From an outsider’s perspective, a young boy stacking up a Hot Wheels collection can be considered pretty ordinary. But for Rudy Runnings, weekly walks to the nearby Target with his mom to pick out a Dodge Viper, Porsche 911, and Nissan Skyline deepened the already brewing obsession with cars and their intricacies.

When he was ready to get under the hood without a magnifying glass, Rudy graduated to reading every car magazine he could get his hands on to learn about cars from all over the world, who designed them, what powered them, and how they were being used. But it was the Gran Turismo video game that finally hooked him for good, and the cool Japanese cars that are rare here in the states especially solidified his passion and opened his eyes.

Rudy’s parents helped him buy his first car, a 2002 Honda Civic Si. From there, an urge to tinker, modify, and improve became a never-ending saga that eventually led him all the way to CU Denver’s engineering school, where he received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Even with a proclivity for technical pursuits, Rudy never quite felt like he fit in with most engineering atmospheres, and one thing became abundantly clear: The cubicle life was not for him.

But his vehicular fixation never waned. Rudy grew up in VW/Audi fan circles, and it was actually a friend—the previous parts manager at Berg Performance—who introduced him to the business through tours of the shop, even sneaking in a quick tire swap and alignment service on his 1992 Lexus SC 300 before a track day. Rudy jumped at the chance to backfill his friend when the parts manager position opened up. He immediately threw his name in the hat, scoring the job after a few discussions, a couple of interviews and a slew of emails.

Three cars and a multitude of projects are under Rudy’s belt at the moment, including a trusty 2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD double cab and his '92 SC 300 with a recent VVTI 2JZGTE swap and a five-speed. The Lexus has become an ever-evolving endeavor that has undergone a lot of changes since he rescued it from a neglectful teenager for a few grand 4–5 years ago. Now, he’s transformed it into his go-to car for everything from a track toy to a daily commuter. Finally, his 1981 Toyota Cressida is currently receiving a complete powertrain swap—he pulled a 1UZ V8 out of a 1992 Lexus LS 400 sedan. A 30th birthday gift from his fiancé, Darcy, the Cressida is quickly becoming a family favorite that Rudy hopes to have up and running for summer dog park cruising with their pup, Stella.

Between various modifications, motor swaps, suspension changes and the like, Rudy is always finding reasons to get under his cars. Serving as the parts manager at Berg Performance has him submerged in an environment that’s almost an incubator for this kind of lifestyle—it fosters his love of cars while promoting continued learning and growth with the industry, all outside the confines of a cubicle.

The Rudy Runnings dream garage will one day house a 70s Skyline GTR, a 1932 Ford Roadster with a flathead, a Porsche RS, and a 2002 BMW M Coupe (S54 car). For cruising's sake, he’ll also throw a big comfy sedan in the mix. Despite working in the VW/Audi/Porsche realm, Rudy confessed that his roots, and perhaps even his heart, lie with older Japanese cars. But even with his admitted affinity, he’s a gearhead through and through who truly loves everything about cars, no matter their origins.

He also cares deeply for the customer experience at Berg Performance and strives every day to bring his level of service up to the incredibly high standard set by Aaron and team. Collectively, their passion for cars runs deep; Rudy and the entire crew feel fortunate that a majority of customers are cut from the same cloth and trust Berg’s capable and caring hands.