I was alerted to some very sad news while on the road today. Serge Ryssev, a former employee, friend and fellow track enthusiast passed away this last Sunday.
Serge came to us as a customer in March of 2006 while going through tech school to become a mechanic. Something about him resonated with me, by July he was working part time as a tech. When he graduated I offered him a full time position which he accepted. Kevin (vmtech) worked with Serge and helped him study for the STEP program. Serge got into the program, graduated then went to work at a dealership.
Serge traveled with us out to Mid-Ohio to support our SpecE30 efforts at the NASA Nationals. He was never afraid to get dirty and always one of the first to throw in a helping hand.
Serge is on the left with Kevin:
Serge and Alex:
Serge volunteered his time to work with us at the 2008 25hr, this was the last time I would see him.
Serge’s handsfree radio
While working here Serge was a fun loving prankster that was always good for a laugh. His nickname, Tiger Paw I believe was a result of something between himself and Kevin. I still have the Tiger Paw drawing he left on my desk. I had taped it up at his old workstation because I told him he was coming back to work for me whether he liked it or not.
Serge had a HUGE appetite and could out consume anyone. We would have shop meetings at an all you can eat Korean Barbecue. It was the only way I could afford to feed him! He called it “meat mountain”, after he left we would send him phone images of the meat to make him jealous.
I really loved the guy, he was fun to be around and he was a great employee. I am truly devastated as are all his old workmates. My heart goes out to his family, we are all hurting right now.
It does hurt to see a person with such potential like Serge die at such a young age (he was 22 years old). I first met Serge when he was working for Valley Motorwerks and he helped me a number of times with my SpecE30 race car. Walter introduced me to him as “the only Russian in Sacramento who doesn’t drive a salvaged titled car”. He was a good kid with a wry sense of humor. On his track car he had the name “Lumbergh” vinyled on his car…I didn’t get the joke at first. I didn’t know his last name at the time and said to him that Lumbergh didn’t sound too Russian to me…Serge had a laugh…come to find out Lumbergh is a character in the movie “Office Space” and it was one of his favorite movies. It also explained the “What’s Happening” vinyl on his car too.