It breaks my heart to say that BigBlueRam lost the fight, though it was not for lack of tenacity or will. He left this world after complications from yet another surgery, from what I understand.

Most of us haven't seen Ivan in a while, and it came as an utter shock to me to hear of his passing. He was a kindred spirit, and as Jeepman said, we've often lived quite vicariously through him. And we've very often shared a lot of amazing times. I'm gonna miss the hell out of him.

3/14/2013 8:44:27 PM

Damn man that sucks! Was this do to cimplications with the leg injured in the bike crash?

3/14/2013 8:52:46 PM

I think complications due to the surgery (# fortyeleven) due to the bike crash, so...indirectly, yes.

Yeah I was shocked to hear that. What a great dude.

...and yeah, even I lived a little vicariously through him--he did/built/bought some stuff that even I would have never even considered. That cat lived as much as he possibly could have.

Man, he and I even talked a couple of times about building and racing a truck in the Baja 1000 (in one of the mild classes) whenever he got his leg straightened out.

3/14/2013 9:00:24 PM

For my homey.

3/14/2013 9:01:44 PM

Fuck Dan you gotta be kidding. You talk to Tuite? This is sad. What a good kid, Ivan will be a friend that I have 1000 stories about and I am glad we got to do the stupid shit we did. Here is to a good guy who did a ton to help me many times. Damn..........

3/14/2013 9:06:05 PM

Reid, I so wish I was kidding. I just thought of him melting the tires off of your Accord.

3/14/2013 9:08:24 PM

Yep, definitely helped me out a few times, too. Hell, he drove to VA one time with a fuckin' smashed-up leg and checked over/bought a Waverunner for me while I was in Iraq, then stored it for me at his place for a few months until I got home to pick it up.

[Edited on March 14, 2013 at 9:10 PM. Reason : that motherfucker probably had figured a way to melt the tires off of the Blue Bird.]

3/14/2013 9:09:50 PM

Damn, dude.

He gave us, Team 9one9, some fog lights for our first rallyX car. I went to his house to pick 'em up, but never even saw him.

We've lost a good one.

R.I.P.

3/14/2013 9:17:12 PM

I wish I still had the video of him doing a pizza run in the acorn. One of my favorite trips of my life was the "shake down run" at tellico as soon the 4runner got its new transplant.

What ever happened to the blue bird I sold him? Anyone know where it finally landed?

Dan how did you find out?

3/14/2013 9:21:40 PM

damn dude that sucks.

3/14/2013 9:24:07 PM

Lots of memories.
Please let us know if you find out more.

3/14/2013 9:50:30 PM

damn. sorry to hear.
def. did lose a great one.
BBR

3/14/2013 9:51:05 PM

3/14/2013 10:19:23 PM

Reid...Matt (Jeepman) talked to me earlier today. Ivan's cousin Randy told him. I talked to Randy a little later myself.

3/14/2013 10:56:21 PM

RIP BBR. he just made a comeback too

3/14/2013 11:03:38 PM

Reid...Matt got in touch with Tuite. Do you ever talk to Nick?

3/14/2013 11:13:05 PM

Never met him, but I've read many good stories on here with his name attached. Seemed like a good guy. Always sucks to lose someone, even if they're just an acquaintance.

3/14/2013 11:16:15 PM

damn that sucks. RIP

3/14/2013 11:55:10 PM

Really awful news...

sad...

3/14/2013 11:55:50 PM

damn man... that's not right. He was really young too. Really helpful dude and was fun to hang out with the two times I met him. Very humble and knew a lot of shit. RIP.

3/14/2013 11:59:51 PM

BigBlueRam was a trove of knowlege with a load of courage. Along with his sense of humor and propensity for satire, that made for some wild times hanging out with him. He'd know how to build something right, but he was equally as likely to do things in his own crazy way just for fun. He'd be out there in the rain with the top off his stock Ramcharger, pedal to the metal, going up Daniels in Uwharrie in a on a set of bald ass touring tires, passing built trucks winching themsleves up the same section. His camper was so bad ass that it was once mistaken for a SWAT bus by real cops. He'd throw some 24's on his Excursion and then take it wheeling onto the beach just to baffle the hell out of folks. He was equally happy to mess with a 50cc pit bike as he did with his built C5. And he was just an awesome person to hang with. At the time I joined TWW, he was one of the best Garage posters, not just because of his automotive knowlege but also because loved to rile people up and keep this place interesting. His passing came as a total shock to me and I think to all of us, as he was in good spirits and everyone was impression that the worst was behind. He even started posting on TWW again... He will be dearly missed

3/15/2013 12:02:39 AM

I remember him wheeling the Po' Runna on little bald tires, just running rings around lifted Jeeps and trucks with big tires, lockers, etc. Whatever he lacked in traction or clearance, he more than made up for with momentum and/or altitude.

