Bill Jenkins
 

Just received an email from Mike Strickler this morning. Was told that Bill Jenkins passed away this morning. I don't have any details.

Jerry

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

RIP Grump

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Only the best to his family, my prayers are with them. Grumpy you will be missed.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

I knew he was ill. Maybe J.C. Childress can help us out here. I am crushed! Another great legend passes. God's Speed Grumpy. Jim

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Sorry to hear this. He was always one of my heroes. Condolences to the family. RIP Grump.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-G...16316768418273

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

God must have broke the mold when he created Grumpy because they sure don't make 'em like that anymore! What an incredible mind and talent. RIP...

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Truely one of the Legends of Drag Racing, he will be sorely missed...
Godspeed and R.I.P

http://nhra.com/story/2012/3/29/pro-...-jenkins-dies/

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

He passed this morning somewhere between 9 and 9:30 I think. He was in the hospital for the last several days. He will be greatly missed, thats for sure. I had just sent him a box of cigars about a week ago. Please keep the family and friends in your prayers.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Very sad news he was a idol to me . Grumpy Power

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Rest In Peace bill
my 3 heroes are gone now Dave, Ronnie and Bill

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Got word he had gone back into the hospital the other day. I was getting ready to mail a get-well card when I got the news he had passed.

Truly an innovator, his list of "firsts" would fill a fill a large book. G-d broke the mold after He made him. My condolences to the Jenkins Family.

Rest in peace, Grumpy.

Lew Silverman

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Another old friend gone. Got a email just before lunch and went on NHRA and it is posted there. Our thoughts and prayer go out to Bill"s family from all of us at Chris3 Racing. He was a truly personable individual who I will never forget.

If there is a drag strip in Heaven, there will be an real event there. God Bless old friend.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Say it ain't so....

Hope he and Ronnie are match racing in Heaven.

He was a milestone in the sport and will be sorely missed.

God's blessing for Bill and his family.

JimR

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Heaven awaits. Remember one time he came to WV at Eldora Raceway. You had to cross a small bridge to get there, he got out and walked accross and let the drive bring his rig across. Last time we seen him a couple of years ago he remembered it.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

This is truly a sad day. My wife and I saw him at the Reading National event last fall. He, and several other past NHRA greats, were signing autographs on Sat. Oct.1. She waited in line for more than an hour; but she got his autograph. Now, almost 6 months later to the day, he is gone. RIP Grump, you will truly be missed.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Everyone knows without a doubt how great Ronnie was with a stick. But the Grump was right there with him. Let the match races in heaven begin! RIP Bill. My condolences to his family and friends.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

A hero to millions, RIP Bill.
BTW, did he have children?

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Just got word, and logged on to see if it was true.

In the mid-60's when other kids had pictures of, say, Joe Namath on their wall, my wall was a virtual shrine to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins.

R.I.P

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

I think he had a daughter..........RIP Bill.

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.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

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

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....

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".

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

So very very sad. RIP

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

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Those were the days !
loaded wrong side of picture

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGQQC...eature=related


.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

here he is and thats the way it was !

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

A classic indeed. He will be sorely missed.

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

We are poorer that he is gone, but richer that he was here. Dick Ullrich FED387

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

One of my hereos for sure. What a loss! Prayers sent.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

This is a very sad sad day. RIP Grump. Drag racing will not be the same without him.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

What a sad day indeed. Next time we get thunder, I'll be thinking that it may be him and Ronnie.... discussing things!!!

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

...Bob Frey write up on Grumpy.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...46833#indextop

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Some more of our pictures.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

My condolences to Mr Jenkins family and his loyal legions of fan. CR

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

R.I.P. Grump - one of my heroes for sure.

Tim

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

Was there anyone more significant to the sport of drag racing than Bill Jenkins?
Rest in peace Grump.

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

So sad,truly an inspiration to all

Kevin

Re: Bill Jenkins
 

I was in the tech line at Indy 75 US nationals waiting my turn. When the line stopped I found myself beside Bill's car. Leaning on the fender of my 4600 lb. Delta 88 I watched as an army of tech officials were pouring over his car , I think it was the Monza. He appeared completely unfazed by all this. Out of the blue he turns to me and says "Biggest damn car I've ever seen with slicks on it, will it turn em" I grinned and asked why all the fuss over his car and he told me they said they found 6 things wrong with it. I said that was a bummer and without cracking a smile he said " No I know of at least 10. First and last thing we ever said to each other. A very smart and innovative man and another hero gone.