In just four short years during the mid-1970s, Pam Hardy went from West Chester high schooler to drag racing icon, and she recently returned to the drag strip to bring back fond memories for the 50th Anniversary of the NHRA’s Funny Car division.
In her prime, “Jungle Pam” Hardy played the part of an attractive assistant to back Funny Car driver “Jungle Jim” Liberman into position on the drag strip after his burnouts. She recently guided past champion Jack Beckman into position during Pomona, Calif.’s Auto Club NHRA Finals, according to a Fox Sports report by Bobby Bennett.
“It was a little bit surreal,” Jungle Pam said. “I was surprised that I pulled it off actually. Backing up a car today is more intense. It’s much more intense. It’s the same but it’s different, but it’s not as laid back as it used to be.”
Jungle Pam was recruited into drag racing in 1973 when she met Liberman at a West Chester convenience store. She left the scene when Liberman died in a non-racing accident on West Chester Pike.
“We put on a good show,” she said. “And that’s what it was all about. It was not about me. When you were out there doing what we were doing, it wasn’t about me. It was about us.”
Liberman’s 1973 Vega Funny Car was just recognized by NHRA as the greatest Funny Car ever.
Read more about Jungle Pam’s return to the strip on Fox Sports here.
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