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Jungle Pam Hardy: All you kneed to know about the iconic drag racing beauty

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.

Jungle Jim Liberman Chevy Vega Funny Car – Revell – Jungle Pam. Photo shoot for Hot Rod Magazine with Jungle Jim Liberman and Jungle Pam Hardy. (Photo by Mike Brenner/The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images/Getty Images)

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.

Most famous figure on the drag strip

In no time, she transformed from an unknown into the most famous female figure on the drag strip. Her remarkable rise even led her to grace the cover of Hot Rod Magazine, a feat no woman had achieved before. The cheers that erupted when Pam stepped onto the track often surpassed the roars of applause for the most celebrated drivers.

“I’m kind of amazed by all the notoriety,” she remarked in 1974.

But Pam was more than just a pretty face, as some would have you believe. She staged the car, inspected it for fluid leaks before each run, filled the block with water and eight quarts of 70W oil, packed parachutes after every race, and assisted Jim in repositioning his car after his burnouts.

”We put on a good show,” Pam 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.”

Pam was described as ”a stroke of genius,” and many were impressed that Jim had transformed her into a true racing enthusiast. This helped the sport’s profile overall, particularly enhancing the reputation of Jim Liberman’s team.

In the relatively niche world of drag racing, Jim and Pam stood out. While Jim clinched several national championships, he was most renowned for his vibrant personality, warm demeanor, and, of course, his stunning girlfriend.

”Our relationship was a flash in the pan, a bolt of lightning. I just worked,” Pam told Fox Sports.

But everything changed on September 9, 1977.

Jim dies

Just three days shy of his 32nd birthday, Jim was racing his 1972 yellow Corvette at 250 mph when he collided with a bus.

The legendary drag racer died instantly, and it took responders a heartbreaking 45 minutes to extract his body from the mangled wreckage.

”It was my mother called me and told me because she didn’t want me to hear it on the news,” Pam told CompetitionPlusTV.

The tragic accident sent shockwaves through the entire motorsports community. In the aftermath, Pam made the difficult decision to step back from drag racing, vowing never to work with another driver again.

Yet, she quietly dedicated herself to preserving Jim Liberman’s memory, frequently participated in memorial events honoring her late boyfriend.

”All that showmanship was his true personality. He just didn’t turn that on at the track and then became normal like everyone else at home. He had that sort of flair even when we were just at the house or went out some place. You could always feel his presence wherever he was,” Pam says.

On a romantic level, Pam moved on. Being the racing lover that she is, she later married Funny Car owner Fred Frey. After their divorce, she married Bill Hodgson, who tunes George Reidnauer’s Excalibur Corvette Nostalgia Funny Car.

The truth behind the photos

Looking through old drag racing photos from the 1970s is a fascinating journey back in time. These snapshots capture not just the roaring engines and vibrant colors of the era, but also the spirit of a community united by a shared passion for speed and excitement.

Jungle Pam broke new ground, proving that women could get respect in a male-dominated sport, all while bringing smiles and laughter to countless faces. She had a life that just doesn’t happen anymore. A woman of undeniable class, she lived life on her own terms — what more could anyone ask for?

Pam’s influence and charm made her an icon, reminding us that the joy of racing is not just about the speed, but about the connections we forge and the memories we create together.

As we revisit these vintage images, we are reminded of the joy and exhilaration that defined those races. We can almost hear the roar of the engines, smell the burnt rubber, and feel the adrenaline rush pulsing through the crowds. We call those the good ole days, and they really were. Times were fun and easier to say the least!

In a world that often feels disconnected, these glimpses into the past remind us of simpler times when excitement was palpable, and the thrill of the race brought people together.

Did Pam Hardy race a car herself?

No, Pam Hardy, known as “Jungle Pam,” didn’t race cars herself.

“Hell no, and hell no. Those things could blow up and catch fire,” as she put it herself.

Jungle Pam Hardy today

Today, at 67 years old, Pam Hardy lives a relatively quiet life, staying close to her roots in drag racing at the grassroots level. She’s just as striking and vibrant as ever— a truly good-looking woman with a timeless charm.

More than just her iconic presence in the racing world, Pam is known for being a down-to-earth, honest person. Her genuine personality continues to resonate with fans. Pam still brings smiles to those who remember her legendary days on the track and beyond.

Here’s to the incredible woman she is today — thank you for the memories, Pam!

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Father charged with murder after wife gives birth to twins

There is nothing more exciting for a young couple than to welcome a child they have been waiting months for. This young couple outwardly did not seem any different.

