Tom Medley

Tom Medley (20 March 1920 - 2 March 2014 ) was an American hot rodder and cartoonist, best known as creator of Stroker McGurk.

History Medley was born in Lebanon, Oregon, 20 March 1920. He became interested in auto racing at a young age, and would hitchhike up to to attend dirt track events.

He served in the U.S. Army's 78th Infantry Division during World War II. Medley moved from humor editor to advertising in 1955, and stayed with Petersen Publishing until 1985.

In December 1965, Medley was named publisher of Rod & Custom, which he transformed from a general interest automotive and drag racing magazine (including coverage of karts) to a specialist custom car title. He ran contrary to the trend toward muscle cars and drag racing, and succeeded. and occasionally in Rod & Custom in the 1980s.

Stroker (as he was always known) drove a trademark 1929 Ford roadster in most of his appearances, but he also innovated a number of things later copied by real-life racers, including multiple-engine dragsters, traction bars, and parachutes.