Rian Robert
WMDMOTORS was founded by Rian Robert, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and the ongoing battles of mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness. Born in Chicago, Illinois, to a military family with a drill instructor for a father, Rian’s early years were marked by instability and absence. His father, though rarely present, left behind an enduring influence through his love of cars—owning a 1967 and a 2007 Ford Mustang. Those cars became central to Rian’s earliest memories: weekends in garages, time spent at drag strips, race tracks, and long rides in the backseat.
Fueled by the dreams he once shared with his late brother, Rian pursued college football, reaching the D3 level. But his athletic career was cut short after a season filled with head injuries and heartbreak. On his 18th birthday, in a snowy final game, Rian led his team onto the field carrying the American flag—with no family in the stands, just the echo of his brother’s absence and an unshakable loneliness that would shape his next chapter.
Years later, after surviving multiple suicide attempts and living through homelessness, Rian kept coming back to one thing: cars. The way the morning air smelled at Cars & Coffee events in Southern California. The sound of engines, the warmth of community, the smell of breakfast on grills—it felt like tailgating for an NFL game, but with a culture all its own. That feeling never left him.
Now located in Rochester, New Hampshire, WMDMOTORS is more than just a hobby shop or a place to store your project car—it’s a space built on resilience, belonging, and the belief that passion can keep people alive. We’re bringing the heart of SoCal Cars & Coffee to New England—one engine, one cup of coffee, and one story at a time.
WMDMOTORS 