RIP Bill Jenkins

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins. When I was 11 I got to see "Grumpy's Toy" the 327 powered Pro Stock Vega in which he won the 1972 championship in, beating the Hemi 'Cuda of Sox&Martin.. Jenkins was in town going to a Pro Stock Race, and dropped by to see Dino Fry who worked in the same Chevy Dealership as my dad. Dad called home, and mom drove me over there post haste. "Da Grump" talked to my dad and all the other mechanics there and signed autographs for everyone. He was a very nice guy-He got the nickname "Grumpy" because he was short, and when he drove he always scowled, and some magazine writer said he looked like "Grumpy" of the Snow White and the 7 dwarves fame in a racing helmet-and it stuck. Jenkins started drag racing in the late 1950's. He's most famous for winning the 1963 Winternationals Stock class in the Z11 Impala-a 427 inch prototype of the future "Rat" motor., and the 1970 Pro Stock championship in a stock-bodied Camaro-the last time the title wasn't won by a tube-framed plastic monster. In 1972 he blew everyone away with the V8 Vega. He won more championships in the '70's some- legendary Chevy vs Ford battles with the 351C  powered Pinto of "Dyno Don Nicholson."  After he retired from driving he wrote many articles for magazines like Hot Rod and Car Craft, and built engines for other racers and retail customers. One of his last ventures was building mega-horsepower small and big block Chevy crate engines with Smeding Performance. What made him special to so many racing fans is what made him special to me-no matter how busy he was-he had time to talk to a little boy and his dad and wish us well.  Grumpy, we'll miss you.  Mastermind