Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins dies at 81..... Man, he was one hell'of'a racer
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...ins-dies-at-81
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Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins dies at 81..... Man, he was one hell'of'a racer
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...ins-dies-at-81
Saw him run and win twice, once with the Camaro and once in the bad-ass Vega. To me the golden age of drag racing will always be 1965-1975. There's quite a thread in memorium on the HAMB... somebody posted these two items which pretty much sums it up.
RIP, Mr. Jenkins. :(
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"William Tyler "Grumpy" Jenkins (born 1930) is an engine builder and retired drag racer. Between 1965 and 1975 he won a total of thirteen NHRA drag races. Jenkins raced in the clutchless planetary gear transmission era. Most of these wins were won with a manually shifted four speed transmission. In 1972 he recorded 250 straight runs without missing a gear shift.
He was formally trained as a mechanical engineer at Cornell University, and he used his training and skills to build engines. He has been inducted in numerous motorsports halls of fame for his engine building skills in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock division.
His innovations include drag racing's first kickout oil pans, Pro Stock strut-style front suspension, and dry sump oiling system, and cool cans, electric water pump fan, gas port pistons, and slick-shift manual transmissions. Considered the "Father of Pro Stock", Jenkins-built engines were used to win five NHRA Pro Stock championships and three American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) championships.
He was nicknamed "Grumpy" for having a no-nonsense attitude at races. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America said: "his continual search for improved performance left little time for idle chatter with his racing colleagues."
RIP. Drag racing (and NASCAR) nowadays is boring and homogenized. Back then is when it was really interesting.
Yeah, I saw that yesterday. A true legend of the sport. Saw him race many times in the 70's. Those early ProStockers were the coolest.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...-jenkins-dies/