York 30 Show

[Charles]

Hi Sam: Those are some great shots. That was an unusual color for a Jenkins Competition team car! Over the years most of their cars were white except that Chevy II that Bill Jenkins ran with great success. In 1969 Bill Jenkins, Dave Strickler and Albert Olster each had a white Camaro. Though it was Dave Strickler who ran the only small block Z/28 in the group. Albert Olster got off to a very slow start in 1969 because his COPO Camaro took 4 months to arrive after he placed the order in November 1968! Thanks.

[JoeC]

Drag racing legend Bill Grumpy Jenkins. When I was in high school we spent a lot of time talking about him and reading anything we could find about him in the magazines.

[JoeC]

Found an old picture of Bill with his 67 Camaro when he won the NHRA all star super stock circuit emblem
I tried to make Grumpy smile. When I asked him to autographed this picture I asked him if he ever did any professional modeling. He just grunted but I think it was a happy grunt. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Supercar_Kid]

Joe G, it was definitely a Firestone Wide Oval, you can even see the "wide oval" text in the top of the pic if you look closely, and obviously we're looking at the backside of the tire here. I've seen a few of these in original vintage pics, for example on a 69 Camaro pace car in Valerie Harrell's photo album, the letters on the front side are very small, almost like a Goodyear Polyglas or Wide Tread GT, not the large WIDE O OVAL lettering we see on today's repos. I think the repo versions are based on a 1970 model Firestone, any real vintage 69's I've seen have been completely different, with the small white lettering and "Deluxe Champion" text. Just neat to get a chance to see the real deal in person, thought it was worthy of photographing. Survivor cars are always the most interesting IMO. I also took a few close ups of the original vinyl top seams, and tried my best to get a pic of the original PPG glass markings. I'd be happy to e-mail those to anyone who's interested.

[JoeG]

Supercar Kid,
I had Firestone wide-ovals up front on my '69 Chevelle --it did have the small white lettering --just didn't remember it saying Deluxe Champion--I guess like you said, it's on the backside of the tire and back then looking at the backside of the tire wasn't on the top of my things to do list- If I think real hard it becomes vaguely familiar, but then again ,if I think real hard I get a headache--Thanks for saving me from a headache---JoeG [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[JoeG]

JoeC'
You should have been wearing a SOX & MARTIN shirt when you ask Bill "GRUMBY" Jenkins for his autograph---that would have made him at least smirk [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]---JoeG--

[NWYENKO]

Is the show 2 days? I am thinking that if our trek to the Reunion is successful this year, I might be able to talk LaDonna into going to this show next year. After all is is only 600 miles further than Collinsvile!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]Jim

[Charles]

HI Bill Jenkins was running that little white Vega at the track for a WCS Meet. I asked him for his autograph and handed him a Two Dollar bill. He immediately said "where did you get that from, the horse races?" I mumbled something and then he signed it for me!
While some here wonder if they have their motor painted the right shade of orange; all the Jenkins motors were painted black. From camshafts to the bore and stroke Jenkins was the master of the "unfair advantage" before Roger Penkse even thought of it. Regards,

[JoeG]

Hello Charles,
"unfair advantage"--such a harsh term---Ingenuity-sounds much nicer---Catch me if you can--is the name of the game. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]-----JoeG [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[JoeC]

Grumpy's Vega program took Pro Stock racing to a new level.
there was a Vega at York show see attach