Trainer Biography

The owner of Top Gun PDR Training is Marty Runik. He has 39 years of experience working automotive sheet metal. He also has 31 years total of specialized teaching experience in various segments of the automotive panel repair industry. At Top Gun PDR Training we believe being a great teacher is even more important than being a great tech.

  • Owner of Top Gun PDR Training.
  • Developer of the PIRP process for PDR.
  • Beginning and Advanced PDR trainer, and re-trainer.
  • Winner of the 2005 PDR Mentor of the year award given by MTE.
  • Vale Certified Master PDR Craftsman #10008.
  • Founding member and current board of advisors member of the NAPDRT (National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians).
  • PDR large / complex dent repair specialist
  • Inventor / developer of many PDR related tools used in PDR today including the first practical adjustable handle tool, PDR cold shrinking disc, multi-pull dozer glue pulling system, numerous speciality reflection boards. and various speciality hand tools.
  • Consultant and test tech for most quality PDR tool companies.
  • Consultant and expert witness used in many cases involving contract disputes with technicians and PDR companies.
  • Marketing consultant for many PDR companies
  • 39 total years of automotive sheet metal working experience
  • 28 years experience in the auto body industry.
  • Advanced sheet metal and metal finishing specialist.
  • Numerous published tech articles for PDR and auto body related publications, and newsletters including, NPCCRS, MTE, and insurance related publications.
  • 24 year experience as Instructor / trainer to techs worldwide in auto body and frame repair, and advanced auto body and frame repair. Advanced instructor in Chief, and Car-o-liner frame repair equipment.
  • 8 years specializing in instruction to PDR techs.
  • Specializing in working with techs who have "washed out" or are considered untrainable by large dent companies or franchises.
  • Specializes in training techs who have been to one or more training schools and can not repair dents to an acceptable level.
  • R&D consultant for Kuhn and Chief Frame repair equipment.
  • Contributing developer, and curriculum developer of portions of original I-CAR training material.
  • I-CAR certified
  • ASE certified for structural and non-structural auto body repair.
  • Owner of Northridge Coach and Colors body shop in Northridge Calif from 1980-1983.
  • Served four year apprenticeship in 1973-1977 under Ted Richenbacher for old school metal working and finishing technique, in steel and aluminum. This is where Marty received his initial PDR training.