Bill Jenkins

[Dan Fahey]

Bill Jenkins was to Drag Racing

Like

Smokey Yurnick was to Roundy Round

Both brilliant aggressive competitors..

[Dan Lattimore]

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.

[Geerhead55]

Originally Posted by Dan Lattimore

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.

Great story,, Dan. My condolences to the Jenkins family,,, he was truly loved and will be sorely missed. We need to appreciate our older heroes while they're still with us, so don't pass up a chance if it comes your way. Godspeed Bill,, all the way to the finish line.
Danny Durham

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

First I heard of this... MAN, time goes by, we all get older. To me, his incredible ability, innovations earn immortality here on earth. I have, and will coninue to refer to him as the master of the naturally aspirated Chevrolet engine.
RIP, MR. Jenkins.

[Carguy49]

Originally Posted by Geerhead55

Great story,, Dan. My condolences to the Jenkins family,,, he was truly loved and will be sorely missed. We need to appreciate our older heroes while they're still with us, so don't pass up a chance if it comes your way. Godspeed Bill,, all the way to the finish line.
Danny Durham

Good point Danny. Yesterday I visited with Pete Kost and had him sign the photos of his Pro Stock car from the 70's. They are in the book "Pro Stock Drag Racing of the 70's Photo Archive" by Howard V. Koby. During our visit, which lasted about 2 hours, we discussed some of the greats during that era. He mentioned Jenkins, Glidden, Landy, Wally Booth and many, many more. Ever time I see him and Dino at the track it takes me back to a wonderful time in drag racing. I, sometimes, wish I was a little older to have experienced that era first hand. I am only 62, but do remember much from that time. Anyway, we will all move forward with memories from photos, books or videos of the Great Days of Drag Racing.

[Northrop]

RIP Grump

My family got to know Bill well through the last 15 years or so. Jenkins competition built my brother Dave's Comp and Pro Stock engines. He took a liking to my brother Dave and always gave us all he had engine wise. When Grump came to the track with us I was always astonished at the amount of fan support this man had. People would pack the rope and stand there for hours and await Bill to appear from the trailer! And when he did, they would often say " HEY GRUMP”…. do you remember when, or I saw you do this, or just try to get an autograph from him. Most of the time he would just mumble “bahhhh” and go on his way! He would get on that red scooter and buzz right thru the crowd often times hitting people on the way. We laughed every time! Grump was short on words, especially if you didn't have anything intelligent to say. There was no time for small talk with Grump on race day. But on occasion when he was feeling good you could get him to talk about the past. He used to tell us some crazy stories about road side break downs and the hillbilly tracks he raced at. We tried to squeeze out of him what went on at night, but he kept those stories a secret. I used to cook him hamburgers and hot dogs and always had to make sure there was cold beers in the cooler for him. If I didn’t cook his burger perfectly burnt on the outside and dead pink on the inside, he would fire it back and let me know about it…. Bahhhhhhh its not done right, make another one kid ! So I would cook another one and try it again.

We often took my SG Vega along in the same trailer with my bros cars. One time I told Grump I had a carb stumble and asked what he thought. As he usually did to me, he didn’t say anything and just kept going about his business! I just thought to myself.. whatever you Grumpy old man! Well the next day while I am warming up my car he comes over (with stogie in mouth) leans in and grabs the throttle and zings it to about 7,000 grand ! I was cracking up. He tells me to shut it off and says “Bahhhh.. the effin pump cam is wrong!” And he stumbled off without saying another word ! That’s how he was, you just never knew what to expect.

Grump is a legend in our sport and had a huge influence on a lot of people on a lot of different things. He will be missed by all. See you another day Bill

Sincerely,

Dan Northrop and the whole Northrop clan

[Jim Cimarolli]

Enjoyed all of the 'Memories of Grumpy' posts, as long as we have those memories people never die. This has got to be one of the biggest losses ever in racing.

[Randall Klein]

Reading these "special moments" are great; I have been reluctant to throw in our interactions with Grumpy, but reading the others are nice, so here goes:

In the staging lanes at Topeka with the Nomad (265-2 4's) Bill goes wheeling by on his scooter as Pros were under the tower, he about flips as he turns around, looks into the engine bay, and says that plenum is all wrong...my partner Ron asks if he could make one better, Grump says could I? or would I?

Don't rush me, and I'll mess around with something....send me your measurements, especially from the Chinese mark (what?) Not wanting to look stupid, we didn't ask

I called Jake about February to check on status (and cost!)...Jake said, yeah he's been tinkering on something in the back

Later we asked him to make one for the '57 we put together....he said how about the old Vega one, I'll modify it...if it don't work, I'll make another

He caught up with us at Topeka again, came over to out pit, Ron was working on the WCFB's, Bill took the floats and drew some lines on them....make 'em smaller so carb holds more fuel...it might work, then again it might not...worth a try

He asked if we ever thought about fuel injection, Ron said it don't flow enough: "it will when I get done with it"....we never did

Once, late at night, second round at Dallas he's asking how its going...heck engines were running, he had a cigar and had enjoyed a couple, I was so embarrassed I couldn't understand a word

At Joliet during first round of Jeg's AllStars, he was with Ron watching...at that time we were leaving at 6600 on the brake (with a blinder)....he walks back with Ron and said: leaning on 'em kinda hard aren't 'ya?

A few years ago we headed to Maple Grove for the Dutch, and took a half day to go over to his shop...heck I had a GPS and still got lost, we finally noticed the garage door half open and noticed some engines...went in and talked with Jake, then Bill came out of the office....I got one picture (posted in Ron Taylor photo gallery), I was too scared to asked for a second....he's got our car photos hanging on the wall...what a great feeling

Never in a million years, drooling over Hot Rod and Car Craft mags in the '60's did I ever imagine meeting the guy....

Gracious, kind and straightforward....great memories

The night at Mickey's Landing in Topeka will have to wait.......

Randall Klein
Ron Taylor
(I think Grump's pic with Ron is in the gallery 5 or 6 pages in if interested)