Grumpy Jenkins

We learned from Brett Kepner while in drag racing school out at Gateway that the 60’ times exist because of Jenkins. They needed a quick way to test & tune out in front of the shop cool………

 

we were in the pits at york and watching jenkins bliping the throtle on the little 350 horse chevy 11.when we asked what he was doing he said he was adjusting the fan belt so he could blip it of on the line and not waste any power turning the alternater during the run.the old bugger liked to bend the rules.

 

My dad always refers to him as "Jiggs" (his first nickname), which was never very popular with Mr. Jenkins- maybe that's why he became "Grumpy".

 

Good stuff shot at Supernationals Ontario Speedway

 

Those guys are my heros... I have an original "Hi-Performance Clinic" banner hanging in my garage. I bought it from Dave Strickler's daughter a few years ago...I guess they used to hold these "clinics" at local Chevy dealerships. From what she told me, only 2 of the original banners exist, she still has the other. Strickler/Jenkins was definitely a legendary combo.

 

In case anyone's interested, here's a few other pieces from my Grumpy Jenkins collection... a couple original NHRA records from 68/69, some old photos, and 2 of Mr. Jenkin's original race shirts, (complete with vintage grease!) These hang on the walls in my house.

 

Seems like I read once that Grumpy was an extra in the original version of the movie "The Blob". Anyone know if this is true?

 

hotrodphotos, I worked with Da Grump for about 3 days. And I too made him laugh, I was kinda proud of myself. He's actually a cool guy and has a lot of stories to tell. Of course, I didn't work for him just with him, this was about 2 months ago. He still smokes those Nasty smelling cigars.

 

"Those guys are my heros... I have an original "Hi-Performance Clinic" banner hanging in my garage."

Here's a photo for you from the first Summernationals at York in 1970.

 

More more more! This guy is up there with Yunick as an original thinker and a determined developer!

 

The Grump was my favorite back then and I still think that was the best time(era) for drag racing. Pro stock cars were just that, similar to Nascar "stock cars". I was always impressed with his Vega, sporting a SBC, and how he would kick hemi ass. His engine building article and books are like gold to the SBC builder. I remember reading an article where Grumpy would tell how he would drill a small hole in the top of the piston into the first ring groove. His reason for this was that it helped the rings expand against the cylinder wall giving them a better seal. I can't remember the exact wording, been about 35+ years, but I'd love to get my hands on that article and/or his book. Good times bro, good times.

 

gas porting

 

I found some BBC heads that have "Bill Grumpy Jenkins" cast in them. Are these worth picking up? I don't have a BBC, but love to collect parts. Not familiar with these heads, but they're not cheap. I would assume they need re-done. What's a safe price on something like that? I know the guy is asking $800.

 

I can't believe someone hasn't scanned & posted the centerfold of him that spoofed the Burt Reynolds "Playgirl" photos! It was in HotRod or CarCraft magazine back in the van/street freak days.

 

I shot these at the '71 Winternationals"





And these in '72:





And this one at Bristol last year:



He still works with some pro stock teams and he's up on starting line taking detailed notes on every run.

 

Back in the late 1960's me and a friend friend was as the somewhat new Englishtown dragstrip on a off night doing time trials.His car was a 66 Chevy 2 327-350.,a stock street car,just slicks.Jenkins was there that night with a similar car only a whole lot fucking faster.So me and my friend wander off to Jenkins to see what he's doing under the hood..I remember his car looking like nothing special,but he was using a Ford coil!! My friend asked him a question about the coil.Grumpy checked us out,then said "It's what's inside that makes it run,the Ford coil is to confuse the competition" I think he even smiled.................

 

A favorite trick of the great ones: give 'em something obvious to "find" and maybe they'll stop looking for the real secrets

 

Here's another, easy for some of you but what was the first car to carry the "Grumpy" logo?

 

I have to say, I have talked with Grumpy a lot in the last few years, his storys are fantastic, you could sit for hours listening to them.

 

is this it??

 

Ok bill had on his 64 mopar "Grumpy" but the car was named the black arrow... does that count??

 

You young guys (under 50, that is - LOL) need to know that Jenkin's first legendary ass-kickin' Chevy wasn't any of the cars mentioned here. It was an East coast '55 called "Monster Mash". Google it for more info.

The little car was so dominant in its class (and stock eliminator) that the owners were eventually "requested" by the NHRA to retire the car from competition. I don't recall hearing that happen to any other racer.

I am fortunate enough to have watched "Grumpy" win the first ever Pro Stock event at Pomona, and also Garlits' "PRA Challange" anti-NHRA" at Tulsa ('72), where he picked up $25K with his killer Vega.

 

The first Grumpy car, 1965. The year after the split with Dave Strickler.

 

Ok I know that one, but did it have "gumpy" anywhere on it?????



I thought you said "that carried the Gumpy logo"??? where is Grumpy on here???

 

On the door below the window. How's that for a delayed response.

 

Not taking anything away from Jemkins; after all, he is a member of "MENSA"; the man is a literal genius.
He could drive, sure, but his real thing was the motors. If you listen to the few videos out there from the late '60's, early '70's, that have sound with them, you'll know why no one was called Mr. Four Speed like Ronnie Sox was. I was watching some a short while ago and couldn't believe how slow Nicholson and Landy were compared to Sox. It is said that when they switched to Lenco's, that all the other drivers improved by half a second. Ronnie Sox lost seven tenths! The man was gifted with a four speed.
Lastly, again, and again not to diminish Grump's accolades, he never owned the Black Arrow, ever. He did build it and drive it a few times, most notably at the '65 Winternationals, which he won. Doc Burgess is the original owner of that car, which Doc bought directly from Bud Faubel at a Pennsylvania Plymouth dealer. It was shipped straight to Grumpy to build. Grumpy and Smokey are two of the greatest engine guys to walk the planet, no matter what brand you like the best. These guys rock!

 

That is so badass. He probably did it all with a cigar in his mouth too.

 

The Dude Rocks

 

My late brother Tony Pizzi was working for Jenkins when he built the Black Arrow. Tony said that the guy who was lettering the car was doing it late one night and Jenkins was not there and he called Jenkins "Grumpy" in the shop, so he had the guy put Grumpy on both doors. Tony had a good relationship with Jenkins, so it stayed on the car. Tony also worked with Jenkins on the 4 speeds. Tony
called the 4 speeds "Crash Boxs" Just some of the things I remember from that era!

Jim Pizzi

 

If that's true, I believe I would have stuck with the 4 speed.
Larry T