Her presence left men speechless, and she became an unforgettable icon for America’s motor lovers.
But who was Jungle Pam Hardy, and why does her legend live on today?
Though her time in drag racing lasted just four short years, Jungle Pam’s name has remained iconic for nearly four decades.
Because Jungle Pam Hardy was more than just a pretty face in the world of 1970s drag racing. Known for her undeniable charisma and beauty, Pam brought a unique flair to the track that captivated fans just as much as the roaring engines.
In a time when drag racing was all about raw talent and heart-pounding excitement, she embodied the era’s spirit. She was there during the golden age of drag racing –when drivers actually drove their cars instead of computers. According to many, she brought beauty into drag racing in a way that has never been duplicated.
Backing up the legendary Jungle Jim’s race car in her signature shorts and tank top, Pam thrilled us as much as the cars back then.
Road to stardom
It’s impossible to talk about Jungle Pam without mentioning her legendary partner, Jim Liberman, the flamboyant drag racer known as “Jungle Jim.”
Famous for his showmanship, Liberman, who started driving cars at the age of 12, was a huge fixture on the U.S. drag racing circuit. Many still consider him the greatest showman the drag strip has ever seen.
And the story of Jungle Pam, born Pamela Hardy, begins in May 1972 — just two weeks before she graduated from high school.
Liberman spotted the striking young beauty hitch-hiking while he cruised in his yellow Corvette, and fate took over. Pam had big plans to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she intended to major in business. But instead, she fell for Jim and quickly joined him on the road.
”I ditched the college that had accepted me, and it drove my mother nuts,” she later recalled.
Touring the country together, Jim and Pam became a dynamic duo in the drag racing world, with his showmanship and her magnetic presence. Initially, Jim Liberman wanted Pam to stage his funny car at the starting line, knowing it would capture the audience’s attention — and it certainly did.
“Well, sex sells,” Pam told Competition Plus. “You see it on the TV all the time, but back in the ’70s, Jungle and I decided together that this would be worth a shot, so that’s what we did, and it didn’t seem to hurt his reputation at all. And he had more pictures taken of his car as long as I was standing next to it than anybody else.”
Pam was not only stunning but also always braless, typically donning a tank top or a skimpy halter and zero-inch inseam jean shorts.
