Mark Pappas' Grumpy Jenkins Collection

An interview with Mark Pappas who is not only keeping the memory of Grumpy Jenkins alive but also some of his most memorable race cars

[@edjeep]

love to see Grumpy's cars are being well kept! I am 66 and I remember reading so much about him when I was in the 6th grade! RIP Mr. Jenkins, and Mark, Thank you for keeping the memories alive!

[@motherlovinsnuffstar]

Now that's a collection, those cars when you think about how those legendary builders/racecar drivers have been all through them.

[@danielmesaros7677]

I saw Bill race in the late sixties against Sox at Vargo Raceway on Elephant road ... He was a true sportsman ! ... I remember him using a broom and a mop to clean up a mess make by his opponent just so they could race one another ! ... You gotta love Bill and his legacy !! ... He was a leader in his sport !!

[@ITS4390]

What's crazy is I have a newspaper clipping from a page used as packaging in my grandparents attic that has Bill's actual 68 Camaro for sale in the classifieds for $4,000 with 2 spare hoods, spare rear, and a spare smallblock. Dated from the late 70s on another page was a 70 Hemi Cuda for $2500 x_x

[@lastup4170]

Was a pup in the hey days of Drag Race history. My dad took me to National's often because he loved it too. I can still remember Grumpy in his white helmet and sunglasses. Those men were my childhood heros. They took my mind off of the world of Vietnam and Watergate. They inspired hard work and focus. Drag racing is strange and magical. RIP BILL GRUMPY JENKINS.

[@christophersharp8402]

Built a V-8 Vega when I was in high school for my street car because of Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins. Will miss him.

[@tamapalagi]

v8 vegas are the sweetest cars. had one with the buick 215 and 4spd running to a monza rear end.

[@jimblake8601]

had to buy a 69 camaro ss after seeing Grumpys camaro. Owned it in high school. Will always be my favorite car.

[@tezzrterry7485]

"Da Grump" ,what a legend, he pushed the limits on SBC engines. His video smoking a cigar, banging gears on a pass will go down as drag racing folklore. RIP Bill.

[@BigDog-vg8op]

I met Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins several times at the dragstrip in the pit - in Detroit Mi in the early 70's. FYI: The body in white Vega is not a 1972 - It appears to be a 1974 - 1977. Just look at the tail panel. R.I.P Grumpy.

[@garyshinn4626]

I saw Grumpy at Indy several times 2007- 2010 I was never a Chevy fan but I was a Grumpy fan. I don't know who he was working with then but he always had his pen and little note book and his cigar. He was just cool.

[@joserdiazalmodovar1898]

Awesome history¡ What a Real Fan and Humble Guy ¡ Great Apreciation for a Real NHRA Innovator , Driver, a Real Icon of Drag Racing. Very Nice. Hope all those beasts hit the Strip every now and then¡ ✌✌👍👍

[@wayneo7220]

My hero from HS days. I remember him from early SS/C, pre-Pro Stock, running a B +H shifter.

[@animalyze7120]

That was actually in real life a 67 Camaro Z28, the first of it's kind. It was acid dipped for Road coarse racing but Penske figured it was took weak structurally after the dipping for the bending and twisting during turns. Old Grumpy knew it would be perfect for straight track work and wound up buying it. He added 68 year trim to some spots which began the assumption it was a 68, though if you ayou ever model the car either year will work as it was kind of a Frankenstein between the 2 but the chassis and body he bought was in fact a 1967 Camaro Z-28.

[@xLarry311ss]

We do know where the real camaro is. After it was sold by bill it ended up in flames and a guy name dale got his hands on it and restored it. it was later confirmed by bill jenkins himself to be the actual original car and he sent dale all the stickers to make it back to the way it was and bill autographed it. a few youtube videos in 2016+ show the exact car after being restored. The cut and dinged wheel wells were one way they identified the car

[@johnnydavis8351]

Mr shifter.. What a wonderful AND amazing person... 🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍

[@josephpp6724]

Sorry Moe, but after Jenkins won the 74 Winternationals with Toy x it was updated with the new style 74 nose and taillights,it was then raced by Ken Dondero mostly in the AHRA,while Lombardo and Jenkins ran NHRA with Toy xi, 10 was retired in 75. I hope I get a good grade on my homework, Thanks Mark for keeping the memories alive.

