Bill Jenkins passed away

[SS427]

Just received word that Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins died this morning. No other news than that. What a great loss to the auto world!

[Tracker1]

I bet St. Peter is flagging Grump and Ronnie right now. John DeLorean and David E. Davis are betting on the outcome. God Love 'Em.

R.I.P. Mr. Jenkins

[PeteLeathersac]

Sad news indeed, another true legend gone.
RIP Grump.

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif
~ Pete

[William]

Sad day for all Chevy fans. In drag racing he put Chevrolet on the map. In Van Valkenburghs book he is mentioned as the only drag racer they did some R &amp; D with. Somebody should do up a 2012 COPO tribute to his ’69 PRO car.

When we vended at SC-Reading 1983 he was there to make an appearance in his former ’63 Z11 car. Absolute hounded as he walked through the swap. He cut through our space and I told him he could sit in our van which he did. Saw him again at MCACN last November.

Zora, Smokey, Strickler, Gibb, Grumpy. Jim Hall is about the only guy remaining from those days.

RIP Bill.

I'm at a loss for words.

Wayne

[RPOLS3]

RIP

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy219/RPOLS3/MCACN%202011/11-19-11MCACN063.jpg

[Plowman]

Just saw and talked to him not long ago at his shop,what a loss. Sadden by the news.

[sYc]

So sorry to hear. Another one of the good guys gone.

[Postsedan]

It's a sad day......RIP Bill

Dan

[CC Rider]

Met him at a Super Chevy Show at Maple Grove years ago. Very cool guy, could have talked with him all day!

RIP Bill <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif

[StealthBird]

From NHRA.com

http://www.nhra.com/story/story.aspx?F_y...CookieSupport=1 (http://www.nhra.com/story/story.aspx?F_y=2012&amp;F_m=3&amp;F_d=29&amp;CustomURL=pro-stock-legend-bill-grumpy-jenkins-dies&amp;AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1)

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif

[bbbenny]

One Heck of a drag racing legend!!! RIP Mr. Jenkins The Dutchman.

[XXXGoldL34M20]

Glad i had that one time to meet him this November at the MCACN show. My condolences.

[Chevy454]

Sad, sad news. I have a yellow w/ black Jenkins logo t-shirt that I've worn on the &quot;eliminations&quot; day of any event I've raced at for probably close to a decade or more now...that alone is nothing earth shattering, just kind of a Liz Taylor &quot;these have always brought me luck&quot; type deal, but I've always found it fitting to acknowledge someone who did so much for the sport I love.

[68l30]

One of my favorites. Had the chance to talk with him a few years back. What a gentlemen. We talked for some time about the 68 Car Craft All Stars and what a honor it was to be part of that team, and several more times though out the years.It was amazing watching him light up and talk about something he was truly proud of. Rest in peace Grump.

Big

[SUSQ]

The term &quot;legend&quot; is often over used but this guy was the real deal, indeed. Was hoping to introduce my son to him at the York show this summer.

[300deluxeL79]

very sad indeed
met him at york in '09, watched him match race at boundary bay in'75
rip mr jenkins <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/69belair/jenkins/bounbay.jpg

thks rob, didn't see the other thread <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

[Nova Jed]

My heart just dropped into my stomach. Very sad day!

[rich p]

He made me laugh my ass off at the Chicago show! A guy was standing next to him trying to get his picture while he was looking down at a magazine(of coarse racing)the guy asked a least five times to look up at the camera and not once did he look up!! Priceless...

[old5.0]

Don't even know what to say. Terrible day for car guys everywhere. A legend and a living part of history is gone and we're all worse off for it.

[Kim_Howie]

Sad Day for drag racing. One of the good guys.

[StealthBird]

Lots of pics of Grump and his cars, but the one of his Vega was always my favorite. It was my PC wallpaper for years.

[copo69]

I was saddened to hear of the Grump's passing this morning. Since childhood this guy has always been one of my heroes. His innovations and skills make him a true legend in the world of drag racing. Godspeed Grump.

[foster]

just found out iam really sadden, i first meet bill in 1972 at suffolk raceway virginia and threw the years meet him talk to him in other race tracks and car events, will be a major miss in all tracks and my heart and people that new this man , he did a lot for this sport.my reguards to the family. he will be very missed.

