Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, Don Voth, president of Metro-Can Construction, was always fascinated with cars – especially cars with huge engines, like the two, vintage, 600-horsepower Cobras he now owns. Don never guessed how that fascination would eventually create an opportunity to share his faith with others.
An obsession with speed
“I’ve always enjoyed lots of horsepower,” Don says. “It’s a difficult thing to explain. But back then, entertainment options were much more limited than they are now, so cars were the ‘big deal.’”
As Don got older, he continued to find ways to indulge his fascination with cars and speed, most recently through racing on the recreational GTA circuit.
The GTA is similar to the NASCAR car in appearance. Each GTA sports a 350 cubic-inch engine that generates 355 horsepower. Weighing in at only 2,300 pounds, these cars have plenty of pep.“Let’s just say that when there are race-prepared Porsches on the track, we usually beat them,” Don says.
The cars do what is called “road circuit” racing, which involves making laps around a track with multiple turns, including hairpins and banked corners. The track can be anywhere between 1 ½ to 2 miles long, and races are between 30 – 45 minutes in length.
With up to 40 cars on the track at one time reaching top speeds of 160 miles per hour, it’s no wonder Don’s wife Elma is somewhat apprehensive about her husband’s hobby. But Don argues that this is a very safe form of racing, given the “full race cage” design of the cars. He knows several drivers who have been in some fairly major accidents, and all have walked away with only minor injuries.
Don, his son, and his two son-in-laws have been racing for the past five years. They usually go out only once or twice a year, because racing without sponsors can be quite expensive. Don rents the cars and the pit crew from a business he partly owns. Even then, the cost for a weekend of racing is about $4,000 US.
Sharing his obsession – and his faith – with others
Needless to say, most people who do race on this circuit are financially independent. The group includes business people, entrepreneurs, and others who have a fascination with speed and the means to indulge it. This is an aggressive bunch, Don says. They’re not afraid of challenges, and they’re always looking for a thrill. That’s what draws them to the track.
But Don has found that this same fascination with speed and thrills is also an excellent point of connection when it comes to sharing his faith.
“When you take two people who share a common interest and bring them together, it breaks down a lot of barriers,” Don says.
People who are into racing are always interested in hearing from someone else who is doing it, particularly on a professional level. Thus, Don has used his racecars and professional drivers who are Christians as drawing cards for evangelistic conferences and banquets. Many people have come to the Lord through such events.
The cars have also been an effective means of getting high net worth individuals involved in supporting a ministry. By bringing them out to the track for a day, Don is able to connect with them through their shared interest and give them a vision for how they can help reach out to the racing community and beyond.
Although racing is his thing, Don says any hobby can be used as an outreach tool:
“Whether it’s golf, fishing, or racing, you’re sharing an experience you both enjoy, and you instantly gain credibility and respect. That makes people much more open to hearing about your faith.”
