Tom Quiring

• Name: Tom Quiring

• Age: 49

• Family: Wife, Kathy; son, Thomas Jr.; daughter, Trena

• City of residence/years in area: Marysville, 15 years

• Employer: Golden Valley Auto Body, 727 Sutter St., Yuba City

• Training/certifications: ICAR certified for collision repair and aluminum welding

• Years in the automotive industry: 30 years

• How did you get your start in automotive? I worked at a junkyard as part of an after-school program. A journeyman mechanic there let me borrow his tools and work on things. I ended up painting my first car in the 10th-grade.

• Where do you see the industry going in the future? Technicians will continue to spend more time replacing parts and less time repairing and straightening them.

• What is the biggest problem facing the automotive industry today? The insurance companies trying to dictate how we do our jobs, and the gas prices. Nationwide, the industry has been slow due to the cost of gas and the lack of bad weather. Unfortunately, bad weather is good for business, since most accidents occur when the weather is at its worst.

• What is the hardest part of your job? Straightening and grinding metal - it’s tough on the hands.

• What would you change about the way today’s cars are manufactured? I would make them easier to work on. Saturn paints their interior and other parts the same color and that makes it easier for us.

• In recent years, what has been the biggest change in the auto body industry? It’s gotten a lot more technical and the metals today are thinner and harder.

• What has been the biggest technological breakthrough in recent years? The advancement in plastics and computers. Before, we never had to deal with air-bags, computers and plastic bumpers.

• What brand of tools do you use? Mostly Craftsman and Matco. I’m not a Snap-On guy.

• What advice would you give to aspiring mechanics? Stay in school.

• Hobbies/interests: Spending time with my grandchildren, fishing and bowling

• What brought you to the area? My family

• Where is your favorite place to go in the Yuba-Sutter area? Right now it’s Nu Generation Lanes bowling alley in Yuba City.

• What was the first job you ever had? Working at a junkyard - I’m the original “Junkyard Dog.”

• What was the first car you owned and how did you afford it? My dad bought me a 1961 Volkswagen Bug when I was 16 years old. I had to put an engine in it myself.

• If you could have any car of any year, what would it be? I like the newer Chevy Malibus.

• Whom do you admire most and why? My wife. I admire her for who she is and how she treats people.

• What was your biggest life-changing experience? When I was a manager at a grocery store in Gridley, a girl who was kidnapped ran in the store chased by her kidnapper. He ended up stabbing her three times before I was able to wrestle the knife away from him and save her life.

• Favorite sports team: I’ve been a Miami Dolphins fan since 1972.

• Favorite television shows: “Deal or No Deal” and professional poker

• Favorite movie: Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”

• Favorite musician: Kelly Clarkson

• Favorite food: Mexican food

• Favorite subject in school: Math

• Least favorite: English

• If you were in charge, what would you change about the community? I would see that there were more activities for kids. There should be safer places around for kids to go and just be themselves. I think that a little amusement park, similar to Disneyland, would go over well.