Bill Jenkins

GarysZ24 · 03-31-2012, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Madison

I agree 100% NHRA should honor Bill for his contributions
to Pro Stock and the sport in general .
Mark Madison

I couldn't agree more, and I hope that when the nationals goes to Pennsylvania, they have someone cruise the track with one (or more) of "Grumpy's Toys", as a close to home tribute to one awesome Grump....

l88427 · 03-31-2012, 07:52 AM

had the rare pleasure of spending the day with the grump after rain cancelled the days events at the track,heres a picture taken at my shop with the grump RIP, you will be missed!

BlueOval Ralph · 03-31-2012, 08:29 AM

Don't worry about what NHRA should do to honor him, what about Cheby? After all he did for them Not A Word of Thanks or anything.

Bobby Zlatkin · 03-31-2012, 08:46 AM

The only time I ever saw Jenkins was at a remote dragstrip in central Florida in 1962, at an old airstrip in Valcaria. They were having a super stock meet there and we came up from Miami to watch.

Many big name super stock racers were there. I remember Dan Gay, with his '62 Pontiac and another kid from Dickinson, TX whose dad also owned a dealership, a Plymouth dealership, but I can't remember his name. I just remember that he spun it out at the end of the quarter mile, but nothing got hurt.

Strickler and Jenkins where there with Old Reliable II. That was cool because I had seen the car in so many magazines. At the time, I thought that was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. Still rates right up there on my list.

Anyhow the hood was open so I walked over. There was a bunch of guys around it but an open space right in front. So, that's where I went. I heard a little guy, that I recognized as Jenkins, say to me "Move out of the way kid, you're blocking the air." Everyone was looking and I was so embarassed, I just crawled away.

What he had done was slip the belt off and put a smaller belt between the fan and the generator. Then reverse the polarity of the generator and use it as an electric motor to drive the fan while the car was sitting idle, to cool the engine down. Pretty inovative at the time.

Bobby Zlatkin · 03-31-2012, 08:52 AM

Later, when I heard that he was nicknamed "Grumpy", I understood completely.

BlueOval Ralph · 03-31-2012, 08:58 AM

I use to hang out at Jere Stahls Total gas station in Romulus Mi was there the week he built the four tube headers for the 63 Z-11 when Jere was done they went out made a couple of passes on Northline Road it was about the first week in April of 63 just after Detroit Dragway opened Strickler and Jenkins had a match race there that weekend

03-31-2012, 07:52 AM	#2
l88427 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 62 Likes: 15 Liked 17 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins had the rare pleasure of spending the day with the grump after rain cancelled the days events at the track,heres a picture taken at my shop with the grump RIP, you will be missed! Attached Images

03-31-2012, 08:29 AM	#3
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins Don't worry about what NHRA should do to honor him, what about Cheby? After all he did for them Not A Word of Thanks or anything.

03-31-2012, 08:46 AM	#4
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins The only time I ever saw Jenkins was at a remote dragstrip in central Florida in 1962, at an old airstrip in Valcaria. They were having a super stock meet there and we came up from Miami to watch. Many big name super stock racers were there. I remember Dan Gay, with his '62 Pontiac and another kid from Dickinson, TX whose dad also owned a dealership, a Plymouth dealership, but I can't remember his name. I just remember that he spun it out at the end of the quarter mile, but nothing got hurt. Strickler and Jenkins where there with Old Reliable II. That was cool because I had seen the car in so many magazines. At the time, I thought that was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. Still rates right up there on my list. Anyhow the hood was open so I walked over. There was a bunch of guys around it but an open space right in front. So, that's where I went. I heard a little guy, that I recognized as Jenkins, say to me "Move out of the way kid, you're blocking the air." Everyone was looking and I was so embarassed, I just crawled away. What he had done was slip the belt off and put a smaller belt between the fan and the generator. Then reverse the polarity of the generator and use it as an electric motor to drive the fan while the car was sitting idle, to cool the engine down. Pretty inovative at the time. __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

03-31-2012, 08:52 AM	#5
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins Later, when I heard that he was nicknamed "Grumpy", I understood completely. __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

03-31-2012, 08:58 AM	#6
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bill Jenkins I use to hang out at Jere Stahls Total gas station in Romulus Mi was there the week he built the four tube headers for the 63 Z-11 when Jere was done they went out made a couple of passes on Northline Road it was about the first week in April of 63 just after Detroit Dragway opened Strickler and Jenkins had a match race there that weekend Last edited by BlueOval Ralph; 03-31-2012 at 09:29 AM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode