Bill "da Grump" Jenkins photo tribute

[Liteweight]

A little story that Dick Landy told me a few years ago .
They ( Dick, Ronnie, Buddy, Don Nicholson,& "da Grump & others) of course, were fierce competitors at the tracks, & because they travelled the same circuit with each other, they spent alot of, away from the track, time together also. I don't remember who, but one of them bought one of those electric road race sets, threw away all the corners, bought more straights, & set up a scaled version of a drag strip in the motel hallways. Everyone had their own cars, & they would line up down the hallway with lawn chairs, have a few beer etc. & drag race these little slot cars. Dick said it was pretty even at first, because all the cars were out of the box, stock, but it didn't take long for everyone to start modifying them to make them faster. A racer will always be a racer!!!!!
Can you envision these guys doing this????. Musta been really neat to watch these grown men who litterly hated each other durring the work day, play together so well after hours.
Thought this would be a fitting place to share that story.

liteweight

[Hemi Moose]

I still remember when Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins set the pro-stock world on it's ***** with this new Vega pro-stocker...it's probably my favorite race car of his.

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Liteweight

A little story that Dick Landy told me a few years ago .
They ( Dick, Ronnie, Buddy, Don Nicholson,& "da Grump & others) of course, were fierce competitors at the tracks, & because they travelled the same circuit with each other, they spent alot of, away from the track, time together also. I don't remember who, but one of them bought one of those electric road race sets, threw away all the corners, bought more straights, & set up a scaled version of a drag strip in the motel hallways. Everyone had their own cars, & they would line up down the hallway with lawn chairs, have a few beer etc. & drag race these little slot cars. Dick said it was pretty even at first, because all the cars were out of the box, stock, but it didn't take long for everyone to start modifying them to make them faster. A racer will always be a racer!!!!!
Can you envision these guys doing this????. Musta been really neat to watch these grown men who litterly hated each other durring the work day, play together so well after hours.
Thought this would be a fitting place to share that story.

liteweight

Great story! Yes, I can envision it, especially after a few cold ones were consumed. Speaking of HO scale drag strips, that's exactly the way I had my Aurora HO set set-up, except it was only 15 ft. long, way back when in the early-1970s.

Someone should start a Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins thread as a tribute to this automotive genius and innovator. There are many memories and stories (like the one above) of the da Grump that should be kept alive and shared with others via this forum.



How 'bout it?

M68

[Hemi Moose]

Maybe just keep this one going already...you can always ask the admin to change the topic title later on to Bill da Grump Jenkins Tribute...

[chris ok]

I do not own rights to any photos I am showing. I hope I do not step on any toes.
But here goes, Da Grump!!!!!!

[chris ok]

Heres a few more. Thank you to those who took the pics, and sent them in the stock/super stock group I am in on yahoo.





R.I.P. Bill Grumpy Jenkins. Hail Hail Chevys Drag Race King!!!!

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

Maybe just keep this one going already...you can always ask the admin to change the topic title later on to Bill da Grump Jenkins Tribute...

Sounds good.



M68

[mopar68]

M68

[mopar68]

Not a bad replica...and for sale too at an not unreasonable price.



More pix here:

http://topnotchvehicles.com/v-web/gallery/album19

M68

[mopar68]

Pro Stock's BEST era, in my humble opinion. Can I get an amen?





M68