About Juan Vargas & Bardabe Performance
I’m Juan Vargas. I’ve been building engines professionally since 2007 and running Bardabe Performance since 2008 — from a two-car garage in Perris, California to an AWD hub dyno facility in Kyle, Texas. Here’s how that happened.
June 2007 is where my official career in motorsports began, working in Hickory, North Carolina as the engine technician for Vivo Auto Racing. After building a few successful engines in my high school years for my own drift car and helping friends I was discovered and signed on to a NASCAR team. I was able to learn secrets of engine setup and reliability from a few professional machine shops that helped our race team. I absorbed as much knowledge as possible and gained experience but got homesick and in August of 2008 I moved back to Southern California. Back in Southern California I started working for Aluminum Welding Services in Anaheim, California learning the trade of TIG welding specializing in Aluminum, but I kept pursuing motorsport.
In the fall of 2008, I founded Bardabe Performance out of a two-car garage in Perris, California. Armed with only an old Miller welder and a small toolbox, I set out to build high-performance engines for motorsports enthusiasts. Two years later, I moved the business to a larger shop in Kearny Mesa, California where I continued to grow my customer base and reputation for excellence.
In 2013, I was recruited by Fontana Nissan’s Racing team (now known as Nissan Race Shop) to serve as a Motorsport Consultant. Drawing on my extensive knowledge of Nissan engines, particularly the RB and SR series, I was responsible for making key technical decisions, selecting parts, and developing new applications for these engines. During my time there, I helped to expand the department’s reach by attending more motorsport events like IDRC and sponsoring Formula D drivers like Mauricio Ornelas Jr. As a result of these efforts, sales grew rapidly and I was promoted to Motorsport Director in little over a year.
Through my experience at Nissan Race Shop, I honed my skills as a technician and manager. I learned valuable lessons about running a successful business. In addition to my work at Nissan, I continued to pursue my passion for motorsports after hours, building and tuning high-performance engines for a wide range of clients.
In October 2017, I made a significant investment in my business by purchasing a Dynapack Chassis Dyno. Operating the Dyno out of my home, I explored new opportunities to expand my business. With my expertise in high-performance engines and my dedication to customer service, I was able to build a strong reputation and attract a loyal customer base.
However, as California’s regulations on motorsports and competition became increasingly strict, I realized that it was time for a change. In June 2018, my career at Fontana Nissan / Nissan Race Shop came to an end, and I decided it was time to relocate Bardabe Performance to a more motorsport-friendly location.
In December of 2019, I completed all of my commitments and projects in Southern California, and prepared to embark on the next chapter of my career. With a passion for motorsports and a commitment to excellence, I was excited to continue building and tuning high-performance engines.
On December 30th, 2019, I relocated to Austin, Texas. Since then, Bardabe Performance LLC has continued to grow.
I have established direct relationships with some of the top brands in the world of motorsports, including Emtron, Turbosmart, ATS Clutch, OS Giken USA, Ogura Racing Clutch (ORC), Endless USA, Apex’i USA, Full-Race Motorsport, Injector Dynamics, JE Pistons, Manley Performance, Garrett Turbo, Precision Turbo, Extreme Turbo Systems, and many more. With these partnerships and my commitment to excellence and customer service, I am excited to continue growing and learning. Doing this alone means I only take on work I can personally stand behind. Every engine I build and every tune I write is mine, start to finish. That’s the tradeoff for taking on fewer cars, and it’s one I’d make every time.