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.