Trophy Queens injected a shot of glamour to the tough sport of racing, and we are excited to showcase these rare images

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, in asscociation with the Automobile Club of Southern California, will pay tribute to the stunning glamour girls of racing with a special new photo exhibit titled Trophy Queens. Dozens of rare, never-before-seen photographs of models presenting trophies from the 1930s through to the 1970s are now on show.
 
“Trophy Queens represent an important part of American racing lore,” said Tony Thacker, executive director of the Parks Museum. “Trophy Queens injected a shot of glamour to the tough sport of racing, and we are excited to showcase these rare images.”

Some photos of pre-Hollywood starlets who began as trophy queens will also be unveiled, including 19-year-old model named Raquel Tejada, later to become Hollywood actress Raquel Welch.

In 1956, racers were dreaming of Jeannie before the TV sitcom hit the screen when a wide- eyed Barbara Huffman, later to be known as Barbara Eden, presented many trophies before her rise to fame.

The greatest of trophy queens Linda Vaughn will be greeting fans and posing for pictures during the exhibit’s opening day. Vaughn has donned many crowns including the 1966 “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” and 1962 “Miss Pontiac.” She is also known in racing circles as the “First Lady of Motor sports.”