RSI exists to further the Volvo performance market, bring awareness to Volvo’s in racing and provide the finest Volvo performance parts and service. Jonathan moved to Portland, Oregon in the spring of 2004. He came to Portland from New Mexico where he had worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory as an engineer. He was an avid race fan and began restoring a 1969 BMW 2002 and racing a 1972 240z in F-prepared along with mentor Brian Haynes of Precision Engineering Jonathan learned a great deal about race car building and design as well as overall precision assembly and machining.
In the fall of 2003 Jonathan was bored with his BMW as he was looking for something a bit more ecclectic. He started looking for an 83 242 Flatnose. He found “Elisa” in May of 2004 and his wife bought it for him as an engagement gift. Thus began his foray into Volvo’s.
He began by building a new motor, a B23ET with a copper .025” headgasket and a refreshed head. He ditched K-jet and installed Electromotive Tec III. Elisa’s final numbers with 8 valves, stock turbo and manifold came in at 230hp and 270 ft/lbs of torque. Elisa is in the process of a full restoration along with a 16v build. During the build up of Elisa Jonathan met and befriended Eric Mollerstuen, of IPD fame, who inspired Jonathan to reach further and see what could really be done. Eric inspired Jonathan and soon RSI was born. After 9 months of Eric doing header work and Jonathan sourcing H-beam rods and Billet cranks, a good friend Patrick Dickman wanted to start a 240 business. Jonathan and Pat officially began RSI and opened up shop in our current facility. Pat really helped the business grow and though no longer with the company is a good friend and much is owed to his knowledge, ability, and friendship.
When Pat decided to move back to California to be near his three boys a good friend of Jonathan’s, Mitch Lea was looking for a business to be part of and help grow. Jonathan does most of our business development and engine research.
Mitch Lea came to know Jonathan through Dr. Bott LLC, an iPod and Macintosh accessories company where Mitch was the manager of operations and logistics. He has long been a BMW 2002 fan and owns four to this day. Mitch joined forces with Jonathan in 2007 to help with the operations of RSI. Mitch’s main focus is shipping and receiving, inventory management, and scheduling. Mitch runs the day to day operations and in the general manager of our shop and its employees.
Eric Mollerstuen has been with RSI from the beginning and helped get it off the ground. He started his days as an avid VW oval fan, but after the suggestion of his girlfriends father found a safe Volvo to begin to make fast. Eric has long been involved in the Volvo scene, he worked for IPD for 3 years, he currently does all of our fabrication work, from designing out latest and greatest manifolds, to brackets and exhausts. He can do it all.