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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: 63postcar]
#1205682
03/29/12 08:39 PM
03/29/12 08:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,763
Walton's Mountain, Pa
Steve1118
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,763
Walton's Mountain, Pa
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"I decline to label him an innovator."
No flame, but a correction. You must not have been around him much in the old days....he certainly wasn't my favorite guy, by a long shot, but an innovator he was indeed. He had to be, as he was outgunned by the MoPar bunch.
Figuring out the small block Vega as a competitive package was one. As illegal as it was, and it was illegal (right, Fred?), it worked. He also had a deal where he was sawing the carbs in half and running them as four two barrells....the man was a genius. Also, I think he had kind of hard feelings against Chrysler because they didn't pick him up as a factory driver after the 1965 season.
Ronnie was the best, best, ever, period. I saw Ronnie race the Grump many, many times, and the Grump was the only Chevrolet to be in the same ball park. You gotta give him credit.
"Old age and treachery trumps youth and enthusiasm, every time!" East Central Director / Chrysler Power Magazine www.reasbeckracing.webs.com
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: Steve1118]
#1205683
03/29/12 09:08 PM
03/29/12 09:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,875
communist bloc of new jersey
jamesc
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,875
communist bloc of new jersey
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Quote:
I decline to label him an innovator.
so he gets inducted into how many hall of fame lists by his peers and only ever won 13 nhra events. obviously other people have different opinions...he must have done something to get those votes.
here's a pretty neat collection of pics
pic video
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: 340B5]
#1205686
03/29/12 11:51 PM
03/29/12 11:51 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 653
Fort Worth, TX
Dago Red
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 653
Fort Worth, TX
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Being from southeast Pennsylvania and a Mopar guy sure made me an outcast in his backyard. I was never a fan of his. But I darn sure respected the man.  The times they are a changin'.....
If You Can't Be Good, At Least Be Colorful
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: Dago Red]
#1205687
03/30/12 12:27 AM
03/30/12 12:27 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 320
PA
w7smallblock
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 320
PA
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"I decline to label him an innovator."
No flame, but a correction. You must not have been around him much in the old days....he certainly wasn't my favorite guy, by a long shot, but an innovator he was indeed. He had to be, as he was outgunned by the MoPar bunch.
Figuring out the small block Vega as a competitive package was one. As illegal as it was, and it was illegal (right, Fred?), it worked. He also had a deal where he was sawing the carbs in half and running them as four two barrells....the man was a genius. Also, I think he had kind of hard feelings against Chrysler because they didn't pick him up as a factory driver after the 1965 season.
Ronnie was the best, best, ever, period. I saw Ronnie race the Grump many, many times, and the Grump was the only Chevrolet to be in the same ball park. You gotta give him credit.
--------------------
"Old age and treachery trumps youth and enthusiasm, every time!"
I totally disagree and he had every right to be upset with Chrysler. He did with the chevy what nobody else could, just think if he had the Hemi to play with he would have been light years ahead of the rest. I feel that he was the total package and personally would have rather seen him in a car than Ronnie Sox.
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: w7smallblock]
#1205688
03/30/12 12:43 AM
03/30/12 12:43 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 48
Pa
W7_Scamp
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member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 48
Pa
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He did have a HEMI to play with Perkins, Ohh and if I am remebering correctly didn't he have a competitve motor in Pro Stock a couple years ago? How many chrysle heroes are still doin that. None that I know of Sox no Landy no Nicholson no. Loved the Dodge boys to death but Grumpy was the man. And Chrysler should have definatly gave him a ride.  Lots of mopar guru's on here could have learned a lot from the GRUMP !!!
Last edited by W7_Scamp; 03/30/12 12:47 AM.
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: bcrproducts]
#1205691
03/30/12 01:50 AM
03/30/12 01:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,504
DFW
mr_340
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,504
DFW
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Guys like Grump, Mark Donohue, Bruce McClaren and others studied Mechanical Engineering, and that inspired me to persue that degree myself. I figured there must be something to it. The USAF also inspired me to get out, so going to college seemed like a better deal especially with the old VA benefits.
Floyd Lippencott IV
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: 63postcar]
#1205692
03/30/12 01:58 AM
03/30/12 01:58 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
tubtar
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
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Quote:
It is sad to hear of anyone`s death. I offer my sympathy to his family & friends.
