Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins

[fluidfloyd]

Mike,

I'm sure you have probably seen this video of Bill Jenkins but if not then here you go. The in the car interview was very interesting. I think he really didn't want to be giving that interview at all.

http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2013/12/26/video-bill-jenkins-at-the-1968-u-s-nationals/

Also note the blog this is on. I check this blog most everyday and it really turns up some interesting articles. Hope all of you will check it out. Later.

George

http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/

 

[Mike]

He was really something. The 'Grumpy' moniker was one that fit him well, for those who did not know him. He was always thinking, running possible scenarios through his mind and he didn't enjoy having his thought processes interrupted. She he would grunt and snarl at people, to make them think he was a gruff person. But when he had considered a problem from all angles, he would open up, talk, joke and laugh, just like anyone else. Once you got to know him, you could tell when his mind was involved, so you knew not to pester him. It was funny, because he would be standing there talking to you and suddenly, you could see in his eyes that he was seeing something else. He would immediately stop talking, sometimes even in mid-sentence, and you never knew when he would come back to the conversation you had been having.

What people didn't realize is that he was interested in all manner of things and was always looking for ways to improve them. So his mind was always grinding on something or another. And he didn't make snap decisions about anything, he always studied things, before he would offer an opinion.

I always liked it when we would get some free time, so I could get him talking about the old match race days. The money some of those teams were making back then was astounding.

Larry Lombardo was a good customer and he was another one I always enjoyed talking to. Some of the old 'war stories' he told about the days when he and Jenkins were together were priceless.

As for his demeanor during the interview, it was clear he did not want to be disturbed at that point in time. He was the kind of fellow who would have likely retreated to the car, to get away from everyone else, only it didn't work in that particular case. He did get a kick out of fan appreciation, but it was just like everything else - there was a time and a place for it.

Being able to get to know him was an honor, one I shall never forget.

 

[bobs66440]

Great video. Thanks for posting!