[@tyronewashington2933]

I remember the days Grumpy small block Chevrolet defeated the Hemi.

[@rangerjones5531]

Dang it! My day was rolling along fine till I saw this, now I’m just jealous. Real jealous, thanks...🍺👍🏻

[@nrken1]

Grumpy was and is my all time favorite

[@donrodgers283]

I’m remember the summer of 1969 just home from Vietnam going to Island DragWay in the great meadows of NJ and watching Grumpy and Sox and Martin go at it in Pro Stock. Grumpy lost that evening.

[@scottawes921]

Bill was the man. I was a kid, and watched him in Bakersfield. He didn't have a great weekend, but this is very cool.

[@LulaRoberts]

Rest in peace Mr. Grumpy.

[@michaelcarmean4906]

I Started Drag Racing In 1971 🇺🇸 These Cars Are Very Special To My… Heart

[@craigewen2878]

Right on good of you in tribute to Grumpy Bill Jenkins .

[@blasdeliz1716]

YEAP jenkins was the man to beat he was my Idol since i met him at new york national speedway in the mid 60'S i raced there and he use to pit next to me and on the other side was jack Merkel racing he was very short on words but he was my favorite. may god bless him.

[@discmotoslots]

what a cool shop! I'd love to visit!

[@paulwhite6250]

Mr Jenkins was a different kind of guy but he did teach us a few tricks. I think I’d mortgage my house for the Camaro or the Vega.

[@rwhitely2288]

Mark thanks for letting me do my thing it was an honor. Whitey.

[@richbader332]

My father had a 1957 Pontiac Star Chief that he raced back in the 50's. He always liked to talk about the time he beat Grumpy at Lancaster Dragway in PA. Bill yelled at the track officals after the race. That there's no way he beat me. He's cheating. The offical said "Bill get over it! You lost!"

[@lawrencehuff1766]

That's some good stuff,you don't get hear about the one's he lost to much.

[@DuceNovaII]

I saw Grumpy at the Summer Nationls at Englishtown back in 1974 (or so). He has been my idol for a LONG time. He put out a magazine that had tips on how to build a small block Chevy that I still use to this day. I built a small journal 302 (65 327 small journal block, GM 302 small journal crank, pink rods, TRW 12.5:1 forged pistons) that was a ANIMAL motor! BTW, the Camaros on this video are Gen I (67 to 69) and a Gen II (70 to 81) NOT a Gen III (82 to 92)!

[@tbar5524]

this is the guy that got me interested in drag racing at the age of 10 BILL GRUMPY JENKINS !!!

[@stevefowler2112]

Still love the Cragar SS mags...man when I was in HS. in the early 70's any hot rod that had those wheels you knew the guy had some money in it so it was probably setup well and fast.

[@timothyfrederick1660]

Mark. just got time to watch this..yes, we will always Miss Grump, but you sir are also the real deal. Great job on the story and the cars!

[@johnandersonjjr]

If that’s supposed to be a 72 Vega I hope they know to change the tail lights, rear panel and hatch

[@chrisg9602]

So awesome his cars were saved bill was the best

[@dordor718]

I own a Dave Strikler/Bill Jenkins 1964 Dodge Polara super stock tribute car....very cool car....

[@Motown454]

Mark thanks for caring for the Grump's car. He is my racing hero. I would love to see them in person if I ever got out that way.

[@NowTrade]

Bill, we miss you.

[@matrox]

3:33 its a 2nd generation Camaro not 3rd generation.

[@redman10401]

no it's third...and that is a 74 or later not a 72 vega.......

