A Trenton-area man is trying to change the lives of children, one go kart at a time.
It’s summertime, kids are out of school and this is one way to keep them busy.
“Keeps me young. Keeps me going,” said Bob Danka of the Living Hope Racing School in Trenton.
Danka teaches a group of kids how to build and race go karts and in turn, he hopes to keep them off the streets and teach them about life.
The idea started in 2008 and all the work happens not in a garage, but inside a church.
Inside the church walls, beyond the seats and the scriptures, are four wheels and curiosity.
Danka has raced go karts for over 40 years, and a few years ago he and a partner, Joe Wisniewski, decided to share their wisdom for an unconventional sport.
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"There’s always baseball and football leagues. There’s nothing that we know of that has anything to do with racing,” Danka said.
Living Hope Racing School doesn't use books or lectures, just experience and a little elbow grease to build go karts that can top 100 miles per hour.
"There’s nothing more awesome than winning your first race, and you keep winning,” said 15-year-old Ari Schanz.
For Schanz, he can't think of any other place he would rather be.
“Everyone’s like a giant family and a great group of friends, you learn teamwork here,” Schanz said.
The original idea was to take kids off the streets of Trenton and put them on the right track.
“Since we started in 2008, eight of the participants in the school have gone to college that had no plans of looking at college or tech school,” Danka explained.
Right now, there's about 10 students in the program -- ages 10 through high school age.
Danka says if he could have 50 students at the school, he would find some way to teach all of them.
Danka does it for no pay, just the satisfaction of making a difference.
“It gives them something to think about for their future, what they can accomplish if they set their minds to it.”
Click here for more information on the Living Hope Racing School and how you can help.
