Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins at the '68 NHRA Nationals

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  • Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
  • Excerpts of Jenkins taken from "NHRA National Drags" (1968)
    Credit goes to Bee-On Video.
    beeonvideo.home...
    Video edit and enchancement by one-headlight@live.ca
  • Авто/МотоАвто/Мото

Комментарии • 1,1 тыс.

  • @riceski
    @riceski 12 лет назад +564

    No Fire suit - no fire shoes - no fire extinguisher - no face shield - and SMOKING A STOGIE - and this is in the Pro ranks - God to love it. RIP GRUMPY

    • @carolusrex6171
      @carolusrex6171 4 года назад +13

      Gary Rice ... those were the days!

    • @zacharyradford5552
      @zacharyradford5552 4 года назад +5

      Back when men were men and the cars were shit.

    • @ayebee1207
      @ayebee1207 4 года назад +3

      Gary Rice;
      I know we are watching 1/4 mile legend, Bill Jenkins. However I still cringe from seeing F1 Racer Nicki Lauda's Fiery wreck.
      I have extingushed 3 vehicle fires myself.
      Fuel fed fires go out of control in seconds.
      I smoke too. Nasty habit.

    • @ayebee1207
      @ayebee1207 4 года назад

      @Dave Micolichek Ashley Force should slap him. Funny Car Princess.

    • @Harlanmote
      @Harlanmote 3 года назад +11

      No seat belts either.

  • @ncsharkman
    @ncsharkman 10 лет назад +661

    One of the best and smartest drivers and engine builders of all time! I was married on june 8yh 1974 and my wife and I went to the spring nationals on our honeymoon. We had our room right over "Grumpy" and I watched him rebuild a transmission on the tail gate of a truck right below our room. He conradulated us on our marriage and even gave me a beer as he worked on his car. a real nice guy!

    • @5807141
      @5807141 9 лет назад +17

      Great story for sure Sharkman

    • @jimmy67RS
      @jimmy67RS 6 лет назад +7

      very cool !!

    • @aaronzack14
      @aaronzack14 6 лет назад +4

      TONIGHT! On That DIDNT fucking happen, we have this bitch.

    • @drippinglass
      @drippinglass 6 лет назад +1

      Wow!

    • @bbc454nos
      @bbc454nos 6 лет назад +12

      Best of luck to you and your sister

  • @robertvc4716
    @robertvc4716 4 года назад +96

    Real men raw horsepower no computer or electronics the good old days!, RIP Grump!

    • @lollipop84858
      @lollipop84858 Месяц назад

      You understand computers give people more HP nowadays right?

  • @DoubleVisionandco
    @DoubleVisionandco 11 лет назад +259

    The Grump shows us how power shifting is done.
    RIP Bill Jenkins.

    • @andrewmattson9622
      @andrewmattson9622 5 лет назад

      Well said.

    • @allanpolk2681
      @allanpolk2681 4 года назад +3

      Yes sir , could use this film of Grumpy as a clinic for power shifting.
      Cleetus McFarland needs to pattern his driving after Grumpy. He could probably shave almost a second off of his times.
      He doesn’t power shift at all.

    • @scottyjones27
      @scottyjones27 4 года назад +2

      That's NO stock transmission ! Regular factory trans would bust wide open hitting just second gear like old grumpy , did factory trans would not hold long enough to slam third ! Oh how I would love to drivem and shiftem that way and never worry about busting up ur car u had to drive to work on Monday ! Even road racers need car fast out of the curves !

    • @charlestooraen2210
      @charlestooraen2210 3 года назад +9

      @@scottyjones27 old school muncies shift like that from the factory. Usually just need a hurst shifter. I have power shifted many stock transmissions with good results. For the occasional street race it's fine. Usually the clutch takes shit first. However for dedicated race use I would certainly update the internals.

    • @Hot80s
      @Hot80s 3 года назад +1

      *Ronnie Sox

  • @ImTHATguy...
    @ImTHATguy... 4 года назад +114

    He's towing his Camaro with like a '67 Pontiac Catalina. That's how shit was done back then. 😎

    • @coleboonecustoms
      @coleboonecustoms 3 года назад +13

      MUCH more comfy than driving 14 hrs in a C10 :)

    • @denisrose9207
      @denisrose9207 3 года назад +8

      Of course! Pontiacs were used to seeing the Chevys in the rearview!! HAHA

    • @mikefleek9259
      @mikefleek9259 3 года назад +2

      Hey my first $75 car was a catalina.400 cubic inches. She would haul the mail....

    • @davidkeeton6716
      @davidkeeton6716 2 года назад +3

      Now people have to have a 30ft enclosed air conditioned trailer for a car that they don't work on between rounds. Gotta have a bed and TV to keep the kids entertained and keep the wife, if she's even there, from getting the least bit hot, or cold as the evening goes on.

