My Hero

[wrench459]

"Da Grump"
Is going into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame!

[jeff denton]

Hooray! Anybody who can make a Vega that quick and have the balls to drive it deserves the honor.
Bill is the type of mechanic who analyzed every function of every part and studied how to make it better. His experiments found horsepower where nobody else did. And he'd regularly share innovative ideas that we all could use through Hot Rod Magazine.
He was always my favorite Pro Stock competitor, too.

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by jeff denton Hooray! Anybody who can make a Vega that quick and have the balls to drive it deserves the honor. Bill is the type of mechanic who analyzed every function of every part and studied how to make it better. His experiments found horsepower where nobody else did. And he'd regularly share innovative ideas that we all could use through Hot Rod Magazine. He was always my favorite Pro Stock competitor, too.

Grumpy Jenkins first and foremost is and engineer (like Jack Rouse) and was not scared to try something new. He first came to light in the early 60's as a MOPAR guru, and became involved with Chevrolets about 1965 with a string of very quick Chevy II's that were 327 CI powered. His most famous claim to fame (IMO) was a 66 Chevy II powered by a 350HP 327 that ran in NHRA Super Stock Division, in A/SS and was a giant killer putting as lot of Big block Mopars, Fords and Chevrolets on the trailer. He was one of the first to use acid dipping to get the front end as light a possible, when you could not use fiberglass replacement body parts. He also came up with using thinner glass in the windows to reduce weight, Grump's theory was to change 12 or 13 things about the car, if you got shot down on 6 or 7 you were still ahead by 50% then change some more while they were looking for the rest of the first batch. He operated out of a small shop in Pa. and was very selective about who he did work for, hence, the name Grumpy and every one of his own car were named "Grumpy's Toy" he is quite a person and deserves the honor right up there with Smokey and several other inovators that have made motor sports what it is today, Congrats to a grump that if he liked you was a Teddy bear

[BobCGT]

Back in 1970-71 time frame,I really enjoyed it when Grumpys Toy would visit our local dragstrip to do battle with the Sox and Martin Cuda.
Pro Stock was my favorite NHRA class back then.
Great news for Bill Jenkins!

[wrench459]

Not only did he do his magic in the engine department but also in the drivetrain area.
He wasnt called "Mr. 4 speed" for nothing. Alright he might have cut one or two lights early....