3/15/2013 12:11:35 AM

Really sorry to hear.

Be careful on your motorcycles people!

3/15/2013 1:08:01 AM

Sad to hear this

3/15/2013 1:23:12 AM

R.I.P! Great guy and a wild one at that!

3/15/2013 1:34:51 AM

Damn, that sucks. Only ever talked to him a couple of times, but he recognized me the first time by my car and confused the hell out of me until he explained who he was. Good dude, one of the larger-than-life characters of The Garage and I'm really sorry to hear of his passing. RIP and prayers/wishes to his family.

3/15/2013 1:36:42 AM

Just awful. He had more drive than anyone. RIP Ivan

3/15/2013 5:48:10 AM

He's the one who got me to stop talking about doing shit... And start actually doing shit. Thanks for all your help bud and thanks for pointing out how I was all bark and no bite for the longest time.

Kinda pissed I'm finally gonna have a car to give you some shit with but you're not here to partake.

Gonna miss you bro.

2 wheels bad

:-/

3/15/2013 6:46:17 AM

^^^ lol. I remember him doing that at udays house years ago. I was drunk and he busts through the door and starts yellin' N this N that baonest this baonest that.

Totally had me shocked. And cracking up.

3/15/2013 7:48:33 AM

Quote :

"At the time I joined TWW, he was one of the best Garage posters, not just because of his automotive knowlege but also because loved to rile people up and keep this place interesting. "

This. Sad to hear we've lost a fellow garager, especially one so close to many - wish I had met him. Sux for a life cut short, makes you think about things.

3/15/2013 8:17:55 AM

So sad... Years of surgery/pain and now this all because some dumbass couldn't look before pulling out at a stop sign. Wishing the best for all his family and friends. RIP BigBlueRam.

[Edited on March 15, 2013 at 10:23 AM. Reason : l]

3/15/2013 10:22:14 AM

Wow, I'm almost speechless. What a shock. He was quite an amazing person full of life and was way to young to leave this world. I remember a fair amount of drunken shenanigans back in college with him. Damn...

He will be greatly missed.

[Edited on March 15, 2013 at 11:58 AM. Reason : k]

3/15/2013 11:58:11 AM

Drunken shenanigans with Ivan pretty much trumped drunken shenanigans with damn near anybody else. Pull all the garage rats together and mayhem would ensue. Beautiful mayhem. It's a wonder a lot of us didn't end up in jail.

3/15/2013 12:36:36 PM

Double post. Suck my dick.

How many of you are in the area and feel like raising one in his honor this weekend?

3/15/2013 12:38:07 PM

Yes

3/15/2013 12:40:08 PM

after years of tww garage talk, i finally met ivan when he did some plumbing work on my house last year. cool dude. he will be missed for sure.

3/15/2013 12:42:44 PM

any idea about services?

3/15/2013 1:14:55 PM

Ray, I'll cut you in on the discussion on FB. supposedly around noon Monday.

3/15/2013 1:46:25 PM

Anybody else who wants in let me know. And if you aren't FB friends with me, what the hell is your problem?

3/15/2013 1:51:52 PM

I never met him but always had a lot of respect for him. Looks like he was a great friend to many in here, as well.

party on, dude

3/15/2013 2:06:08 PM

someone post up some good pics on him doing cool shit please.

3/15/2013 2:16:40 PM

Hey Dan, hit me up on facebook. Thanks.


BBR paid for a private dance from two strippers at my bachelor party.

3/15/2013 2:19:33 PM

i guess now we can tell everyone whom unknowingly raced his 9 second convertible that he had a nasty setup in there.

3/15/2013 2:20:03 PM

http://s13.beta.photobucket.com/user/optmusprimer/media/Corvette/Corvette81008.mp4.html

3/15/2013 2:37:59 PM

Damn, wasn't he just back on here posting the past few weeks?

3/15/2013 2:39:54 PM

Unfortunately, I never took pictures when we were doing anything. I just went through a few of my photo albums and came up empty.

3/15/2013 3:12:01 PM

Thanks, Dan.

3/15/2013 3:30:16 PM

lemme know too


http://www.facebook.com/Sumfoo1

3/15/2013 3:42:59 PM

hey 97mph, that's not 9-second (1/4) territory

I was skurred before

3/15/2013 4:18:09 PM

holy crap

that's liter bike territory

3/15/2013 4:35:50 PM