Pro Stock legend Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins dies - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

LnLSS · 03-30-2012, 06:06 PM

RIP

thesnoopster · 03-30-2012, 06:10 PM

I remember watching him growing up at match races back in the day.... RIP Grumpy! :(

BoomBoomKid · 03-30-2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParisTNDude

He's a guy from my era when I had my hands full with all the Ford fans. But the Grump did us proud. A story I remember from "the day". Grump did not run SCCA races or road races of many sorts, but he brought a closed trailer to one of the mid year Trans Am events and backed a black 68 or 69 Camaro out of it and one of the hot shoes of the day jumped in and ran 3 laps. Each succeeding lap broke the record for that track and the driver came in. Grumpy Bill opened the hood for an hour swearing it was SCCA eligible. He closed the hood and put it back on in the trailer and drove off. It was a mystery from that day and as far as I know, no one ever saw the car again. However, while looking at the engine, one of the guys noticed a small hole drilled in the top side of each header tube, less than 1/4 inch and no one could figure out why...but, from that day on, reportedly, all the Chevy guys had holes drilled in their headers....just like Grumpy Bill Jenkins car. He was a master at using the rules to "his" advantage and won more than he lost! RIP Bill! God could use a few good Chevy guys up there!

Thanks for sharing. Great story, remeinds of another Chevrolet legend by the name Smokey...

Blau camaro · 03-30-2012, 06:26 PM

Saw Grumpy race several times back in the 1960's and actually spoke to him once. Nice guy. RIP Bill.

jjwvette · 03-31-2012, 08:53 AM

RIP Grumpy

VR Baron · 03-31-2012, 09:38 AM

RIP Grumpy!

Frid · 03-31-2012, 09:45 AM

RIP

usa1camaro1969 · 03-31-2012, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParisTNDude

He's a guy from my era when I had my hands full with all the Ford fans. But the Grump did us proud. A story I remember from "the day". Grump did not run SCCA races or road races of many sorts, but he brought a closed trailer to one of the mid year Trans Am events and backed a black 68 or 69 Camaro out of it and one of the hot shoes of the day jumped in and ran 3 laps. Each succeeding lap broke the record for that track and the driver came in. Grumpy Bill opened the hood for an hour swearing it was SCCA eligible. He closed the hood and put it back on in the trailer and drove off. It was a mystery from that day and as far as I know, no one ever saw the car again. However, while looking at the engine, one of the guys noticed a small hole drilled in the top side of each header tube, less than 1/4 inch and no one could figure out why...but, from that day on, reportedly, all the Chevy guys had holes drilled in their headers....just like Grumpy Bill Jenkins car. He was a master at using the rules to "his" advantage and won more than he lost! RIP Bill! God could use a few good Chevy guys up there!

Pretty sure that was Smokey. Black and gold '68. Beautiful nonetheless.

Still remember the bearskin rug pic of Grump. Somewhere I have a bunch of pics of his Camaros and Vegas.

ParisTNDude · 03-31-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usa1camaro1969

Pretty sure that was Smokey. Black and gold '68. Beautiful nonetheless.

Still remember the bearskin rug pic of Grump. Somewhere I have a bunch of pics of his Camaros and Vegas.

You know, I think you're right...don't EVER get old. I saw Grumpy at Darlington one year in the early days of the "Chevy Mystery Motor"...and that may be what I was thinking of. He was the small block Chevy guru of all times! I've heard he earned his nick name, but I call it, "righteous indignations"!!! Lol

usa1camaro1969 · 03-31-2012, 07:22 PM

Met him a few times, last time was a few years ago when he was back in pro-stock with a kid named Dave Connolly(?). Used to love seeing him run against the hemi-boys and always had my magazine subscriptions. Still have my "Grump-Lump" hood-scoop out in the garage. Maybe I'll have to go and attempt a "tribute-car" out of the '68. About 15-years back there was a guy that was running a Sox-Martin tribute 'Cuda that was 440 2X4 powered.

pistolgripcopo1 · 03-31-2012, 08:05 PM

They could use someone like the Grump at GM. today. RIP. Bill.

xx_ED_xx · 04-01-2012, 02:19 AM

R I P

Rockit_z28 · 04-02-2012, 06:16 AM

RIP to one of the greatest racers and builders. The sport will miss him. :(

MudderFinger · 04-02-2012, 06:41 AM

That is a shame, RIP Bill!

