Remembering Quint Stires

Manning Force Stires V has been a contributor to HPP and a good friend of mine for 11 years. Few probably recognize that regal moniker, but if I were to say Quint, many would spontaneously smile. Quint, meaning fifth in French, was actually a nickname given to him by his family since dad was Manning F. Stires IV. And the smile that the mere mention of him evokes is most likely due to the fact that when you think of Quint, the first thing that comes to mind is a funny story that he told you or some clever remark he had made when you were together. Quint was very quick-witted and could size up a situation and dissect it verbally, with funny comments interjected into the conversation.

His humor was contagious, he was rarely in a bad mood, and even when he was, he'd still make light of it and you'd end up laughing together anyway. It seemed that no matter how bad my day was going, a call from Quint would provide relief. "Yo, T, it's Quint-pick up! I know you're there. C'mon, pick up, pick up," I'd hear on the machine as I ran for the phone. He called me T. Once we got on the phone, the conversation would range from the latest happenings in the hobby, to family, future assignments, and what happened on the latest episode of The Sopranos. Though Quint is known by most as a Texan who decided to move north to New Hampshire, few realize that he was born in New Jersey and raised in Verona. As such, he was a big Sopranos fan.

My guess is his gregarious manner came from his Texas years, and his ball-busting abilities and sharp wit were cultivated in The Garden State where I grew up, as it sounded all too familiar to me. Quint and I spent a fair amount of time trolling parking lots after sundown with fellow staffers and friends at the Pontiac Southern Nationals and assorted GTOAA Nationals in search of interesting Pontiacs to photograph the next day.

It was Quint who introduced me to the culinary delights of Carl's Jr., a franchise in Texas, and it was Quint with whom I saw the remake of Gone In 60 Seconds. The Pontiac Southern Nationals rained out that year, and we found ourselves in Dallas on a soggy Saturday with little to do, so we took in a movie with then HPP Associate Editor and current Vette Editor Jay Heath. We had a great time pointing out details in the movie that were odd, inaccurate, or impossible. In the final scene, as Nicholas Cage starts the clapped-out Mustang, Quint and I looked at each other at the exact same time and said, "That's a Chrysler gear-reduction starter sound, not a Ford." That's how I remember him.

At age 48, on October 29, 2008, Quint passed away after battling thyroid cancer for the last few years. For a time he was doing really well with treatment. Of late, he had taken a turn for the worse. Not having heard from him for a while, I called him about three weeks before he passed. We spoke a few times that week, catching up on each other's lives, and he was in good spirits. He helped me with a story I was working on, and at his request, I assigned him a small tech story that he had talked about for the last few years but had yet to complete. He was very enthusiastic about it and already had the photos done. We also discussed his current condition and his latest prognosis, which was less than hopeful.

When the due date came and went, I grew concerned and called twice over a two-week period. I didn't care about the story, but I was worried about how he was doing. When I didn't hear back, I hoped it was because he was immersed in the alternative treatments he had told me about. Not long after, I got the call from his wife, Susan, informing me of his passing.

Quint was a great family man to Susan and his two boys, James and Michael. He and his wife were GTOAA members and judges for more than 20 years, and Quint was a technical advisor for the '70 GTO. They took their children to the shows and taught them about Pontiacs as well. Quint was a dedicated Pontiac man with a love for GTOs and a serious obsession for '70 Goats. He had a white '70 Judge that was featured in a book and in magazines, and he has a Cardinal Red '70 GTO that is his pride and joy. It was an NMCA record holder and later a multi-award-winning show car.

Quint turned his weekend passion into a career, contributing to this magazine since 1999, then leaving his job in Wichita Falls, Texas, and moving to Keene, New Hampshire, to accept a research and development position with nearby Ames Performance Engineering in 2004. He also wrote "Wheel Love," a regular column for the Keene Sentinel.

Quint was a great friend to me and many others in this hobby. He was willing to help anyone with questions regarding their Pontiacs at any time of the day or night, and he had no problem turning wrenches for them. There are few people in this world who are so knowledgeable about Pontiacs, so giving of their time, and so happy to do it-Quint was one of those people, and he will be missed.

Donations can be made to an education fund for James and Michael at
TD Bank North
Attn: Tina McCosker
100 Main St.
Keene, NH 03431

or in Quint's name
American Thyroid Association
6066 Leesburg Pike
Ste. 550
Falls Church, VA 22041.