I'd love to have that to remember "Da Grump" by.....

03-29-2012, 02:11 PM	#1
TOM KASCH VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TOLEDO,OHIO Posts: 1,735 Likes: 0 Liked 241 Times in 100 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins WE are very sad to hear this, was hoping he would get better. Here is some of our pictures and some other scans. Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

03-29-2012, 02:13 PM	#2
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,737 Likes: 1,604 Liked 460 Times in 91 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins What a sad day..................RIP Grump __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

03-29-2012, 02:26 PM	#3
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,320 Likes: 25 Liked 557 Times in 217 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins The Grump raced many times at my home track....Island Dragway. Saw him match race Stahl there with their A/S cars in 1966 Camaro's, Chevy II's all in SS a couple years later and then in the Modified classes and soon Pro Stock. Saw him Match race before there was Pro Stock..... Him and Landy one night put on quite a show by themselves. Nothing like it today....rosin burnouts.....cigars hanging out of both their mouths...Loved it... Any car with a Jenkins Competition arrow on it was one that was usually fast and probably a record holder at one time or other.... Truly a one of a kind.....RIP Grump.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

03-29-2012, 03:07 PM	#4
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,216 Likes: 293 Liked 1,002 Times in 203 Posts	How did he get the nick name "Grumpy"? The story goes he was given the nick name "Grumpy" by one of his employees after he was short with someone on the shop phone.The Motorsports hall of Fame site gives this explanation " his continual search for improved performance left little time for idle chatter".

03-29-2012, 03:07 PM	#5
George Fitzpatrick Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Babylon, NY Posts: 345 Likes: 124 Liked 94 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins So very very sad. RIP Attached Thumbnails __________________ George Fitzpatrick 426 HEMI STK, SS

03-29-2012, 03:21 PM	#6
Andys dad VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, Ca Posts: 1,571 Likes: 48 Liked 175 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins Now I am really having a bad day..... An inovator and risk taker - a true ICON of our sport What an impactful person See you at the finish line Bill :-) peace __________________ time is our most precious resource, you can always make more money but you can never make more time spend your time wisely with the ones you love - Ron Durham

03-29-2012, 03:29 PM	#7
TOM KASCH VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TOLEDO,OHIO Posts: 1,735 Likes: 0 Liked 241 Times in 100 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins Those were the days ! loaded wrong side of picture Attached Thumbnails Last edited by TOM KASCH; 03-29-2012 at 03:31 PM.

03-29-2012, 03:34 PM	#8
TOM KASCH VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TOLEDO,OHIO Posts: 1,735 Likes: 0 Liked 241 Times in 100 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins here he is and thats the way it was ! Attached Thumbnails

03-29-2012, 03:30 PM	#9
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins This is just terrible news, he was one of my racing heros...RIP Grumpy maybe you Ronnie & Dick can enjoy some more match races. . Last edited by Hemi Moose; 03-29-2012 at 03:32 PM.