03-30-2012, 06:10 PM	#16
thesnoopster Drives: '17 Fifty SS - '18 Traverse Redline Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 3,616	I remember watching him growing up at match races back in the day.... RIP Grumpy! :( __________________ 2017 Camaro SS -"FIFTY" Mods: "93 Octane"

03-31-2012, 09:45 AM	#21
Frid Drives: '11 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 3,483	RIP __________________

03-31-2012, 07:22 PM	#24
usa1camaro1969 Back on the dino-juice Drives: '10 LS + a few more Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,641	Met him a few times, last time was a few years ago when he was back in pro-stock with a kid named Dave Connolly(?). Used to love seeing him run against the hemi-boys and always had my magazine subscriptions. Still have my "Grump-Lump" hood-scoop out in the garage. Maybe I'll have to go and attempt a "tribute-car" out of the '68. About 15-years back there was a guy that was running a Sox-Martin tribute 'Cuda that was 440 2X4 powered. __________________ I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence. -Ricky Bobby America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt, 1936

03-31-2012, 08:05 PM	#25
pistolgripcopo1 pistolgripcopo1 Drives: 2010 SS Camaro Carbon fiber gray Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Corona Ca. Posts: 403	They could use someone like the Grump at GM. today. RIP. Bill. __________________

04-02-2012, 06:16 AM	#27
Rockit_z28 www.1baddogracing.com Drives: 2010 IOM 2SS/RS Auto Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 998 View My Garage	RIP to one of the greatest racers and builders. The sport will miss him. :( __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Aqua Blue Metalllic (bolt-ons) 2020 Camaro 2SS/RS Satin Steel Metallic - Shock and Steel Edition 1 of 98 - A10 (bolt-ons) 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS IOM - 1,023 RWHP 813RWTQ (Previous Paxton Record Holder: 9.82@139) Built and Tuned by Heintz Racing Go: DSS 9", RPM Trans TH400, Carlyle Racing 15" Conversion, ECS Vortech YSI-B, Fore Fuel System, ID1700, Gall Racing 427 C.I LSX, Mast 285CC Heads, HR Custom Cam Show: Custom Painted Stripes/Badges (Orange Pearl over White), Z/TA Spoiler, VFN Hood, Weld Wheels http://www.HeintzRacing.com http://www.youtube.com/user/1baddogracing

03-30-2012, 06:06 PM	#15
LnLSS Mid-Florida Camaro Club Drives: 2015 Red Hot ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orlando Fla Posts: 2,582 View My Garage	RIP

03-30-2012, 06:26 PM	#18
Blau camaro Account Suspended Drives: #1 CAMARO FAN Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Rockford IL. Posts: 656	Saw Grumpy race several times back in the 1960's and actually spoke to him once. Nice guy. RIP Bill.

03-31-2012, 08:53 AM	#19
jjwvette Drives: Corvette StingRay Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 58	RIP Grumpy

03-31-2012, 09:38 AM	#20
VR Baron SoCal Camaro5 Race Team Drives: 2021 Shadow Grey Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SO CAL Posts: 14,288	RIP Grumpy!

04-01-2012, 02:19 AM	#26
xx_ED_xx Drives: 04 Silverado Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Floriduh! Posts: 1,113	R I P

04-02-2012, 06:41 AM	#28
MudderFinger Drives: 2011 IOM SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 887 View My Garage	That is a shame, RIP Bill!

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