[@Ls3guy]

are you that dumb third gen camaro 82-92 2nd gen is 70-81

[@paulblumhardt3827]

matrox in

[@shoominati23]

The Vega I'm gonna build with an R07 and Lenco Comp Eliminator / drag n drive mule is gonna be a Jenkins tribute car of sorts, but you know how these things unfold - you plan to maybe put a few of the decals on, and kablooey! You build the thing dead nuts accurate

[@dickieteuber9800]

love drag racing and funny shows

[@randyjones7818]

Dickie Teuber .really like the 68 camaro..real stuff..427 2 4bbls .rj

[@MrEdwin57]

The Cragars on that car at 1:47 aaaaaaaaah ! P R I C E L E S S ! ! ! !

[@tamapalagi]

that camaro is just right

[@NowTrade]

Very Cool, Bill Jenkins was a chevrolet hero. I did not know he was "back door" sponsored by GM. He must have tons of cool stuff at the PA shop. Anybody see the aluminum tall deck "match race" big blocks?

[@lastup4170]

There was at one time a Pappas Chevrolet dealership in KCMO. I wonder if this man is related ?

[@Blue04Z71]

That is a 2nd gen. 67-69 1st gen 70-81 2nd gen 82-92 3rd gen 93-02 4th gen

[@charlesjeffries55]

I was like wtf🤣 I love my camaros and that was definitely a second gen 3rd are IROC-IROC/Z

[@larrykerrigan4546]

hey Mark just meet ya chicago car show-we talked camaros in lobby guy your car-i was the long haired guy from canada with the 1968 camaro

[@delcole8321]

There's a guy in van tx said he has Bill's nova

[@chrisholcombe137]

Wonder if he was grumpy at G.M.?

[@gaetanodetorrice5555]

Didn't Bill grumpy Jenkins complain about the hemi being in the Dodge Colt something like that if anybody knows let me know 🤔.

[@pindermid70s]

That is not a 72 Vega body unless it has been modified. The 1971 through 1973 had the twin tail lights, not until 1974 did they have single square tail lights, so.... do you know what you’re talking about or not???????

[@bobbiemoore2195]

my boy friend has 71 vega tail light lenses bolted to his mail box. how cool is that

[@matthewwright3399]

pretty cool absolutely no reference to this video but cool no less

[@toddbob55]

GM guys are always Grumpy

[@victorjohnson6699]

Iremembergoingtothedragswithmydadinthe60sandearly70sandbilljenkinswasmyfavoriteilovedhischevysandlovedwatchinghimracebillgrumpyjenkinswasthebest

[@4vmax]

Beautiful cars what HISTORY

[@irocitZ]

It's a 2nd gen Camaro, no biggie still a cool video.

[@jeffleblanc8850]

Never met the man but he did look grumpy seen him at a show were he is firing up a car a I think like a 64 impala something like that I saw it on you tube and he was pretty grumpy looking but as we all know looks can be very deceiving rip mr grumpy Bill Jenkins

[@Ls3guy]

thats not a 3rd gen its a 2nd gen camaro

[@carlinshowalter1806]

2nd car isn't a "third gen Camaro" it's a second gen.

[@mback12000]

Change the title to "Tribute" as the cars are replicas

[@jeffvolquartsen8483]

This is a 71-73, look at the rear quarter panel where the rear valance would go and you can see how the quarter panel in this area slopes up at a gradual sloped angle vs the 74-77 Vega where it is at an almost straight up which accommodated for the larger bumper on the later Vega's...Why did Jenkins change the tail panel to the later version vs the first gen Vega panel?

[@flflash4717]

When the 74's came out almost all the earlier Vega racecars where updated with the aerodynamically superior sloped front grille and matching single tail light rear valance.

[@josaljo1]

Lee Helande

[@rogercarr7174]

jeff volquartsen ,

[@Ls3guy]

2nd gen camaro not 3rd

[@motherlovinsnuffstar]

Ditto!

[@davidgreid007]

Not a 3rd Gen. Get it right!!!

[@motherlovinsnuffstar]

+Frank289100, I detect some butthurt in your statement! Ford-GM-MoPar. I like them all! They all had engines banned from NASCAR. Of course GM is going to partition for the removal of engines of which the only engines they produce to compete with those aforementioned engines were themselves banned beforehand...

[@motherlovinsnuffstar]

And it seems to me that you're just pissed because grumpy wasn't a Ford guy...

[@kevinbell8183]

It’s not a 3rd gen Camaro.

