By Janet Franklin 
In the 1970s, when motorsports and auto racing were becoming very famous in the United States, Barbara Roufs became a legendary drag racer. She was a trophy girl and a model, and she also became a symbol of how drag racing was changing. This part had a big impact on the history of the sport. Barbara was a big part of the drag racing scene, both on and off the track, with her looks, fashion, and charm.
Introducing Barbara Roufs
Barbara Roufs was born in California in 1944. She was more than just a pretty face in the world of racing. When drag racing was becoming very popular, she became a part of its culture and caught the interest of fans and the media. Drag racing was very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The sport was known for being fast and exciting. People cheered for the men who drove cars, but the women who gave out trophies at every event and race also played a big part in creating the sport’s glamorous and attractive image.
Trophy Girls in Drag Racing
During this time, trophy girls were a big part of the mood at drag races. A lot of the time, they could be seen standing by the cars or giving awards to the winners while wearing fancy, attention-grabbing clothes. In the beginning of drag racing, trophy girls had to wear fancy outfits with feathers and big jewelry. These women helped both to celebrate the wins and to make the event more impressive. The way they dressed was a sign of the times, showing the excitement of the 1950s and 1960s.
But as the 1970s came closer, both the prize girl’s job and the way she dressed changed. As time went on, the fancy clothes were swapped out for more modern, simple outfits. Trophy girls wore more modern clothes instead of feathered ones; they often wore shirts and bras and had longer hair. A lot of things in American society changed during this time, and Barbara Roufs was very important to the changes that happened in drag racing.
Barbara Roufs: Becoming Famous in the 1970s
When prize girls were highly admired and sought after, Barbara Roufs made a name for herself in drag racing. She was famous for how beautiful she was, her long, straight hair, and her unique go-go boots from the 1960s. Barbara was older than a lot of the other trophy girls, but her looks and grace made her very popular with sponsors and in promos. But she was still able to become famous, even though she was young. In fact, it just made her more charming and attractive.
At the Orange County International Raceway’s Professional Dragster Championships in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Barbara was nominated for the important title of Racing Queen. This honor made her become a well-known person in motorsports, and she quickly became very popular. When she was named the 1973 PDA Professional Dragster Association Queen, it made her a permanent part of racing history. She was popular in the sport because she was charming and interesting, in addition to being beautiful. She could get racers and fans to pay attention to her.
Barbara Roufs’s Ascent in the Racing World
Barbara didn’t become famous in drag racing just because she was pretty; she was able to fit in with the fast-paced motorsport world while staying calm and graceful. She was a well-known figure in the sport as a model and prize girl. She was a spokesperson for a lot of different brands and goods, especially ones related to drag racing. This made her a well-known person who helped get more people interested in the sport. Businesses knew her connection to drag racing was powerful and tried to use her picture to advertise their products, mostly in the fashion and clothing industries.
A lot of people thought that trophy girls were just pretty women next to cars, but Barbara showed that these women had a bigger effect on the sport’s culture. She had an impact even after her time as a trophy girl, and she was an important part of how drag racing was promoted and presented to the public.
The Life and Lasting Impact of Barbara Roufs
Barbara’s private life, though not as well known, was very important in making her the person and professional she was. Barbara was married one time and had a son named Jet Dougherty, but she didn’t share personal information with others. Barbara didn’t share much about her home life, so not much is known about her husband or their marriage. But it was clear that her family meant a lot to her. After Barbara died, her daughter Jet would say she was proud of her mother’s heritage.
Barbara Roufs died in January 1991, but even now, her impact on drag racing and her legendary status in the motorsport community are still remembered. The pictures of Barbara when she worked as a trophy girl have become famous; they show the height of the drag racing sport and its culture. People still share and enjoy these pictures; some have even been sold at auction for very high prices, which shows how interested people are in her legacy.
Barbara Roufs’s Influence on Drag Racing and Motorsports
Barbara Roufs was a big part of changing how women were seen in racing. She was part of a group of women who helped change what it meant to be a trophy girl. They made the sport look new and glamorous, which brought in more fans. When drag racing was thought to be mostly a men’s sport, Barbara’s appearance helped challenge traditional ideas about gender, making her an inspiration to many women in motorsport.
The 1970s were a time of change in the cultural landscape, and her legacy shows that. It was a time when people started to question and change standard gender roles and societal expectations. Barbara Roufs’s beauty and skill helped women get more involved in motorsports, both on and off the track. Even though she was only a trophy girl for a short time, there is no doubt that she had a big effect on the sport and its society.
Barbara Roufs’s Wealth and Money-Making Success
Barbara never talked about how much money she made as a prize girl, but it’s clear that she made a lot of money from it. In the 1970s, Barbara was one of the most famous and in-demand trophy girls. She made a lot of money from her work in product marketing, modeling, and public events. It’s thought that she was quite rich in the end, and some of her most famous pictures sold for a lot of money at sales.
In fact, some famous pictures of Barbara Roufs when she was a trophy girl in the 1970s are now being sold for up to $1.5 million. These pictures have turned into collectibles, which further solidified her place in drag racing and motorsports history. People are still interested in her memory, and fans and collectors want to own a piece of history that shows how Barbara contributed to the sport.
Barbara Roufs’s Legacy: An Icon for All Time
Barbara Roufs’s life had its ups and downs, but she will always be remembered as one of the most important trophy girls in drag racing. She wasn’t just a pretty face; she was a professional who had a big impact on how people saw drag racing in the 1970s. Barbara Roufs made the racing sport into something bigger through her job as a model and her famous face in the industry, making her a lasting part of American motorsport history.
There is a lot of mystery and sadness in the story behind her life of beauty, fame, and success. Barbara Roufs was a pioneer in drag racing, and the things she did for the sport have left a long mark on the world of motorsports. Barbara’s iconic status in the world of drag racing stays strong, and her memory continues to inspire new generations of fans and racers even after she died.
Final Thoughts
In the world of drag racing, Barbara Roufs was more than just a prize girl. In the 1970s, she helped change the way women were seen in racing by being beautiful, graceful, and professional. Barbara was an important and famous person in the sport, and she is still remembered by fans and collectors today. Her photos and other contributions are a symbol of that age in drag racing history when everything changed, and they continue to have an impact on people. Even though she died young, Barbara had a big impact on the world of racing.
Barbara helped make drag racing look better through her job as a model and spokesperson, getting the attention of audiences and sponsors. The fact that she was able to go beyond what trophy girls of her era were expected to do and leave a lasting impression speaks to her skill and beauty, as well as the strength of her presence in motorsports.
Common Questions
1. Who was Barbara Roufs?
In the 1970s, trophy girls and models like Barbara Roufs were famous for their looks and elegance in drag racing.
2. At what time did Barbara Roufs die?
In January 1991, Barbara Roufs died. She left behind a lasting memory in the world of drag racing.
3. In drag racing, what was Barbara Roufs famous for?
Barbara Roufs was well-known for being a prize girl, especially for her time as the PDA Professional Dragster Association Queen in 1973.
4. Was there a family in Barbara Roufs?
Barbara Roufs had a son named Jet Dougherty, but she didn’t share information about her husband or personal life.
5. What is the value of Barbara Roufs’s estate today?
Barbara Roufs’s photos and keepsakes are highly prized, and some have sold at auctions for up to $1.5 million.