Barbara Roufs: The Iconic Face of 1970s Drag Racing

Introduction: The Beauty Behind the Burnouts

Barbara Roufs, a name synonymous with the golden era of American drag racing, wasn’t just a beautiful face beside the roaring engines—she was the very embodiment of the sport’s evolving identity in the 1970s. At a time when drag racing was shifting from underground gatherings to major televised spectacles, Roufs emerged as a cultural symbol. Her effortless charm, glamorous style, and bold confidence became an integral part of the sport’s image. But beyond the glitz and flashbulbs, Barbara’s story is one of complex personal experiences, tragic turns, and a legacy that continues to resonate through vintage car culture and motorsports history.

From her roots in Southern California to becoming the crown jewel of drag strips across the country, this article explores the life, influence, and memory of Barbara Roufs—an unforgettable figure in American motorsport.

Early Life: Small-Town Girl With Big-City Presence

Born in 1944 in California, Barbara Roufs was raised in the town of Clovis, a suburban area northeast of Fresno. She grew up in a close-knit family that was active in the local community. Her mother, Thelma Ruby Riley, ran a successful beauty salon and played organ at several churches, offering Barbara a daily lesson in elegance, poise, and discipline. Her father, Wayne Eldon Riley, was a motorcycling enthusiast and a frequent visitor to racing events at the Kearney Bowl. These contrasting influences—the stylish world of salons and the high-octane world of motorsports—shaped Barbara’s unique persona: graceful and bold, polished yet adventurous.

Barbara was one of four children—Vivian, James, Bruce, and her adopted brother Ben Gube. She spent her early years surrounded by family values, but her ambitions soon outgrew the boundaries of her small town.

The 1970s Drag Racing Scene: A Cultural Revolution on Wheels

To understand Barbara Roufs‘ importance, one must first understand the cultural environment of the 1970s drag racing scene. This decade was a time of transformation in America—youth rebellion, feminist awakening, and the rise of counter-cultures all shaped societal expectations. Drag racing, once confined to backroads and industrial zones, exploded in popularity as it became a mainstream sport.

Tracks like Orange County International Raceway, Pomona Raceway, and Irwindale became stages for both machines and personalities. Car manufacturers invested heavily in branding, teams sought marketable faces, and event organizers knew that visual appeal sold tickets. Into this electrifying atmosphere walked Barbara Roufs—not as a mechanic, nor as a driver, but as a model who would become more iconic than many who piloted the race cars themselves.

Crowning Glory: The PDA Queen of 1973

In 1973, Barbara Roufs reached the zenith of her public career when she was crowned Queen of the Professional Dragster Association (PDA). Before that, she had already been featured as the trophy girl for major events, including the 6th Annual United States Professional Dragster Championship.

This was more than just a beauty contest title. The PDA was one of the most significant motorsports organizations of the era, and Roufs’ selection reflected her popularity and the esteem she held among fans and participants alike. Her presence at events brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the sport, often photographed standing next to dragsters and winners with wind-blown hair, bell-bottom jeans, and dazzling halter tops. This signature style would later be emblematic of the era itself.

Her signature look was not just a matter of style, but timing. The 1970s had just begun to embrace freer, more revealing fashion. Barbara’s confident embrace of these trends made her stand out even more. She wasn’t just riding the cultural wave—she helped define it within the motorsport community.

Style, Substance, and Stardom

What made Barbara Roufs such an icon wasn’t merely her looks; it was the fusion of style, substance, and presence that elevated her role beyond that of a trophy presenter. She was in her late 20s—older than many of her contemporaries in similar roles. Yet, she exuded a maturity that drew admiration, not only from fans but also from drivers and sponsors.

She projected professionalism, took pride in her role, and understood her value in a male-dominated environment. Far from being a passive decoration, Barbara actively engaged with media, photographers, and promotional teams. Her photos became a staple in magazines like Drag News and Super Stock. She also appeared in various merchandise campaigns for car parts and racing events.

By all accounts, Roufs was a natural in front of the camera. Her smile seemed effortless, her pose unrehearsed, yet somehow perfect. Behind the scenes, she was known to be kind-hearted, humble, and refreshingly down-to-earth. It’s this multidimensional appeal—model, mom, motorsports figure—that makes her legacy endure.

Personal Life: Mother, Wife, and Private Soul

Behind her public image, Barbara Roufs lived a personal life that she mostly kept private. She was married, though her husband’s identity remained undisclosed in public records. In her late 20s, Barbara became a mother to a daughter named Jet Dougherty. Friends and family describe her as a loving, attentive parent who balanced her time between motherhood and public appearances.

Her daughter Jet would later comment in public forums about how proud Barbara was of her work and how she found joy in the attention and energy of racing events. She wasn’t merely performing for others—Barbara genuinely loved being a part of the community.

Yet, as with many public figures, especially women in the spotlight, the dual life of performance and personal introspection could be burdensome. The 1980s saw Barbara gradually recede from the public eye, choosing instead to focus on her family and a quieter lifestyle.

Tragic End: A Life Cut Short

In January 1991, at the age of 47, Barbara Roufs tragically died by suicide. The reasons remain private, with her family choosing to honor her memory without delving into the specifics of her struggles. Her passing left a void in the hearts of those who knew her and in the drag racing community that had adored her.

The news of her death, though not widely covered at the time, resurfaced in online forums, vintage racing blogs, and nostalgia-driven websites decades later. Fans who had admired her from afar began posting old photographs and magazine scans, reviving her legacy through digital archiving.

What emerged was a poignant realization: that Barbara Roufs, like many icons of her era, had quietly carried burdens unseen by the public, even as she had lit up the tracks with her energy.

Legacy: More Than Just a Trophy Girl

Barbara Roufs’ story transcends the realm of drag racing. It becomes a lens into larger cultural themes: the evolving role of women in sports, the often unacknowledged pressures of public life, and the value of preserving history, not just in machines, but in memories.

She is now remembered as a trailblazer—someone who elevated a ceremonial role into something aspirational. While she may not have held a wrench or driven a 300-mph car, her influence was just as impactful. She represented a time when motorsports began recognizing the power of presentation and personality.

Today, her photographs are celebrated across Pinterest boards, Reddit threads, Instagram fan pages, and motorsport retrospectives. Some of her most famous photos were taken by Tom West, a revered racing photographer whose images helped cement her iconic status.

Memorialization and Revival

Since the 2010s, there has been a renewed interest in Barbara Roufs, especially within vintage drag racing communities. Forums dedicated to “old-school cool” frequently feature her photos with captions of admiration and remembrance.

In 2016, when photographer Tom West uploaded previously unseen images of Roufs, her daughter Jet responded publicly, noting how her mother would have been overjoyed to be remembered so fondly.

This rekindling of interest has not only introduced Barbara to a new generation of racing enthusiasts but has also catalyzed discussions around preserving stories of women in motorsports—those whose contributions, though often sidelined, helped shape the culture.

Barbara Roufs: Key Facts at a Glance

Conclusion: Remembering a Racing Muse

Barbara Roufs was more than a striking figure on the sidelines of a race. She was a product of her time—and also a shaper of it. Her style, grace, and passion for motorsport helped craft the visual identity of an entire era of drag racing. In her role as a trophy girl, she added depth, personality, and authenticity that elevated the sport’s appeal far beyond gearheads and pit crews.While her story ended in sorrow, her memory lives on, celebrated not only for her beauty but for her enduring influence on motorsport culture. Today, Barbara Roufs serves as a reminder that every racing icon, whether behind the wheel or in front of the camera, carries a story worth preserving.