RIP Bill. He is right up there with Chevy legends along with Smokey Yunik.
more ambition than brains said
Mar 29, 2012
One of my personalized plates is GRRMPY Two reasons, I am grampa Grumpy, wife is grandma Mumzie and............ Mr Bill Jenkins! What a legacy of speed and cars. Karl
Bungy L-76 said
Mar 30, 2012
Grumpy rockin' the Old Reliable 409!
RIP Bill Jenkins.
Lost in the 60s said
Mar 30, 2012
Sad to see we are getting to the age where our generation of legends are dieing off. When I was at Don Garlits' Museum, his crew man Bob T informed me that Don had recently suffered a mild stroke and was in the hospital for a few days about a month before. It wasn't serious and they cleared a blockage but he is getting up there too.
Grumpy certainly was a legend with the development of the small block. He was one of the first to run a 350 up to 10,000 rpm !! One of his old Monzas is in the DG museum as well as several pictures of his '68 Camaro.
Scott Parkhurst said
Apr 1, 2012
I was fortunate enough to help out on the new book about his cars and career called "Grumpy's Toys". It follows his cars from the fifties to the eighties. Don't forget he played with Mopars for a couple years in the mid sixties too! I got an autographed copy for my efforts, but I'm more happy his story was told and he got to help us make it right before he passed.
bowtie said
Apr 2, 2012
Scott-that was the book you were telling me about at SEMA right?
Scott Parkhurst said
Apr 5, 2012
That's the one Bryan! I didn't expect an autographed copy to come my way, but it did...just a month or so ago.
bowtie said
Apr 5, 2012
That's so cool. If I remember correctly, it was a bit of a struggle to finally get the story out? Luckily it happened when it did.
Scott Parkhurst said
Apr 5, 2012
No, not really a struggle. We wanted to make sure everything was totally accurate, so we let Bill take the time to review everything. He ended up contributing a few more photos and tuning up some of the stories in the book, so it was worth the time. The best part was hearing how he'd reconnected with some folks he hadn't spoken with in decades as a result of the book. He said that was really cool- sharing old memories and trying to remember exactly what happened when. So, in retrospect, the book helped him touch base with a lot of old friends while he was still healthy and energetic before he got sick and passed away. For that, I'm thankful. I'm sure his old friends are too- they got the chance to touch base with him after many years, and now he's gone.
RIP Grumpy...
If you dont know who Grumpy Jenkins is please surrender you Chevy card..
-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Thursday 29th of March 2012 11:15:58 AM
Just read an interesting article about Jenkins in Hot Rod or Super Chevy R.I.P
And the Nova/Chevy II if I remember right.
R.I.P. Grumpy.
RIP Bill. He is right up there with Chevy legends along with Smokey Yunik.
Two reasons, I am grampa Grumpy, wife is grandma Mumzie and............ Mr Bill Jenkins! What a legacy of speed and cars.
Karl
Grumpy rockin' the Old Reliable 409!
RIP Bill Jenkins.
Sad to see we are getting to the age where our generation of legends are dieing off. When I was at Don Garlits' Museum, his crew man Bob T informed me that Don had recently suffered a mild stroke and was in the hospital for a few days about a month before. It wasn't serious and they cleared a blockage but he is getting up there too.
Grumpy certainly was a legend with the development of the small block. He was one of the first to run a 350 up to 10,000 rpm !! One of his old Monzas is in the DG museum as well as several pictures of his '68 Camaro.