Grumpy Jenkins, RIP   
      
       http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...ns-dead-at-81/   
      
       Chevy man for sure. One of the greatest characters in motorsports.   
      
       >>>NHRA Pro Stock icon Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, a master of the internal   
       >>>combustion engine and a legend among the Chevrolet faithful, died   
       >>>March 29. He was 81.   
      
       Jenkins, voted No. 8 among NHRA Drag Racing's greatest racers in a   
   2001 experts poll, scored just 13 NHRA national event wins but earned his   
   well-deserved spot in drag racing's top 10 because no other individual has   
   contributed more to the advancement of normally aspirated engines for drag   
   racing competition than the legendary "Grump."   
      
       "Everyone at NHRA is saddened by the passing of Bill `Grumpy' Jenkins,   
   not only a pioneer in the sport, but also an iconic figure in NHRA Pro   
   Stock racing," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "He was there from the   
   beginning, playing an integral role in the formation of Pro Stock and   
   remained involved in NHRA for decades. His presence and trademark gruff   
   exterior and cigar will be missed but never forgotten at the starting line   
   at NHRA Full Throttle events."   
      
       Jenkins always took greater pride in his mechanical achievements than   
   in his driving. Among his innovations are drag racing's first dry-sump   
   oiling system, the first kickout oil pans and Pro Stock strut-style front   
   suspension, and gas port pistons, slick-shift manual transmissions, cool   
   cans, and the electric water-pump fan.   
      
       Jenkins earned many honors, including induction into the Don Garlits   
   International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 1993, the Motorsports Hall of   
   Fame in Novi, Mich., in 1996, and the International Motorsports Hall of   
   Fame in 2008. He was one of the more prolific honorees in Car Craft   
   Magazine All-star Drag Racing Team balloting since winning three   
   individual titles at the inaugural banquet in 1967.   
      
       On making NHRA's top 10, Jenkins briefly shed his gruff exterior in   
   2001 to say, "Since it seemed that the balloting was heavily weighted   
   toward the more contemporary drivers and I haven't driven in 20 years, I   
   was gratified to make it high on the list. Having so many of the people   
   I've worked with show up at my [70th birthday] party in January meant a   
   lot to me. I've always had a lot of personal satisfaction from the   
   mechanical end of the sport."   
      
      
      
      
                   R\%/itt   
      
      
     ... Only those who will risk going too far can possibly   
     ... find out how far one can go ~ TS Eliot   
      
      
   --- Twit(t) Filter v2.1 (C) 2000-10   
    * Origin: Roiz Flying \A/ Service * South Texas * USA * (1:387/22)