Saw this on a Hudson board. Anybody know anything about this? http://www.classiccar.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=view&catid=13&id=152150&Itemid=152
Sad thing to read. Tom Medley is a fine human being that has contributed much to this hobby. Having felt the pain of hearing that the El MAtador had burned in a fire, I can only imagine what Mr. Medley must be feeling. One of the nicest guys that I have ever met.
Burbank Firefighters had their hands full when they arrived on scene at 3316 W. Verdugo Avenue, Thursday afternoon as they had a garage well involved with fire. A 91 year-old occupant was knocked to the ground after attempting to start the car and it backfired and caught fire. Firefighters made a quick knock down but were unable to save the garage or any of it's contents which included a 1940 Ford Coupe and a mobile trailer sitting near the garage. Firefighter/Paramedics treated the resident, Tom Medley, the owner of both the home and of the car, who was knocked to the ground after the fire started. Medley declined any further medical treatment. Burbank Fire sent three engines, two truck companies, a paramedic unit and Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief Tom Lenahan. The damage was listed at $30,000 to the garage and $60,000 to it's contents with no injuries to firefighters and the cause is being listed as an accidental backfire from the cars engine.
That is horrible. Glad he is OK, and the car may be able to be rebuilt. He has LOTS of friends, and I bet plans for the rebuild will be made before the weekend is over.
Oh crap! what a horroble thing to have happen to such a great guy! I remember that car going together in the pages of the Rod&Custom quarterlies in the late seventies and early eighties... Sad sad loss...
picture of Tom and his car from HEMI32 from a prior thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273195
Sad to hear, I think he had the car with him when I met him along with Tex Smith at Plesanton in 1998. I got to spend a bit of time listening to them tell stories and talk hot rods at the booth they were in.
Crap, what terrible news! Fire is a really hard thing to recover from, but when you're 91, I can't imagine...
Hope Tom and the car will both recover to see the street again. He's been at it way longer than I have. At 91 he's got 24 years on me. Frank
wow those pics make your heart sink.... glad tom medlley is ok, he's quite the icon inthe hot rod world...i think everyone loved his stroker mc gurk cartoons back in the day!
El Matador was destroyed in a fire many years ago, and then resurrected by Harold Murphy, who I think still owns it. It was offered for sale at an auction in January, but I don't know if it sold.
So much has been said and written about Medley in the past few years. Until then he was one of the unsung heroes of our hobby. There shouldn't be too many people nowadays who don't know all that he has done for us. I hope the insurance gods are kind to him. And I hope the local guys pitch in to find him a replacement '40 in a big hurry. Stroker can't be a pedestrian for long.
It happened Thursday about 4:00 p.m. Tom was working on the '40 in his garage, the car backfired thru the carb and caught fire. Tom was blown back and got out of the garage and is fine. sadly, the '40 and his garage are total losses. Today, Tom was in good spirits, telling basketball stories, etc. Tom's son Gary, close friend Bruce, and family attorney Dave were there today to assist. Reportedly, the coupe is going to Jack Chisenhall (hopefully to be rebuilt). Best news is Tom (who is 91) was not injured.
Very sad news indeed. What a blow at 91. Glad to hear he is ok though. I'm sure all those who love him will have that coupe back together in no time.
So sad to see looks like the car is done. Good he is ok. Had lunch with him 15 years ago when I was 20 years old and he was very nice and respectful,which I will never forget. Glad he is ok but this is just sad news.
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