They were expecting twins and had one child already. No one suspected the parents were anything but over-the-moon. But then when the father was left alone with the newborn, he did something unthinkable. Keep reading to learn about his heinous actions.

The mother Savannah Bliss talked to the media and explained that her newborn son was injured while he was in his father’s care. According to Savannah, her husband was watching little Gunner and their older one year old child while she was visiting Gunner’s twin sister in the NICU at WakeMed.

The mother shared that Gunner and his twin Madelyn were both born premature at 34 weeks. The babies had not yet been released from the hospital when Gunner was injured.

22-year-old Noah Benjamin Bliss from Harnett County was arrested at WakeMed in Raleigh. He was charged with the first-degree murder of his 3-week-old son Gunner Bliss. He also faced charges of child abuse and inflicting serious bodily injury on the baby, from the incident that occurred on October 6, this year.

“I want justice for my son,” Savannah Bliss said. “I trusted my husband to watch Gunner while I was taking care of his sister in the ICU. He was sweetest boy with most beautiful blue eyes … he was the best baby [and] for him to be taken so soon is so wrong.”

The family was living temporarily at the WakeMed’s Heart Center Inn. The place is a hotel-like space for families who have loved ones receiving care downstairs in the hospital.

According to the mother Savannah Bliss, nursing staff said the injuries Gunner had indicated that he had been shaken vigorously by his father.

The staff told Savannah Bliss that Gunner had no external injuries or any broken bones, but that the infant had suffered from head trauma, in particular brain bleeding and swelling which deprived him of oxygen.

On Monday night, the newborn was taken off life support.

Shutterstock

Noah Bliss appeared in front of a court on Tuesday where he was sent to jail with no bond. His next court date is scheduled for the coming month.

As for Savannah, she is still trying to piece together what happened. The young mother said, “He seemed happy … like a proud father,” adding, “I never thought this would have happened … I trusted him, that was his daddy … he loved his babies.”

This is such an unfortunate situation to have happened. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to Savannah as she grieves this heartbreaking loss.

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All 6,000 residents in town live on the same street

There’s a quaint, charming element to life when you reside in a village or small town.

I mean the sort of place where almost everyone knows almost everyone else. First-name greetings are considered the norm, there’s a local watering hole for people to gather, and probably a handful of other buildings including a post office, a funeral directors, and some sort of store.

My point is, sometimes it’s nice to share the sense of a tight-knit community with others. It’s not for everyone, mind, but as humans there appear to be quite a lot of us who enjoy living as part of a flock as opposed to being out in the sticks on our own.

That said, I wonder how many people can honestly say they’d like to live in a town where all of the residents live on the same street!

Well, that’s the case for the residents of a village in Europe that achieved viral status on Twitter earlier this month after an aerial photo was uploaded to social media.

Incredibly, all of the 6,000 residents of the village of Sułoszowa, located in southern Poland, live along a single nine kilometer stretch of street.

The village has reportedly been dubbed “Little Tuscany” due to its layout, and as of 2017 had a population of 5,819, according to CSO Poland.

It’s said that each house on the street has a long strip of land that comes with it, which inhabitants use for a range of different things including farming and the housing of animals.

After people took notice of the strange, yet definitely beautiful aerial shots, residents of Sułoszowa responded by explaining what it was like to live there.

“I wouldn’t trade this place for anything else. It has its own charm and atmosphere. As the saying goes, there’s something about it,” one said.

Credit / Shutterstock – Olivier Uchmanski

“The whole place looks the same: there is a house and then a strip of field, hence the beauty of the photos. One has grain, the other has rapeseed, and the third has something else. The colors look beautiful from above.”

A second image was reportedly posted on Reddit, accompanied by a question regarding whether the strips of land that fan out from the village are the property of each house on the street.

Someone responded: “I just showed this to my Polish friend and he said yes!”

They continued: “Each house has that strip of land to do whatever on, hence different colours and they are using the land for different purposes. Some grow crops on it, others have animals, some just leave it.

“I said I didn’t believe him but he says it’s true.”

What an incredibly peculiar arrangement. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a town like this before.

Have you? Let us know in the comments box if you have.

Meanwhile, share this article on Facebook so more people can weigh in on the matter.

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Women ran from Vincent D’Onofrio after break-through role

Vincent D’Onofrio is probably best remembered for his iconic role as the chubby, inept Marine recruit in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket.

But after that, his popularity took a dive.

