Texan Bobby Langley, one of drag racing’s original traveling racers and a true pioneer of the sport, passed away last week at the age of 79. His career began in the mid 1950s and carried on into the 1970s. Through that time Langley established himself as one of the era’s best racers and gained a true national presence, appearing in magazines like Life multiple times. 

Amongst piles of local race wins, Langley won 16 major events during his career, including the AHRA Nationals at Green Valley, Texas in 1964, fives Texas State Championships, and many others. He was one of the first guys to travel beyond his local area to race, running the March Meet, the first NHRA Nationals, and event down in Monterey, Mexico in the late 1950s.

In more recent times, his first dragster, the iconic Scorpion I was restored and has been a regular piece at Cacklefest events and historic drag races all over the country. The original car was built by Langley who worked as a tool and die maker for General Dynamics for more than 30 years. It featured a 392ci Hemi and four two bbl carbs on top. It had a beautiful body which was painted black and a cockpit area trimmed out in vibrant red. The down swept headers were another distinctive feature of the car. It was rare in that early era of the sport to have a dragster built both with an eye for performance and style. Langley’s had both in spades and the car quickly established itself as one of the premier runners in the country. A spot that it held for about five years until Langley sold the car to built the next one. Bobby was a regular participant in nostalgia events and could normally be seen behind the wheel of the car whenever a Cacklefest was happening. His presence will certainly be missed.

Bobbly Langley forged a trail in the early days of the sport when the best thing that could come out of a race was a trophy, some free oil, and maybe a $25 savings bond. His drive was pure, it was competition and proving that he had the quickest and fastest dragster in the country. If only the sport could be so simple again.

From all of us here at BangShift, Godspeed Bobby Langley. We hope that the big strip in the sky was prepped and ready for your arrival.