The legendary "Grumpy's Toy"
Posted on 03/31/2012 4:52:47 PM PDT by Doogle
NHRA Pro Stock icon Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, a master of the internal combustion engine and a legend among the Chevrolet faithful, died March 29. He was 81.
Jenkins, voted No. 8 among NHRA Drag Racing's greatest racers in a 2001 experts poll, scored just 13 NHRA national event wins but earned his well-deserved spot in drag racing's top 10 because no other individual has contributed more to the advancement of normally aspirated engines for drag racing competition than the legendary "Grump."
“Everyone at NHRA is saddened by the passing of Bill ‘Grumpy’ Jenkins, not only a pioneer in the sport, but also an iconic figure in NHRA Pro Stock racing,” said NHRA President Tom Compton. “He was there from the beginning, playing an integral role in the formation of Pro Stock, and remained involved in NHRA for decades. His presence and trademark gruff exterior and cigar will be missed but never forgotten at the starting line at NHRA Full Throttle events.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nhra.com ...
The legendary "Grumpy's Toy"
pin g
RIP.
I probably built models of that thing when I was a youngster.
..think we all did
That’s a name from the past.
Wasn’t he one of the Small Block Chevy experts back in the day along with Smokey Yunick?
May both rest in piece.
Excellent book from back in the day
Those were the days.
They sure were. The little things running around now with beer can mufflers are a laugh. I like the mellow note of my 6.0 Yukon Denali with Flowmaster exhaust. Love pulling up beside some little rice burner at a red light and drowning them out, plus taking them on and see their expression as a large SUV eats their lunch for them.
Smokey was NASCAR’s ‘MR. Pontiac’...with Fireball Roberts.
father of the Grumpy Hump, just damn, truly a sad day... RIP
My teenage hero. I saw him run so many times at Great Lakes
Drag A Way in Union Grove Wisconsin. His ‘72 vega was one of
greatest drag race cars of all time. I can still hear that
screeeeeming small block chevy! The entire crowd would stand
when he and Dyno Don Nicolson ran against each other.
Rest In Peace Grumpy Bill.
My teenage hero. I saw him run so many times at Great Lakes
Drag A Way in Union Grove Wisconsin. His ‘72 vega was one of
greatest drag race cars of all time. I can still hear that
screeeeeming small block chevy! The entire crowd would stand
when he and Dyno Don Nicolson ran against each other.
Thanks for the pic. That was a wild little car! Oddly enough there is a story about him in the april 2012 edition
of Super Chevy magazine.
I think they had info about his health at the time
I think he was completely self taught. The first time I saw
offset wrist pins on a motor was on one of his builds. He
had an innate intuitiveness like Burt Monroe. I saw him in the
pits at Cordova Il. once. If his behavior there was typical
he earned the “Grumpy” nickname.
Bought a 68 Camaro in 1979. Still own it today ! RIP my boyhood idol.
I saw Grumpy’s Toy run at Beeline Dragway in the late 60’s. Beeline was located East of Scottsdale AZ on McDowell Road. Unfortunately, Beeline is gone and now Grumpy, too.
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