[@billthomsen9788]

68 has 67 doors (no vent windows)

[@morrisonhotel4001]

67 had window vents.

[@anthonyszarpa157]

67 had the vent windows and no side marker lights 😎

[@danklein7318]

not even the right year Vega ,72/3 he has a 75 +

[@josephpp6724]

After Jenkins won the 74 Winternationals with Toy X (72 vega), it was updated with the new style 74 nose and taillights,it was then raced by Ken Dondero mostly in the AHRA,while Lombardo and Jenkins ran NHRA with Toy XI (74 Vega), X was sold to Jack Trost in late 75, and later to a bracket racer in Penn.

[@331Toy]

Really Frank289100?!. Lets see, Chrysler (S&M) won 2 Pro Stock Championships in the 70's, Chevrolet (Jenkins) 2, and Ford 6. Yeah, Jenkins really had the NHRA in his back pocket The decade pretty much belonged to Ford so your comment makes no sense.

[@ajrecoverydadsdatta8112]

sorry but it's not the last car grumpy car going back together , just got a glass front end two doors two quarters from ...pappas grumpy old car camaro 67 ,,,aj recovery jonesboro ga got it for the man got the fastest time on ,,,atlanta dragway commerce, ga''''' well get pic soon bud...

[@karlknudson4991]

rip

[@jimderr7795]

That IS a 3rd gen Camaro

[@pindermid70s]

This guy Mark must work with the Obama administration because he is full of it when he talks about being accurate, that is not a 72 Vega, no way! I come from Chicago and most people from Chicago are sheet talkers! Mark do your homework and look at tail lights of the 1971 through 1973 Chevy Vega hatchbacks, GTs and sedans. The hatch and trunk dip down in the middle between the tail lights, not straight across like the one you have. The square lights came on the 71-73 kammbacks (station wagons) and panels but not on hatchbacks or sedans and then all later models 74 through the production run had the two square lights!!!!! I know I have a 71 and have owned others for parts and the only difference from the 71 to the 72 and 73 was there were not glove boxes on the 71!

[@Frank289100]

Cheating is a normal thing with the NHRA. In the early 60's Dyno Don Nicholson with a Ford 352ci police interceptor raced Grumpy and beat him. Grumpy being the cheating cry baby he was complained to the officials.When they broke down Nicholson's engine the only thing they found was a head spring out of tolerance. On this basis they disqualified him and Grumpy took the win instead of being a gentlemen and saying Don won fair and square. Grumpy was a cheater and he had NHRA behind him helping him.

[@badron9245]

So, what's a "head spring"?

[@mikeburks9641]

Frank289100 they have always been cheaters NHRA and NASCAR both have always had their head up Chevy's ass. they can't stand to see a Ford or Chrysler win.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

@@mikeburks9641 What an Ignorant STATMENT .. Smokey Yunick worked day and night for months to build his "66 Chevelle that would have creamed the Factory Ford Mercury Chrysler and Dodge cars.. and the Two Multi Million Dollar Factories knew it.. So they cried to NASCAR and NASCAR gave Smokey 7 violations 3 hours before the Race.. Smokey was so pissed off he drove his Stock Car from the Track back to the "Best Garage in Town" and he never raced NASCAR again .. His car was running 10 MPH faster than anyone else. Also NASCAR called for 22 Gallon Gas tanks but let Ford run 28 Gallon gas tanks .. That why Smokey had an inflated basket ball in the tanks and a 2" fuel line ion earlier years.. GM got out of racing because Win on Sunday meant sell on Monday and GM already had 53% of USA Auto market and President JFK had threated to Break GM to help Chrysler and Ford sell their ugly crap ..

[@dougrogillio2223]

Jenkins was a nobody.

[@Foxstang4life]

To own a real prostock car has been a " dream , to own a real jenkins car would be a WET DREAM

[@sydneysheppard4979]

Kenny weld an jerre Stahl were the smartest racers!!! Everybody had jerres headers on thier cars!! Kenny was my neighbor in Jacobus pa..an I met nick moroso at jerres shop!! Us30 baby!! Slava ukraine 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦💪😎