In Memory of 

James “Jimmy” Langenback

1940 to 2010

Jim Langenback: A TRUE LEGEND

     In his own words Jim lived and “breathed auto racing ".  Very few have the dedication it takes to be a champion, and Jimmy Langenback had just that. A 3 time Lebanon Valley Pro Stock champion, he did it in his own, way with equipment he built and maintained himself.

     Early in his career In 1963 driving Bert Morrisey’s #39, somewhere near half way mark of the feature, he got into the 4th turn wall.  Jimmy flipped many times and the intake manifold split, & fuel from the electric fuel pump ignited. The car was fully engulfed in flames for 5 minutes with Jim inside. He suffered 3rd degree burns over 70% of his body.  After 6 months in the hospital he was back making plans to race again. He did, for an amazing 47 more years.  104 feature wins and 3 championships, simply amazing for a man who came close as anyone could to dying.  He told me the reason he didn't die was because he was knocked out and didn't inhale any of the toxic fumes or fire.  

    Dedication!! I'll say.  After winning one Sat. night at Lebanon in his 320, he ventured out to Utica Rome Speedway the next Friday.  Midway thru the feature, after passing half the field, an out of control race car came out of the infield and Jim hit him full bore.  Driving back to Pittsfield and getting home at 3 am, he and Gary Virgilo worked non stop and had the car at Lebanon the next night.  Not only did he not sleep, but he was running second with 2 to go when the oil pump broke (a result from the hard impact the night before) Just one of the hundred story's that happens when a racer accumulates over 5 decades of racing.

     Jimmy was always a hard worker and motorsports was his passion, if it had wheels and a motor, Jim wanted a piece of it. An example of that is Jim taking a World of Outlaws Sprinter and fabricated it to be used at hill climbs in New Hampshire and other venues across the Northeast.

     We shared a building in Pittsfield for 10 years. Sometimes when I got there in the morning he would already be working in his Fabrication shop.  I would bust his ass about working all night.  On more than one occasion he told me very seriously he just couldn't sleep, and that he had a idea about some suspension changes or a way to make something work better, and he needed to get to work on that.

     He will be missed by all who knew him and some who never got the chance to meet him....I don't think he ever realized the impact he had on the Pro Stock division....he just "lived breathed auto racing"  right until the end.  He raced in early October at Accord and finished 4th in only his second race this season.  Like someone said in his guest book in the Berkshire Eagle  "The sound will echo for many years thru the Valley on Sat. nights of Jimmy Langenback driving the 54L”.

JIMMY LANGENBACK, 54L,  A real RACER  has passed,  and I am glad I knew him.

                                                                             RUSS BLAKE

Photos Sent in this week by Arnie Ainsworth

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hotrod@lebanonvalleyclassics.com