  • @jimhuskey3343
    @jimhuskey3343 5 лет назад +428

    Was everything just way cooler back then or does it just seem that way to me LOL

    • @70stunes71
      @70stunes71 5 лет назад +48

      Jim Huskey yeah buddy. Even though it's great to have social media to keep in touch with my kids watch the grandkids grow through photos and videos, those magic days back then oh wow. I was driving a six-pack Mopar to high school back in the 70s LOL. Yeah I miss the people back then. Things sure have changed

    • @70stunes71
      @70stunes71 5 лет назад +24

      Jim Huskey honestly people were so different. Most of America, had the same Carefree spirit through the 70s. Just seemed like everything was so relaxed even though we worked really hard on farms and factories... It was time for our cars. Today expense keeps a lot of interest away from it. When I go to the drag races here in Southern Michigan, I don't see so many people in the stands anymore. It's a different world for sure. But the top three are making their brands of street cars and drag cars again. So for the Future Days it won't be because the cars are not there, it will be because of a lack of interest if the sport dies. Hopefully youth will turn back to it, and keep those memories moving :-)

    • @ezrabrooks7785
      @ezrabrooks7785 5 лет назад +24

      Way cooler

    • @5000rgb
      @5000rgb 5 лет назад +17

      The cameramen, announcers, and editors were top notch.

    • @slimwilly573
      @slimwilly573 4 года назад +8

      @@70stunes71 I like how you spoke those words, drag racing, any type of racing will never die. As long as you have young men and a little power u will always have some type of racing going on period, it's all in the rush you get from your body being stuck to the seat, the rest of your life your left chasing that rush trust me I'm only 30 and been driving illegally since I was around 7yrs old, now as a father of two young boys who just like me are addicted already to speed and the rush, I've had to slow down to make sure they can enjoy moments with me I now build/work on cell towers and the rush I get from being up top with me myself and God is alot like the rush I used to get in my younger days.. racing will never die out, but what they are racing could always change......

  • @Ken19700
    @Ken19700 9 лет назад +107

    This needs to be a movie.

    • @AllAmericanBeaner68
      @AllAmericanBeaner68 8 лет назад +6

      I completely agree.

    • @kurtpoblenz2741
      @kurtpoblenz2741 5 лет назад +5

      Definitely. You could call it "how the Chrysler hemi handed me my ass". Grumpys camaros were not very successful in pro stock against the mopars , especially sox. From 69 - 71 Chrysler/sox& Martin OWNED the class!

    • @zeroonezerozero5397
      @zeroonezerozero5397 4 года назад +3

      @@kurtpoblenz2741 I heard he was beating those hemis with a 331 chevy ?

    • @kurtpoblenz2741
      @kurtpoblenz2741 4 года назад +3

      Little Joe ..... you heard wrong 😂😂😂😂. The only thing that beat the Hemi, was the rule book. It wasn't until 1972 , after the nhra added weight to only the Hemi cars & not the chevys that grumpy started winning.

    • @zeroonezerozero5397
      @zeroonezerozero5397 4 года назад +2

      @@kurtpoblenz2741 So why does he beat the hemis with his 396 chevy ???

  • @guinness138
    @guinness138 8 лет назад +118

    Man, I could sit and listen to him run through the gears in this clip for hours!

    • @kevintucker3354
      @kevintucker3354 5 лет назад +6

      I replayed some of this video 10 times at least, wandering around the house trying to get anyone to watch it.

    • @garysala5441
      @garysala5441 4 года назад +3

      Know whatcha mean...music to my ears!

  • @melsurbrook3223
    @melsurbrook3223 7 лет назад +147

    Had the Honor of working with Grump years ago. The company I worked for made gaskets (not felpro) and I designed and fabricated several for him for his big block engines. Previously he used a copper gasket and a wire ring around the bore. The ones I made for him was a spin-off from a my gasket design used in NASCAR. I have one of the BB gaskets mounted in a frame with a testimonial letter from Bill. He ran the gasket on 1400 HP engine with no wire rings. I had a hard time convincing him to try a set that way but he was convinced after one set. He said there was no combustion leakage.

    • @tubefluid
      @tubefluid 5 лет назад +4

      Good for you, Mel!

    • @OldGriz708
      @OldGriz708 5 лет назад +2

      Was that with Mr. Gasket?

    • @kevintucker3354
      @kevintucker3354 5 лет назад

      Old Griz
      Doubtful.

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад +6

      @@kevintucker3354 look at the stickers on the car ,buddy,MR GASKET

    • @whatyoumakeofit6635
      @whatyoumakeofit6635 5 лет назад +2

      @@OldGriz708 I think in the comment he posted "a my gasket" but he meant Mr.Gasket.

  • @richbader332
    @richbader332 3 года назад +50

    My father raced back in the late 50's and early 60's. He raced a 1957 Pontiac Thunder Chief and he beat Grumpy at Lancaster dragway in PA. Grumpy argued with the officials. They told him "get over it Bill you lost". Miss you Dad.

  • @BigBoyO56
    @BigBoyO56 11 лет назад +116

    Sitting in there slamming gears and puffing out smoke on a cigar while kicking the other guys ass in the other lane?
    -Gangster.

  • @gmfw9777
    @gmfw9777 3 года назад +19

    Flappin' his elbow before 2nd to 3rd!! Gettin'after it till it's GOT

  • @OldGriz708
    @OldGriz708 5 лет назад +33

    I had the privilege to talk to Bill twice in my life. Everyone said what a prick he was to his fans, bullshit. I asked him a question about which block he used for his builds at the time. He waved me over and we talked for a good 5 minutes or so. Well, he talked and wrenched and I watched and learned.