I`ll probably get flamed for this,But, I decline to label him an innovator.
" His innovations include drag racing's first kickout oil pans, Pro Stock strut-style front suspension, and dry sump oiling system, and cool cans, electric water pump fan, gas port pistons, and slick-shift manual transmissions. "
I copied and pasted this from another site.......exactly what would it take for you to qualify him as an innovator then ?
As his car was one of the models that sat on my shelf as a lad , that elevated his status to the point where simply seeing him at the track was a thrill for me.
Be at Peace Grump.......ya got nothing but good air from here on out.
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: Steve1118]
#1205693
03/30/12 02:10 AM
03/30/12 02:10 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 18
Nampa,Idaho
63postcar
member
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member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 18
Nampa,Idaho
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Quote:
"I decline to label him an innovator."
No flame, but a correction. You must not have been around him much in the old days....he certainly wasn't my favorite guy, by a long shot, but an innovator he was indeed. He had to be, as he was outgunned by the MoPar bunch.
Figuring out the small block Vega as a competitive package was one. As illegal as it was, and it was illegal (right, Fred?), it worked. He also had a deal where he was sawing the carbs in half and running them as four two barrells....the man was a genius. Also, I think he had kind of hard feelings against Chrysler because they didn't pick him up as a factory driver after the 1965 season.
Ronnie was the best, best, ever, period. I saw Ronnie race the Grump many, many times, and the Grump was the only Chevrolet to be in the same ball park. You gotta give him credit.
I never said I didn`t respect him. Fiery competitor. I put him in the same class with Chad Knauss; A genius, but playing a little loose with the rules. Grump was one of the guys who pitched heads up S/S to NHRA,& when he couldn`t stay competitive,he broke every rule they had. NHRA went along with it & killed Hemi development for 25 years. Nascar saw NHRA was healthy without Mopar & they hosed us too.Wonder what that cost chevrolet ? At the 2001 gathering to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Hemi,Wally Parks apologized to Tom Hoover for killing the Hemi. In retrospect,maybe I blame Grump for what happened to Pro Stock. Look at the 70-71 cars; Nothing that exciting since.
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: BradH]
#1205698
03/30/12 10:31 AM
03/30/12 10:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,872
Weddington, N.C.
Streetwize
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,872
Weddington, N.C.
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Was the Vega "Illegal"? Or was it just a clever interpretaion of the loophole when Hemi's had to run 7lb/ci, Canted Valves (BBC and Cleveland Fords) 6.75 and wedges 6.5lb/Ci? 426 Hemi had to weigh 2982 331 chevy could weigh 2151.5 but I seem to remember (nearly 40 yrs ago and I was only 10 back then...so 'cut me some slack'  ) there was still a 2300 lb minimum. I don't believe there was a minimum wheelbase when the vega debuted, but in 75 or 76 the NHRA added different weight factors for cars under/over 105"....hence the G&R Tiujana Taxi and the 70 Mustangs It must have been a heck of a loophole cause soon after Jenkins showed up... Dyno Don, Gapp & Roush and Glidden & Allen drove their 351" Pintos right through it too  I believe Jenkins 74 Vega was the first PS to use McPherson Struts and I know he 'pioneered' the dry sump for drag racing (though I doubt he claimed credit for inventing it since it was well understood in the Aviation world and likely in indy cars for decades), I think I still have the Old Car Craft magazine somewhere. Anybody got pics of the Old Dave Strickler Melrose Missle with the JK stickers on it? Da Grump started out with us but switched to Bowties in the mid-60's, some say because he couldn't get any of the factory $$$. If only he did, huh?
Last edited by Streetwize; 03/30/12 11:11 AM.
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Re: "Grumpy" Jenkins has passed on
[Re: Streetwize]
#1205699
03/30/12 10:58 AM
03/30/12 10:58 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,160
Texas
dannysbee
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,160
Texas
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A great competitor and inovator. I think we were lucky to have had him involved in the sport we all hold so dear. His passion for the sport was so great it held his interest till the end. Rest in peace Grumpy.
Getting old just means you were smarter than some and luckier than others.
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Even if a person can't get past Grumpy racing Chevies, a victory over lessor competition in any event,is never as sweet. Grumpy was one of the guys that made those days so special.
