Bill Grumpy Jenkins Grumpy's Toy

As most of you know Drag Racing Legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins’ died back in March of this Year. Grumpy Jenkins was in all probability by way the most Innovative Professional Stock Drag Racer of all time! Even additional Innovative than the Professor himself; Warren Johnson! He helped pioneer several innovations within the motorsport creating things such as the kick oil pan, strut front suspension, cool cans, electrical water pump fans, slick shift manual transmissions and his biggest innovation of all was most likely his Gas Ported Pistons.

He was nicknamed Grumpy for his “no nonsense” attitude at the strip and his Mannerisms of perpetually keeping a straight face, invariably wearing shades and Puffing a Cigar whereas creating every single pass.

Jenkins was also known for having quite a hive of cars and every one of them were appropriately  nicknamed “Grumpy’s Toy” though these machines were something but toys. They were the foremost innovative and well engineered machines to stage on the drag strip. The initial Grumpy’s Toy was a 196half dozen Chevy II L-seventy nine that was painted Regal Red and powered by a 327 SBC.

Jenkins raced the Chevy II within the A/Stock class, a class that was dominated by the mighty Mopar HEMI’s back in 1966. Jenkins strongly believe that although he had a smaller engine thanks to his Innovations and his light-weight weight he would have the faster automotive.

Jenkins managed to squeeze out 420 horsepower out of the limited 327 and he used each ounce of it, along along with his lighter automobile to beat the mighty Mopars.The 327 had solid pistons which were gas ported and fitted with Dyke’s Piston rings.

The heads on the little block were milled to allow minimum chamber volume that brought the compression up to 11.6:1. The cylinder heads that Jenkins originally used 461 numbered castings. Grumpy’s Toy used a 550 flat- tappet camshaft with a 108-degree center-line and Crane Rockers.

Fuel and air delivery was inhaled by an Edelbrock high-rise intake manifold and a modified Holley 585-CFM Carb. The exhaust originally was exhaled through a group of Doug Thorley’s Tri-Y headers however  Da Grump later switched to Hooker when they became his first paying sponsor.

All of this power was connected to the famous Muncie M21 four speed transmission. Jenkins shifted the 4 gears using custom Hurst three speed shifter that he had modified himself. Grumpy was known for being excellent at drag racing with a manual that he once made 250 straight passes with out missing a gear! The Chevy II raced with 4.88:1 rear gears.

Jenkins had lots of success with Grumpy’s Toy I he set a record in 196vi by creating a pass of 11.66 that was the fastest pass in Super Stock at the time. Grumpy’s Toy was ready to consecutively flip times within the eleven second vary.

Sadly Grumpy’s Toy I was short when finishing 2nd at the NHRA Nationals in the ultimate round against Jere Stahl where Jenkins lost as a result of he Red Lighted at the beginning, the Chevy II was destroyed in an exceedingly toying accident on the means home from the Nationals.

Crew Member Bruce Tucker passed out while driving the tow rig and caused the Chevy II to crash. The car apart from the drivetrain was totaled (that was salvaged) and Grumpy’s Toy was sent to its final resting place at a Junkyark where it had been recycled once twenty years.

Hank Young's Flying Pan

The Flying Pan has to be one among my favorite Choppers of all time! The bike is built by Hank Young of Young Choppers and it is one of the nicest bikes I have ever seen! When I initial saw the Flying Pan a few years ago on Biker Build Off and i feel in love with the bike at first site.The main reason I feel in love with the bike is its retro look rang a bell in my memory of a vintage aircraft.

When I look at the Flying Pan it makes me think of  the Golden Age of Aviation of the 1920?s and 1930?s. Looking at the bike gives me pictures of the daring barnstormers who lived on the edge simply for the joys and thrills of flying. It makes me suppose of all of the pioneers like Charles Lindbergh, Howard Hughes,Amelia Earhart, and Jimmy Doolittle who pushed the envelope in aircraft innovation and by creating daring flights through out the globe. It makes me suppose of a aircraft that was build to be edgy and daring, nevertheless full of class!

Hank Young's Flying Pan was engineered back in 2003 within the Young Choppers search. Hank likes to create elements from his bikes out of recent automotive elements and therefore the Pan is not any exception to his building style. The Front Frametube is constructed from a Superbell dropped axle from an previous Hot Rod. The rear wheel of the bike is made from a 1932 Ford wheel, Hank extended the wheel size by two inches to fit the motorcycle tire.

The rest of the frame was hand created at Young Choppers and is distinctive as a result of the gastank is secured in side the frame, rather than being on top of it. The front end is a hand made reproduction of a 1930?s Indian Chief Front Finish. The gas tank was hand created by molding the metal around a wood cut out, then the wood was hammered into shape before being welded into a Gas Tank.

What makes this bike, is its tiny details from using a Superbell axle to help give the bike an recent look, using tiny brass elements to help to provide the bike a Retro look and Giving the Bike an Art Deco look with its streamlined shape and Red and Gold paint job.

The Flying Pan looks prefer it ought to be shown off at a 1930?s World Expo. The Flying Pan ought to be shown off on an enormous display at the center stage because the custom bike of the future and be rewarded for its Innovation!

Road Rage Performance’s the Dark Ride

What can I say about Road Rage Performance’s Chopper the Dark Ride? She is a bike that's all vacant bones and chrome free. A bike that was built to be powerful, rugged, however look clean with smooth lines and curves! The Dark Ride was engineered by Road Rage Performance and it's owned by Mike Thornton of Fesno, California. What gives the bike its clean nonetheless rugged look is its Road Rage Performance’s custom Handle bars and gas tank together with the West Coast Choppers CFL frame. As well as its black magic paint job done by Frank.

The Dark Ride is built on a West Coast Choppers CFL Frame, with a 1 of a form hand made Road Rage Performance slope black gas tank, and hand made Road Rage W14 handle bars. The Grips and also the Pegs are each custom designed by Road Rage Performance. The Front end could be a custom engineered Road Rage Springer Front end.

The Dark Ride is powered by a strong Ultima Black a hundred motor, that is connected to a vi speed transmission with a 3 open road rage exp primary to deliver all of the power to the ground. The exhaust is distributed out of the motor by custom West Coast Choppers pipes.

All of this sits on eighteen inch and 21 in. spoke wheels which rolls on Metzeler tires.

The Dark Ride is everything you could want in a very bike, it’s clean, has nice lines, and it is sinister yet easy. It's one of these Bikes that when you first look at it, you know it is a great custom bikes. Its options are nice, I very love the sleek form of the gas tank and therefore the darker additional sinister shape of the handle bars they very blend together well. The Bike extremely could be a peace of design on wheels.