  • @davescbradiorepair8195
    @davescbradiorepair8195 6 лет назад +101

    Sure miss him and the 10 time pro stock champ Bob Glidden. RIP to both

    • @jimmyharrison1817
      @jimmyharrison1817 5 лет назад +5

      Miss them & Ronnie Sox too , Ronnie was from my home town.

    • @strattuner
      @strattuner 5 лет назад +1

      BOB AND GRUMP were two incredible genius engine builders,BOB surprised the world in 1978 when he made a LA mopar wind 9200 rpm every shift to win the pro stock championship with our punkest engine,rip to both of these giant men

    • @jamesanderton344
      @jamesanderton344 5 лет назад +2

      Glidden ran some four doors as I recall....Fords

    • @leonardbreau8928
      @leonardbreau8928 4 года назад

      @@strattuner ..

    • @skins2181
      @skins2181 3 года назад +2

      I miss all the legends--Lee Shepard, Dyno Don Nicholson, Ronnie Sox. Not looking forward to the next few years when we'll start to lose guys like Pat Musi, Warren Johnson, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta, and the GOAT Don Garlits.

  • @matt68396
    @matt68396 9 лет назад +156

    Hit fourth and take a drag off the cigar. Real man!!!

    • @MrTheHillfolk
      @MrTheHillfolk 5 лет назад +12

      I like the little elbow wind up on the 2-3 shift

    • @wdsracer
      @wdsracer 4 года назад +9

      David H. They would have thrown your snowflake ass out of the pits back then.

    • @MrTheHillfolk
      @MrTheHillfolk 4 года назад +2

      @Dave Micolichek here's the swing and the pitch .....and it's 3rd gear folks he's really moving now !!

  • @partshoard72
    @partshoard72 Год назад +4

    love the fact that Grumpy ordered a 1968 L79 350 horse 327 Nova and then proceeded to stuff a wildly modified 396 in it

  • @1970chevelle71
    @1970chevelle71 3 года назад +15

    Sends chills to me every-time I watch this, was certainly way cooler back then. I love the rhythm and perfect timing of the 2-3 shift at 6.00.

  • @JoshBishop_Gat0r1
    @JoshBishop_Gat0r1 8 лет назад +34

    5:45 is the best part when he's going through gears..... in car camera footage is awesome

  • @andykgalbraithjr.8516
    @andykgalbraithjr.8516 5 лет назад +13

    Grumpy drives, explains racing, and wrenches almost exactly like my old man it’s so awesome. My pops always has been a drag racer long before i was born. I remember being 4 or 5 years old and going for rides in his 71 El Camino SS 4 speed drag car I couldn’t even see over the dashboard but those are by far my best childhood memories listening to him powershift that 11 second A-body’s M21 @7K rpm while being put into the seat by the acceleration. But the reason he reminds me of Grumpy is He’s also i guess a perfectionist when it comes to building and driving hotrods. He taught me everything I know about building drag cars and building motors. Grumpy Jenkins was my sports hero I looked up to as long as I can remember. But my dad is the most awesome man I know of for letting me grow up around hotrods and drag racing. I honestly LIVE for my Chevelle. Every day no matter what is happening or how I am feeling I always spend 100% of my free time doing something on my Chevelle. I’ve never taken any of my vehicles to a shop because I have successfully done the work myself all thanks to my old man. I wouldn’t want any different of a life. Nothing is better than the hotrod life. For me anyway.

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад +1

      Your post almost made me tear up,,my dad was an aircraft mechanic in the air force, he taught me EVERYTHING he knew, my memories are very similar, but it was in a 67 Buick GS400,4 speed,,

    • @trentlothringer2867
      @trentlothringer2867 4 года назад +2

      Nothing like Pop, I miss mine

    • @SuperAmin1950
      @SuperAmin1950 2 года назад +1

      I'm really disappointed in today's, so-called, American youth; I just retired from staff at an American college, and not one of the dudes I met knew how to build horsepower, do an oil change, nor even what a spark-plug was about; that really suks bawls!☆¡

  • @TheGeil8500
    @TheGeil8500 5 лет назад +21

    Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins was awesome during his time. I wasn't a real Chevy fan but he brought Chevy out of the dark and into the future during his time of racing. I especially loved him in the early 1970's with his V8 monster vega's.

  • @KeatonVoirol
    @KeatonVoirol 5 лет назад +23

    Even the trailer had super stock cragar mags. Good choices by a great racer.

    • @davelowets
      @davelowets Год назад

      Lol, there wasnt much else to chose from back then..

  • @virianbouze8438
    @virianbouze8438 6 лет назад +46

    This man is one of the smartest racers i have ever met!!! Ronny Sox, another one of the best. I had a chance to run a race against Ronny, in a race where i was ruining a American motors Rambler, we crossed the finish line, looking at each other, he won by a bumper bolt!! Dick Landy, Made those Dodges, Run "Like-A-Scared- Cheetah"!! All of these men were excellent, in their Drag Racing! I did learn a lot from all of them. they were very instrumental in relaying information that helped me win the Winter Nationals at Pomona California. in the Gas Sedan class i won!! You really learn a lot, When you meet Smart people, who like what they do all the time, and it is fun!!!!

    • @70stunes71
      @70stunes71 5 лет назад +1

      Virian Bouze oh yeah so many great memories back then. I've always been a die-hard Mopar guy but grumpy was the real deal and he gave a lot of competition plenty of fear. Those were the magic days and I sure miss the 70s.

    • @ezrabrooks7785
      @ezrabrooks7785 5 лет назад

      TV Tommy ivo
      Parnell I Jones
      Snake and mongoose
      Micky Thompson

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад

      @@ezrabrooks7785 nice list,how bout ol AJ,or the greatest American driver of all,,,Dale sr.

    • @roninkraut6873
      @roninkraut6873 5 лет назад +2

      tragic life
      No offense but I would put a few drivers ahead of Dale as the greatest. Petty being one of them but also David Pearson being up there too.

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад +1

      @@roninkraut6873 no offence,all good,Pearson, no doubt, and no offense to petty ,God knows we love him BUT, it took RP 200 wins to get 7 season, s,,only tock Dale 83,not to mention a lot of RP's wins were during largely uncontested hemi years in the 60s,also with fewr wins that means Dale was top 5 WAY more of the time,,bet hey jmo, all racing is good huh?

  • @beer1for2break3fast4
    @beer1for2break3fast4 3 года назад +9

    Simpler times. Wish I could go back.

  • @letsride2057
    @letsride2057 7 дней назад +1

    Back in 76 I did not know of Bill Jenkins or much about pro racers for I did my racing on the street with a ex bracket 68 Z28 that two brothers bought, no consoles, no hidy lights no extra weight. They broke the motor. The motor was not salvageable and they went and bought a 70Z again as a bracket racer. The shop that they used was my friends who bought the 68, sourced a 70 LT1 and modified it. More compression, cam, head work, etc. I bought it from them for $2500.
    Watching Bill shift brought back memories for that is how I shifted it. 7,050 rpm all day and night. One tough car and motor

  • @joemama698
    @joemama698 9 лет назад +49

    4 speed shifting class starts at 6:00...:)

  • @rickilynnwolfe8357
    @rickilynnwolfe8357 3 года назад +2

    The 70s and 80s were the best time of my life . My boyfriend / husband to be was into our 66 Chevy Nova . We spent our weekends working on the motor or polishing the mags it was power and beauty and pride . Later in the 80s when he bought me my 67 Chevy Nova that ran on cam and was showroom I thought I had everything and wished I could drive like the legend Jenkins . I miss the 70s and 80s and just good clean fun and the power of the motor you build just for fun .

  • @GuitarGuys7299
    @GuitarGuys7299 9 лет назад +36

    It's cool to see some of the pioneers of drag racing. Thanks for posting this.

  • @meccabrophy2917
    @meccabrophy2917 9 лет назад +46

    This is awesome i watch this all the time shifting and smoking a seagar that's old school at its best

  • @JS-qw8hy
    @JS-qw8hy 5 лет назад +20

    I was there and still remember the day.

  • @mikebreedlove6663
    @mikebreedlove6663 7 лет назад +16

    he is one of the best drag racers that NHRA history ever was he was always a gentleman and a true legend of the sport of drag racing and to me he will always be a winner to everyone who drag races Rip bill grumpy Jenkins wish you were back

  • @thomasstark5381
    @thomasstark5381 3 года назад +9

    One of the best builders and drivers of all time !

  • @TheGeonam
    @TheGeonam 6 лет назад +8

    Back in the haye day of drag racing there were two identical twin brothers from a little town of Russel, Illinois ( it is so small if you blink driving through you could miss it ). They were drag racing brothers who beat Dick Landy 2 out of 3 runs at Great Lakes Drag Strip in Union Groove, Wi. They raced all over the mid west and the south up until about ten years ago. Bob and Fred Ghillings. Fred died about five years ago but to this day us old guys ( 75 yrs old ) will continue to tell stories about Bob and Fred until us old guys are gone and we are fading fast.

  • @Imnotyourdoormat
    @Imnotyourdoormat 5 лет назад +6

    hearing the revs come up at the line, and then hearing that 396s rpm fall....it briefly labors, and then climbs back up strong when "da grump" sidesteps the clutch at the 6-minute marker...has got to be the best sound there is.....

  • @davebruton5731
    @davebruton5731 4 года назад +4

    I got to meet Bill through a guy I worked with . He and Bill were friends for years . In the nineties Bill would stop by and pay him a visit and always in his Blue 66 Nova . He was a Legend in my eyes !

  • @randyvinson7928
    @randyvinson7928 6 лет назад +415

    smoking a cigar why pulling gears! no snowflake here.

    • @genedandy
      @genedandy 6 лет назад +10

      Randy Vinson 😮 that’s what you call some serious multi-tasking there. Lots of mojo there as well.

    • @coydog7902
      @coydog7902 5 лет назад +7

      What a legend!

    • @jacobwood9227
      @jacobwood9227 5 лет назад +2

      One of my family members race back then when he raced he said he never did like him lol cuz sbc cloud only run 2 barrel and the big block mopar ran 4 he said the big blocks would be running him down on top end

    • @elwessfrank
      @elwessfrank 5 лет назад +1

      An air bag would've sucked though lol.

    • @garymarquett7989
      @garymarquett7989 5 лет назад +17

      Back when men were men and sheep were nervous

  • @billhayward2668
    @billhayward2668 3 года назад +6

    What a story his life was,us Chevy guys were glad to have him!

  • @tideivlife1
    @tideivlife1 7 лет назад +5

    If you told Grumpy Jenkins in '68 that in 50 years you would be able to walk into a dealership and buy a street car that would beat these cars in the quarter he probably would've said...." It wouldn't surprise me at all". Great video of these pioneers!

  • @alanparks7919
    @alanparks7919 Год назад +2

    Man, does this bring back memories! I grew up in the town beside Berwyn, PA, and my brother and I had an Olds 442 and tinkered with it a lot. Once we found Mr. Jenkin’s garage, we went to it a number of times. He usually lived up to his “Grumpy” name. But every once in a while he’d throw a couple of kids some advice. For us, we’d finally made it when he grudgingly allowed us to watch him work on his latest “Toy”. But then, he’d always say “Okay, that’s enough, kids. Now beat it.” A brilliant character.

  • @canusakommando9692
    @canusakommando9692 7 лет назад +19

    Grumpy is one Kool Dude!
    Grumpy vs Sox and Martin are legends in NHRA Super Stock racing!
    Thanks for this awesome upload!!

  • @250-25x
    @250-25x 5 лет назад +2

    As a favor to the guys at K&G, and because Mr. Jenkins liked my 65 Chevy II, he had one of his guys help me tune my dual quad set up back in the day...1985. I won the High School nationals that year at Maple Grove!. Thanks Grumpy, and Mike! G>

  • @belair55zz56
    @belair55zz56 11 лет назад +22

    RIP Bill Jenkins, thanks for all the memories........

  • @wellsandsonfloorcarewells7079
    @wellsandsonfloorcarewells7079 2 года назад +3

    I grew up as a kid looking up to these guys and wanted to be like them

  • @johnhughes9019
    @johnhughes9019 10 лет назад +24

    I'm a life long MoPar fan ; but the prosaic truth is that I like all of 'the greats' from the 'big 4' . Jenkins was the greatest ! His innovations and inventions are among the finest ; the "Slick-Shift" manual transmission was used by Chrysler for the 1968 Hurst-Hemi SS Dart and Barracuda , and ostensibly by the premiere racers (Landy , Sox , et al.) .
    My fave 'Grumpy's Toy' was the '67 SS/C Camaro , '68 SS/D Chevy II L-78 , and 1972 Pro Stock Vega .

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад +3

      It was the Vega for me,331 smallblock killed all the hemis and ferds

    • @johngatling4040
      @johngatling4040 4 года назад +2

      I seen a lot of races, but the one that stands out is when Grump beat that Hemi Colt straight up, and took home all the marbles. Raceway Park went wild.

  • @easygoing2479
    @easygoing2479 4 года назад +3

    I love watching at 5:56 … staged, looking at his tach as he gets his revs up - all the while tuning his 'ears' to his rpms and chomping that cigar. In the run, he only glanced down and to the right at that tach during his 3rd gear pull, and was probably making sure his ears were still calibrated to the revs. THAT was drag racing at its finest. Grump was the face of Chevy at the dragstrip. Grumpy, Sox and Martin, Dick Landy; wow, those were the days in drag racing - and the best days to be a shade-tree mechanic.

  • @MrDevilmaycare
    @MrDevilmaycare 6 лет назад +11

    Cragar S/S're really amazing!!!

  • @timsharpe3498
    @timsharpe3498 5 лет назад +39

    My favorite Grumpy story was when everyone in the class was breaking valve train parts except Bill Jenkins. They were all blown away when they finally discovered his high tech secret. They were all using gear drives and Bill was using a stock Chevrolet nylon timing set that absorbed most of the engine harmonics and kept them from being induced into the valve train.

  • @anthonynelson9136
    @anthonynelson9136 5 лет назад +12

    In the early seventies when Grump was winning with his small block powered Vega the other competitors with big blocks complained that his motor was to small.

    • @kevinshiley9061
      @kevinshiley9061 3 года назад

      A friend had that car for many years. Had it sitting at his service station in PA. I wish I had bought it from him!!

  • @16pennynails
    @16pennynails 3 года назад +3

    Little white Camaro sure sounds strong! Absolutely kicks like a mule off the line when Jenkins launches. I had to watch that a few times....his first race. I take it with him claiming 375 horsepower from the factory this is an L78 396 car, now making over 500 in race trim. From a different time, hasnt been like that in decades.

  • @ScottHillsmusclecargarage
    @ScottHillsmusclecargarage 9 лет назад +37

    What a great video. That's what you call old school dragracing!

  • @2vintage68
    @2vintage68 12 лет назад +3

    One of the best videos I have ever seen on 60;s drag racing. The in-car shot of Bill driving is incredible. He is a real legend, no doubt about it. Thanks for posting this.

  • @MrUltraworld
    @MrUltraworld 8 лет назад +6

    When I was a little kid (approx.1969), I saw him racing his Vega against the Sox & Martin at the New York National Speedway in Long Island NY. The Top Fuel cars scared the hell out of me.

  • @stevefowler2112
    @stevefowler2112 7 лет назад +17

    Cornell University, College of Engineering...that's impressive...for those that aren't aware, Cornell is in the Ivy League and, especially back in the 50's/60's, was one of America's best Engineering Colleges ( a multi degreed Engineer who works for America's largest defense contractor, and car guy.

  • @craigewen2878
    @craigewen2878 3 года назад +6

    Legend .RIP Bill Jenkins

  • @georgeperillo6421
    @georgeperillo6421 Год назад +2

    Thanks for posting this video. Grumpy (Bill) Jenkins is my childhood drag racing hero.

  • @shitbox7413
    @shitbox7413 5 лет назад +8

    Nothing more badass than this! 🤘

  • @MS-Patriot2
    @MS-Patriot2 6 лет назад +2

    At six minutes in... I’m loving the cigar and the elbow shimmy on the “real” shifting from 2nd to 3rd. Great clip, thanks for sharing.

  • @stelthy100
    @stelthy100 5 лет назад +18

    It’s a shame that time marches on watching these guys race was some of the best times of my life.

    • @billsstuff6176
      @billsstuff6176 4 года назад

      stelthy100 I remember seeing bill Jenkins in his Vega years ago, along with Sox and Martin, and others back in early seventies. The blue max funny car, Kenny bernstein, etc. the coolest thing ever was the tv tommy ivo dragster , and the see thru carrier, he pulled around the country! Fun times..

    • @MrMatz48
      @MrMatz48 3 года назад

      Me too!!

  • @13spdRoadranger
    @13spdRoadranger 11 лет назад +8

    Excellent! Thanks for sharing! R.I.P. Grumpy, thanks for the racing and the autograph! :)

  • @Frank289100
    @Frank289100 11 лет назад +3

    Bracket racing is great when the cars running are manual shifting. This truly displays a racers skills.

  • @hotchihuahua1546
    @hotchihuahua1546 Год назад +1

    These guys were pioneers to what stock car drag racing is today . For me it was the best of times watching these guys compete.

  • @Prostock1489
    @Prostock1489 12 лет назад +3

    Had the pleasure of being around Bill much later than this and was always in awe whenever he spoke. R.I.P. Grump
    Awesome video!

  • @TheHuester44
    @TheHuester44 3 месяца назад

    Summer of 68 I saw Grumpy run at a drag strip in northern new jersey.
    I was walking through the pits and was walking by Grumpy’s Camaro . I looked underneath the rear of the car and Grumpy was underneath looking at the rearend where the driveshaft connects to it . He said something to me explaining what he was checking.
    I was a big fan of him and at 16 I was surprised he spoke to me .
    He wasn’t Grumpy he was really a nice guy . He remains my favorite racer to this day .

  • @rudfil
    @rudfil 6 лет назад +10

    What a difference then compared to todays racing. Drivers pushing their own cars on open trailers hooked up to station wagons.
    Drivers working on engines in the open fields. A more simple time in those days.

  • @headcase01
    @headcase01 11 лет назад +3

    I had a really friendly, smiling guy walk into my room at work in the mid-90's. We both said hello, and just talked cylinder heads and engines for a little while until he had to go. He stood up, we shook hands and he introduced himself as Bill. I didn't realize until later who he was. He certainly didn't seem grumpy.

  • @montycrain5783
    @montycrain5783 6 лет назад +7

    Great video, Really Nice to see Ronnie Sox, Dick Landy snd Grumpy all in one Video.

    • @patberry7711
      @patberry7711 3 года назад

      Don’t forget Big Daddy too.

  • @Rockit442
    @Rockit442 4 года назад +6

    Notice after that run at 6:30 he shifts from 1st gear to fourth on his way back to the pit..
    Just like him to save the wear and tear on that transmission like he does on the motor by pushing his car to staging by hand.
    He was just plain smart. Probably running 456's

    • @codyramos3200
      @codyramos3200 3 года назад +2

      I think the pushing car to the staging lanes is to keep to engine cool an keep it from heat soaking before the run ...

    • @davelowets
      @davelowets 3 года назад

      Sure looks like he pulled it into second from neutral to me at 6:30.

  • @roadking99jokerst60
    @roadking99jokerst60 5 лет назад +3

    The top pro stockers came to Omaha in '73. Saw Bill change his own tires between rounds, his speed wrench slipped, he swore quietly. Holy heck, proof he is human and not a God. Great guy.

  • @kevinwilliams2275
    @kevinwilliams2275 8 лет назад +12

    I love these video's. Watching him slammin gears is awesome. The old power shift, took talent. Today, not so much. Thanks NHRA for another crappy change.

    • @angryrednecks9314
      @angryrednecks9314 8 лет назад +3

      that's why the b&m or hurst shifter was a must.

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад

      I hate NHRA too,but it was technology than ended the fun,nobody can routinely outshift a modern auto drag trans

  • @peterodriguez6408
    @peterodriguez6408 5 лет назад +76

    Real shifting here boys and girls, no sissy padal shifters, sagging pants.The seat of his pants determined the tune...not a laptop!!!

    • @wdsracer
      @wdsracer 4 года назад +1

      Doesn’t sound like he lifts off the gas when he shifts, so fucking cool. Love the old racing videos.

    • @herbienbrian2
      @herbienbrian2 4 года назад

      @@bigboreracing356 This is why the mentally touched should never be allowed to time travel.

    • @Smittyschannel
      @Smittyschannel 4 года назад

      @@wdsracer yep, that's called powershifting. Get it wrong & you could blow an engine; they didn't have rev limiters back then

    • @briang4470
      @briang4470 4 года назад +1

      @@Smittyschannel Hell yeah, you sidestep the clutch at 7500+ rpm and hope the clutch and flywheel doesn't explode and come thru the floor and hope the shift linkage dont break but when it she goes, it's the best feeling in the world

    • @scottyjones27
      @scottyjones27 4 года назад

      @@briang4470 i love banging gears my self but can not bring my self to beat on my old Ford much Ny more

  • @merrillschannel
    @merrillschannel 7 лет назад +89

    Did anyone notice that he was using a car to pull his camaro and trailer. That would never be seen now.

    • @rustyaxelrod
      @rustyaxelrod 6 лет назад +8

      merrill mitchell - A big Pontiac no less!

    • @ridewithgnr2116
      @ridewithgnr2116 5 лет назад +6

      We had a 76 Pontiac Safari Wagon with the 455 that would no doubt pull its own weight and another car on a trailer. If my parents had not given that thing to my destructive brother, I would gladly still be using it to pull a car or motorcycle to the drags. That or my Powerstroke F350. Yep, your right. Never see that anymore! Different times.

    • @howardmccauley7878
      @howardmccauley7878 5 лет назад +1

      Hey Angry Banjo,looked like a 68 XL fastback to me.

    • @bensonhedges479
      @bensonhedges479 5 лет назад

      You guys always use "trucks" its funny

    • @70stunes71
      @70stunes71 5 лет назад +5

      merrill mitchell yeah I seen that and had quite a laugh. Back then you would see a lot of bigger vehicles with a ball hitch on them pulling a boat xcetera. LOL today we have these fancy four wheel drives that cost a ton of money. Back in the 70s I did not know anyone that had a four-wheel drive truck except one guy who had gotten a great job and bought a brand new Chevy short box four-wheel drive with a 350 in it. LOL

  • @animalyze7120
    @animalyze7120 3 года назад +1

    Was born in 71 and remember as a very little kid some of these old racers at various strips in our area. It was the tail end of an Era but an Era I got to witness and it would be great to have those old Guys back again. Racing was far different back then, new ways to do everything were coming out almost daily and all the old fab parts as no companies sold the stuff from a magazine yet, you had to get in and get dirty then drive it as well. Good times.

  • @jimdandy6240
    @jimdandy6240 8 лет назад +30

    I never was and still not brand loyal. Not much cash to burn in those days, so I learned I couldn't be chosey. Just bought the cheapest car and souped it up as I went along.
    Ford, GM, Mopar.
    Had 'em all.
    Can't say a bad
    word about any of them. Just great & funny times!
    Those were the days, my friend.......

    • @79tazman
      @79tazman 5 лет назад +3

      back then it was for the love of racing because there was no money in it unlike today where it takes big bucks and major sponsors to run in the NHRA

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад +3

      @@79tazman it's still about love for racing everywhere except NHRA

    • @jillsmcfarland2001
      @jillsmcfarland2001 3 года назад

      Corp ad

  • @jakepearson2395
    @jakepearson2395 3 года назад +1

    Love the taped on line lock button on the shifter awesome guy awesome car

  • @SmackintoshSr
    @SmackintoshSr 12 лет назад +3

    Finally! A video showing one of the "old school" stick handlers. Thanks to Bee-On, RIP Grump.

  • @garyslama7163
    @garyslama7163 5 лет назад +2

    Arm bounce shift timing. Love it.

  • @andrewwilson7250
    @andrewwilson7250 3 года назад +4

    No saggy pants fat boys with tattoos. I love it! This was seat of your pants living, like America was intended to be.

  • @TjeRod
    @TjeRod 3 года назад

    Thank you for sharing this FANTASTIC video, amazing to watch.

  • @graybeard2172
    @graybeard2172 7 лет назад +12

    Just a mention of Brock Yates who narrated this clip, and is seen doing the interviews with Jenkins:
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_Yates
    Yates was as famous, and highly regarded, in his field as Jenkins was. He died last Oct. 5th, (2016).
    BrockYates was one of the best American automotive writers of all time, and knew racing of all kinds from the inside out.
    These two guys, Jenkins and Yates, both now gone, were among the very best in their time.
    American automotive legends for sure, R.I.P

  • @libertylarry6766
    @libertylarry6766 6 лет назад +2

    these vintage videos are awesome

  • @lornefortin
    @lornefortin 3 года назад +4

    Love this! Brings back many happy memories.

  • @raymondbanks4103
    @raymondbanks4103 5 лет назад

    I was born 10 years too late to truly enjoy the heyday of drag racing. Grumpy was retiring when I got to see him race.

  • @xp836
    @xp836 11 лет назад +3

    In all my years on here, this is the best vid i've seen to date. I cant stop hitting the replay button. In my book, he was THE man. Those were the days. Notice he didn't wear any type of upper restraints either. Couldn't tell if he used a lap belt. Heres a digital handshake for posting this. TY.

  • @70stunes71
    @70stunes71 3 года назад

    I wish I knew where the link was to put it on here, but maybe if you search you can find it. They tore one of his old small blocks down in modern days here, checking all the components then reassembling it. Mind you this is a small block Chevrolet. This thing was making over 600 horsepower. The man was fiercely competitive and he didn't need a Hemi to get the job done. Grumpy definitely one of the icon Chevrolet racers of our time. In case you're wondering I am a die-hard Mopar guy but I had nothing but respect for this guy. Love watching him race back in the day. What Treasured Memories I have

  • @rustyaxelrod
    @rustyaxelrod 6 лет назад +54

    White clothes were very popular back then. Everybody dresses like the milk man, lol. I guess my age is showing, most of you guys don’t remember the milk man I bet.

    • @tubefluid
      @tubefluid 5 лет назад +2

      Ummmmm,,,,,,, do you resemble the milk man? :)
      Sorry, I couldn't resist!! (I'm dating myself, too)

    • @70stunes71
      @70stunes71 5 лет назад +1

      AngryRed Banjo yeah those were the days. Sure miss those 70s people were so different back then. Bunch of free Spirit teens and young folk having an incredible time of their life. We worked our fannies off to have the cars we drove and afford the performance parts for them. I'd like to take my own kids back to those days so they could see it all happen

    • @robertlee9395
      @robertlee9395 5 лет назад +1

      They all drove Divco trucks.

    • @eddiecaplan1908
      @eddiecaplan1908 5 лет назад

      .pat mustard ?..

    • @Cola64
      @Cola64 4 года назад

      He’s my Dad

  • @WorldBFree-lw6wo
    @WorldBFree-lw6wo 4 года назад +1

    OUTSTANDING! Grumpy was one of my high school heroes.

  • @alansmith7833
    @alansmith7833 6 лет назад +9

    5:51. Bad ass gear banging, loose with a cigar, awesome

  • @vincebowling1778
    @vincebowling1778 2 года назад +1

    He was so smooth on his shifting...RIP Mr. Jenkins.

  • @turbo5488
    @turbo5488 6 лет назад +1

    That's the reason why that bill grumpy Jenkins is the all time legend in the sport of drag racing one of the best

  • @dougieD428
    @dougieD428 9 лет назад +5

    Awesome video ! damn he knew how to power shift with the best of them !

  • @temelerdinch528
    @temelerdinch528 28 дней назад

    I love the cigar and the shifting gears by Bill Grumpy Jenkins

  • @JohnJones-cg2xm
    @JohnJones-cg2xm 10 лет назад +11

    I keep thinking what a cool classic late 60s Camaro he's racing. Then I remember it was pretty much new back then. It's cool seeing a new 60s Camaro drag racing. They will never make them like that any more. Grumpy seemed like a pretty smart guy.

  • @andrewipp426
    @andrewipp426 3 года назад +2

    Those are drivers... no BS just damn good drag racing icons....!!

  • @5807141
    @5807141 9 лет назад +7

    I like the Fram filter commercial shoe horned there

    • @Romans--bo7br
      @Romans--bo7br 6 лет назад +4

      Judy C...... The Fram filters of "today", are Nothing compared to the filters they made back then... total junk these days, like lots of things these days.... Sadly!!

    • @1941392
      @1941392 6 лет назад +2

      Yeah like batteries. Those old Sears die hards were great.

  • @09roushsupercharged26
    @09roushsupercharged26 3 года назад

    Just look at how far we've come.....all starting with our love for cars and the race to make them go faster. I was born in the 60s and i have the honor to say ive seen then and now.. WOW!!

  • @perfectfan2006
    @perfectfan2006 6 лет назад +18

    jungle jim jungle pam...

  • @pauldashwood2897
    @pauldashwood2897 5 лет назад +1

    This is great footage .what a guy cigar in mouth shifting lighting quick ..love this .

  • @robertnichols5415
    @robertnichols5415 5 лет назад +6

    Everybody ran Cragar S/S rims back then.

    • @tragiclife9760
      @tragiclife9760 5 лет назад

      Pretty much all there was, American mags did not get popular till the 70s

    • @Jendal3
      @Jendal3 4 года назад

      @@tragiclife9760 Sox and Martin ran Keystone Classics on the "Boss" Cuda in '71. Always loved those wheels.

    • @bobbrinkerhoff3592
      @bobbrinkerhoff3592 2 года назад

      American mags cae out way before the Cragar SS, but the Cragar was cheaper and easier to keep clean . The same goes for the Keystones,wash the car and wipe off the wheels with a towel.

  • @WildDiamond07
    @WildDiamond07 3 года назад +1

    Bill Jenkins is one true badass in car racing.

  • @vans1107
    @vans1107 11 лет назад +7

    they work on the strip....they work..on the street...FRAM
    what a slogan

  • @jeromesimpson4830
    @jeromesimpson4830 5 лет назад +2

    Slamming those gears. Excellent video