The ruggedly handsome actor, who turned 64 on June 30, 2023, said the role required a dramatic physical transformation, which resulted in him repelling the women who once swooned over his curly dark hair and athletic build.

Vincent D’Onofrio’s résumé is as lengthy as it is diverse. He always puts 200% into every part, and he is always able to become the character to the point you forget who he is.

The Brooklyn-born actor got his start in stage productions, some off-Broadway others on, and held numerous side hustles, like being a bodyguard to Yul Brynner and Robert Plant, to support his dreams of being an actor.

In his early days, he earned himself a living as a nightclub bouncer, delivering flowers, hanging drapes and driving a cab.

But after appearing in a couple of low-budget films, D’Onofrio’s friend, actor Matthew Modine, urged him to send an audition tape to Stanley Kubrick, who at the time was casting for his next big hit.

The 6-foot-3 D’Onofrio, who was incredibly fit, won the role of the fat, dim-witted Leonard, but it came with a few conditions.

Working with Kubrick was a transformative experience for D’Onofrio, as it allowed him to immerse himself deeply in his character and explore his acting abilities in a challenging and intense environment.

The father of three, now 64, had to shave his gorgeous full head of hair, and gain 70 to 80 pounds, which to this date is the most weight gained by any actor for a role.

“[Kubrick] asked me early on would I be all right with gaining this weight and I went over there and gained about 30 pounds, and I remember him seeing it and saying that I only look like I could kick everybody’s a**. He thought some more weight would be needed.” Speaking of the role he played when he was 24, D’Onofrio continued, “I think it went up to 80 pounds…from 200 to 280.”

Gaining the weight was not an easy task for D’Onofrio, who was then faced with the gruelling demands of the movie’s boot-camp scenes.

Obstacle courses would have been easy with his athletic build but it was particularly taxing for someone weighing in at 280 pounds.

D’Onofrio’s impressive portrayal of the chubby, dumb and mentally disturbed Leonard earned him a lot of praise from critics but he also had to deal with fans who mistook the actor for the character.

“People treat you differently when you’re that size you gotta remember my head was shaved so it was like a completely different persona from me being this long lanky actor to a big burly guy with a bald head…it was a very strange life change.” The Broken Horses star continued, “It changed my life. Women didn’t look at me, most of the time I was looking at their backs as they were running away. People used to say things to me twice, because they thought I was stupid.”

One year later, the Magnificent Seven star had a full head of hair and his body was back to his earlier size.

Today, the New York-born director, producer, screenwriter and actor, who authored the 2023 book “Pigs Can’t Look Up,” credits his lengthy career to Kubrick.

“Stanley made my career, there’s no question to that I’ve done over 50 films, because of him. Because of that part.” D’Onofrio was referring to his numerous roles in both film and TV, most notably as a series regular on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001 to 2011) and Marvel’s Daredevil (2015 to 2018). His films include starring roles in Dying YoungThe Break-Up and Jurassic World.

Vincent D’Onofrio wife and children

D’Onofrio’s life was greatly affected by his parents’ divorce when he was a child. His mother re-married George Meyer, a renowned American producer and writer.

As a result, the family moved to the Hialeah, Florida area. During his childhood, D’Onofrio was a reserved boy who often retreated to his room, lost in his thoughts.

While residing in Florida, he developed an interest in magic and the art of sleight of hand, skills he acquired from Cuban performers who operated a small magic store.

During the early 1990s, Vincent D’Onofrio was romantically involved with actress Greta Scacchi. They appeared together in multiple films during this time, such as The Player and Fires Within. From their relationship, they have a daughter named Leila George, who was born around 1991 or 1992, and she has since pursued a career as an actress.

Wikipedia Commons / David Shankbone

In 1997, Vincent D’Onofrio tied the knot with Carin van der Donk, a Dutch model.

Together, they welcomed their first son in 1999. However, their relationship faced difficulties in the early 2000s, leading to a separation. They later reconciled and had a second son in 2008.

In June 2023, D’Onofrio initiated divorce proceedings in Manhattan Supreme Court, marking the end of the 26-year-long marriage with Carin van der Donk.

D’Onofrio can be seen with Sandra Bullock in 2021 film The Unforgivable and the soon-to-be released comedy Dumb Money.

Vincent D’Onofrio was fantastic in Full Metal Jacket and his mental decline as Leonard is incredibly believable!

He looks totally different now, as to be expected many decades later, but we still enjoy his performances!

What do you think about his portrayal of the dumb, fat Leonard?

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