[Verne_Frantz]

What a shock. I feel like I just lost my Dad and a good friend....... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cry.gif

[rare4k]

Wow, sad news I saw him at the York Show last year, he signed a poster I had enlarged. rip bill

[69 Post Sedan]

I too am sad to hear of his death. I am so glad that I got to see him at the MCACN show last November and have him sign my poster and hat. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Grumpy's shifting gears somewhere else now!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif


Kurt


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn2/brkyard/MACAN%20Show/IMAG00332.jpg

[WILMASBOYL78]

Sad day for all who loved this guy...he will be missed!

He autographed a magazine for me a few years back at the US30 show...I think it was an early 70's edition with an article on Bill's &quot;secrets for horsepower&quot;...after signing it, I thanked him, and he just looked up at me and said &quot;don't believe any of that sh*t&quot;...then he looked away and started talking to the next person in line...

Classic Grump <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[C1SS396]

Sad day .I will miss seeing him around town .Glad i met him and had a chance to tour the shop ..
I will have to take his old pit scooter i got from him a few years back out for a ride.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii128/c1ss396/100MEDIA_IMAG0066.jpg

[ORIGLS6]

We heard the news just before noon today. Ironically, a close friend and I spent the entire day road tripping &amp; visiting with some old racing buddies we haven't seen in, ......... well, too long. One of them was Herb Fox. It always warms your heart to see Herbie's big smile and swap stories, ..... even the ones with a shred of truth. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif Sad, sad news to hear of the passing of the legend.

I was fortunate to get Grumpy's autograph on a couple of items at MCACN this past year, and some photos that Jeff Murphy was gracious enough to click at the time. Those pics just became more important.

Godspeed Grumpy, ..... (and don't EVER give up those secrets of speed!)

[Xplantdad]

That's too bad...he was a good guy. One of my favorite pics of Grumpy...he even smiled with Holly...

[Paul_S]

Sad news...

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif

[PxTx]

I'm gonna remember where I was when I got the news and the next few phone calls I made. He was a huge influence on what I thought &quot;car guys&quot; should be. Thanks Grump! RIP

[Postsedan]

Touching tribute video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJpnzIZjY7E&amp;feature=player_embedded

Dan

[SmallHurst]

I just learned of Ol' Grumps passing. Truly a passing of one of the great innovators of drag racing. He was a very much a thinking man for a racer.

I never personally met the man and I am less of one for not getting to know him. When I was a lot younger, my landlord was talking about Mr. Jenkins and how he earned his nickname. God speed and hammerdown!!!!

[L72copocamaro]

Men like Bill are few and far between. A legendary loss.

[Jay_chevelless]

What a sad day in racing history.

[BillD]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Postsedan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Touching tribute video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJpnzIZjY7E&amp;feature=player_embedded

Dan </div></div>

Thank you for posting that link. It is a nice tribute. I will never forget Bill Jenkins coming to our local tracks in the mid to late 60's. I can remember, as a kid, standing in the pits watching him work on his 67 and then 68 Camaro. There was always a crowd around him when he was working on the cars. I never had the opportunity to speak to him, I was probably frightened by his nickname. RIP Bill Jenkins.

[brent396]

Rip Bill Jenkins <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif

[ORIGLS6]

At MCACN, 2011.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/dmcumby/PB192529.jpg

[mmcporter]

The '60's legendary line-up just shrunk by 1. Carroll Shelby truly is the &quot;iron man&quot; of that group!

Grumpy will certainly be missed - he's no doubt up with Dave Strickler and Don Yenko grabbing rubber in 3rd and 4th gears right now....

[C1SS396]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C1SS396</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Sad day .I will miss seeing him around town .Glad i met him and had a chance to tour the shop ..
I will have to take his old pit scooter i got from him a few years back out for a ride.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii128/c1ss396/100MEDIA_IMAG0066.jpg </div></div>


http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii128/c1ss396/grump1.jpg

[300deluxeL79]

guest book...

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailylo...p;pid=156830582 (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailylocal/obituary.aspx?n=william-tyler-jenkins-grumpy&amp;pid=156830582)

[daverd]

RIP
BILL ......

[300deluxeL79]

writeup in the ny times...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/sports...ml?_r=4&amp;hpw (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/sports/autoracing/bill-jenkins-81-drag-racing-driver-and-innovator-dies.html?_r=4&amp;hpw)

[Gary Anderson]

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=488828