Tribute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins

chris3racing · 04-04-2012, 09:30 PM

I just finished listening to the tribute to Bill Jenkins on the Drag Racers Reunion Radio a few minutes ago and there was a story told on that show that I thought I would pass along hear. For the ones hear who knew and raced with Jenkins you will completely relate to this story. To the ones who did not know him you might look under your old race car and be able to relate to this story. All of the players in this story I do not remember all of their names and am not leaving them out intentionally.

There was a manufacturer's show back some 50 years ago which Jenkins, along with many others attended. Following the event Bill and the Owner of a big racing business back in those days found themselves sitting on bars stools in this local establishment. Enjoying a couple of adult beverages and admiring the scenery. Bill says we need to come up with something that we could sell that would make us a lot of money to keep us in good booze and beautiful women. He took out a napkin and started to sketch this long tube of steel. On one end he drew this little cone he called a "snubber". Bill says we use the "J-Bolts" to wrap around the axle and extend out to this plate on the front. When the racer lets out the clutch these J-bolts will lift the front of the car. As the bar closed, Bill friend took the napkin, folded it up and put it in his coat pocket. Some days later as he was taking his coat to the dry cleaners he found that fold napkin. He carried it to work and gave it to the technical people at his business and they built a set of those steel bars and painted them bright yellow. They sent them to Bill Jenkins and he put them on his race car. Those bars from that sketch on a napkin became what everyone in drag racing knows as "Lakewood Traction Bars".

hemidup · 04-05-2012, 02:20 AM

Very interesting story and a great part of drag racing history. RIP Grumpy.

Bob Bender · 04-05-2012, 03:18 AM

Very Cool.............

Walt Reynolds · 04-05-2012, 10:29 AM

I still have my original set!!

Doug Blackley · 04-05-2012, 03:53 PM

Ran those for years, that set went with the 67 Duece I was putting together but ended up selling the roller a few years ago. Amazing the influence he had on all aspects of drag racing.

Ed Wright · 04-05-2012, 09:02 PM

Had a set of those on my '56 Chevy.

04-04-2012, 09:30 PM	#1
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tribute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins I just finished listening to the tribute to Bill Jenkins on the Drag Racers Reunion Radio a few minutes ago and there was a story told on that show that I thought I would pass along hear. For the ones hear who knew and raced with Jenkins you will completely relate to this story. To the ones who did not know him you might look under your old race car and be able to relate to this story. All of the players in this story I do not remember all of their names and am not leaving them out intentionally. There was a manufacturer's show back some 50 years ago which Jenkins, along with many others attended. Following the event Bill and the Owner of a big racing business back in those days found themselves sitting on bars stools in this local establishment. Enjoying a couple of adult beverages and admiring the scenery. Bill says we need to come up with something that we could sell that would make us a lot of money to keep us in good booze and beautiful women. He took out a napkin and started to sketch this long tube of steel. On one end he drew this little cone he called a "snubber". Bill says we use the "J-Bolts" to wrap around the axle and extend out to this plate on the front. When the racer lets out the clutch these J-bolts will lift the front of the car. As the bar closed, Bill friend took the napkin, folded it up and put it in his coat pocket. Some days later as he was taking his coat to the dry cleaners he found that fold napkin. He carried it to work and gave it to the technical people at his business and they built a set of those steel bars and painted them bright yellow. They sent them to Bill Jenkins and he put them on his race car. Those bars from that sketch on a napkin became what everyone in drag racing knows as "Lakewood Traction Bars".

04-05-2012, 02:20 AM	#2
hemidup Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 409 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Tribute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins Very interesting story and a great part of drag racing history. RIP Grumpy. __________________ Jerry Williams NSS/A, E/S, PRO E.T. And the "Grandaddy" of Gen III Hemi Performance...The fire inside me still burn's.

04-05-2012, 03:18 AM	#3
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,733 Likes: 1,599 Liked 459 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Tribute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins Very Cool............. __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

04-05-2012, 10:29 AM	#4
Walt Reynolds Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lucas (Dallas) Texas Posts: 40 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Tribute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins I still have my original set!!

04-05-2012, 03:53 PM	#5
Doug Blackley Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Hanover, MA Posts: 430 Likes: 3 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tribute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins Ran those for years, that set went with the 67 Duece I was putting together but ended up selling the roller a few years ago. Amazing the influence he had on all aspects of drag racing. __________________ Doug Blackley 1697 STK

04-05-2012, 09:02 PM	#6
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Tribute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins Had a set of those on my '56 Chevy. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA