My name is Rick Olson BigWrench, and I have been a member of Ultimate Bass since 2011. Home is a little town in extreme Southwest Virginia with my beautiful wife, Tammy, and our 4 “Head a Young ins”, ages 10-24. We enjoy spending time at our camper on South Holston Lake fishing and tubing, just enjoying God’s Creations. We recently welcomed our first granddaughter into our family and feel we couldn’t be more blessed.
Rick Olson BigWrench
At a young age, I developed a passion for fishing from my mom. One of my earliest memories is sitting on the bank of Isaac Walton Park in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. I remember her catching a beast of a Musky and lost it at the bank; it was affectionately named “Wise Ass.” Every big fish, whether fresh or saltwater, she hooked and lost all around the country shared the name since then. That old fish got around!
Rick Olson BigWrench
My Bass fishing started around age 21 with my dad and two uncles Jimmy and Larry. They took me for my first ride on Nelson Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin in Jimmy’s new Ranger. Thinking back on those days, this is where my passion for Ranger Boats started. Sadly, my uncles have passed on. However, I was fortunate to inherit the old Ranger and rekindled my interest in bass fishing. This renewed interest led me to Ultimate Bass. I was looking for ways to grow my angling skills and my knowledge of Ranger boats. I am currently the site moderator of the Ranger boat board and also a Community Diplomat Team leader.
I started tearing things apart at a very young age, but I figured out how to put them back together the right way when I started earning a paycheck. My first official mechanic position began in 1987 at the age of 17 as a Cannon Crew member of an M198 155mm Towed Howitzer section in the US Army. I graduated from the artillery mechanics school at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma in February 1988, which instilled a passion for doing things the right way very early in life. I have carried it through the last 28 years.
Rick Olson BigWrench – Story
I was honorably discharged in 1991 from the 2nd Infantry Division 1/4 FAR in South Korea and decided to capitalize on my mechanical training by working on the axle line, building axles for Volvo-White/GMC. Realizing the factory environment wasn’t for me, I began working for local trucking companies in their maintenance department. Gaining experience on the big rigs was an incentive for me to attend Diesel College on my GI Bill. I was hired while still in school for a 3rd shift position working on Kenworth, Mack and Mitsubishi tractor trailers at Worldwide Equipment. In 1996, I was injured while working on a ‘big truck’ and decided I would give automobile repair a try. I was hired as a technician at a Pontiac, Buick, and Subaru dealership where my career with GM is still going strong today.
I have been certified by The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) since 1998 and currently hold 16 ASE Certifications with the title of: Master Automobile Technician, Medium/Heavy Truck Technician, Collision Repair Specialist Undercar Specialist, Advanced Engine Performance Specialist, Virginia State Police Safety Inspector Class A, West Virginia State Police Safety Inspector, and Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) certified.
I have taken over 935 training courses with General Motors, with the following Certifications: GM Master Technician in the areas of Engine Repair, Brakes and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), GM Gold Level Technician 2013-2015. I also hold several factory certifications from Chrysler, KIA, Hyundai and Subaru. I am always striving to learn and grow along with the technology of today’s automobiles, and I am currently working towards the coveted GM World Class Technician Certification. Working for a GMC Chevrolet Dealership, I specialize in Engine Repair and Alignments but do a little bit of everything depending on the workload.
I have a passion for Old Banjos (1880’s-1930’s) and enjoy playing “Clawhammer” style and messing around with the guitar some as well. I am a weekend angler and compete in a couple of Ultimate Bass Rallies every year. As our ten year old son is now taking a greater interest in bass fishing, I will most likely compete more in the coming years with him by my side building memories for us both.
Affiliations:
UltimateBass Charter Member
International Automotive Technician Network (iATN) 1999-Present
B.A.S.S. Life Member
ASE
MACS
Rick “BigWrench” Olson
