Tom Medley

[3] He became interested in auto racing at a young age, and would hitchhike up to 65 mi (105 km) to attend dirt track events.

[3] Medley's famed creation, Stroker McGurk, debuted in the third issue of Hot Rod[4] (when it was still called Honk!

Stroker (as he was always known) drove a trademark 1929 Ford roadster[9] 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.

[3] After discussions with Tex Smith, Medley helped organize the first Street Rod Nationals in Peoria, Illinois, in summer 1970.

[5] Medley had a favorite 1940 Ford 5-window, which was destroyed in 2011 in a garage fire; family and friends raised US$30,000 to have the car restored, presenting it to him 10 months later.