For the Love of Cars

Professionals in the used machinery and equipment world run the gamut in terms of industry experience, career background and geography, but one commonality these five industry leaders share is a mutual love of cars.
 Here’s a look at how their hobbies enrich their lives — and sometimes intersect with their professional pursuits.

Scott Buth, Alternative Machine Tools
Scott Buth started Alternative Machine Tools in 2001 with a partner. In 2007 he sold the business to Brad Wilson, the current owner. Currently, Scott is in the sales, purchasing and appraisal side of the machinery business.
 
When he’s not working, you’ll find him off-road racing — a hobby that’s consumed him for some time.
 
“I've been off-road racing since I was in high school,” he said. “My brothers and I built trucks back in the day.”
 
From there, Scott got more involved in racing, and later both his sons shared the passion. In fact, one has made Scott particularly proud.
 
“I think the 2020 season was a standout for us,” he said reflecting on the race. “My son Billy ran both cars in both classes and ended up winning championships in both classes that year.”
 
John Christenson, Machinery Resources
Sometimes worlds collide and you end up with a job opportunity. Flashback to the early 1990s. That was when Machinery Resources’ John Christenson first entered the used machinery and equipment industry— through the racing community.
 
To understand John’s trajectory, you have to go back to his youth. A self-described “tinkerer,” he was mechanically inclined from a young age. His friend Nick had a couple of basic streetcars cars, and together they enjoyed racing on the streets of L.A.
 
“We made enough money to buy our first stock car,” he said. “He was the driver, and I was the mechanic, and we would go to Saugus Speedway not knowing what we were doing and started running circle-track.”
 
Later, his interest proved to be lucrative and even paved the way for his career path.
 
“I worked on race cars out in Saugus Speedway, and at the time, the engine builder was looking for guys to turn wrenches— mechanical guys. And it was there I met people like (Haas Automation’s Founder) Gene Haas. Next thing I knew, I was working with automation.”
 
John worked for Haas Automation for about 12 years, learning all aspects of the business, from building the machine to servicing it and even traveling the world on behalf of the company. Later his career led him to Machinery Resources, where he’s charged with buying and selling used equipment.
 
Though he took a several-year hiatus from racing, he’s found a segue way back into the sport. And this time, it’s personal.
 
“Charlotte, my daughter, really took a shining to it, and drags me to every race no matter what,” he said. “So, for the last two or three years, we've kind of really been back in it. She just loves everything about it. It’s been a lot of fun to watch her.”
 
Dale Danahey, Champion Machinery
Champion Machinery’s President/Owner Dale Danahey has been in the industry for 40 years, and his roles have run the gaunt from sales to ownership.
 
Perhaps equally as interesting, his company is a major sponsor of a NASCAR team.
 
Champion has sponsored the Nos. 15 and 55 race cars for Premium Motorsports and the No. 23 and No. 83 for BK Racing in the top-level NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series since 2015. They have supported well-known drivers such as Danica Patrick, Michael Waltrip, Matt DiBenedetto, David Ragan, Reed Sorenson, JJ Yeley and Ross Chastain among others.
 
At the same time, they’re widely recognized within the racing community as the primary supplier of late-model, name-brand used CNC machinery, including HAAS, MAZAK, DOOSAN, OKUMA, DMG MORI and other brands. Champion’s niche is that they understand and appreciate the common attributes between racing and CNC machines. Specifically, innovation produces speed, performance and precision.
 
“The CNC machines are very cool,” he said. “To me, they're a lot like cars. I think you can make an argument that race cars and CNC machines are almost like works of art — they're beautiful pieces of machinery. You go from an ugly chunk of metal to this shiny, beautiful, finished workpiece. It’s like watching a sculptor make a beautiful carving out of wood, except that it happens to come out of metal. So, it's almost like a lot of these machine parts look like pieces of art when they're done.”
 
Jon Stephenson, Surplus Record
Surplus Record’s Jon Stephenson is a sales guru, running the sales and strategy side of the company.
 
“We work with roughly 1100 dealers worldwide to help them market their equipment, “he said. “So, we are specialists in marketing and databases, and facilitating transactions between dealers and end-users through our marketing platform.”
 
One interesting aspect of the job is that he gets to put his finance degree to work while also flexing other skills. For instance, being mechanically inclined, he enjoys the fact that a lot of the equipment they deal with builds the world around us. Plus, there’s always something new to learn.
 
And speaking of things of a mechanical nature, he caught the car bug at a young age and considers himself a car and motorcycle enthusiast. Jon attributes that enthusiasm to a formative experience.
 
“When I was young, probably seven or eight years old, I got an opportunity to go for a drive in a Porsche 930 Turbo, which, at the time, was one of the fastest but probably the most dangerous cars you could be in,” he said. “I remember the adrenaline and will never forgot it.”
 
That feeling has stuck with him, and to date he has owned numerous cars and motorcycles. Fast-forward to today and he’s still a car enthusiast, but on a different scale.
 
“Now, I'm at a point where I own a street-legal world rally car,” he said. “I also own a 911 GT3 race car. I’m still heavily entrenched in that world. And outside of the industrial business, I co-own a performance shop with a business partner who runs the day-to-day. I’m trying to immerse myself in all the wonderful things about that business.”
 
Mark Robinson, MDNA
Before taking the helm of the MDNA, Executive Director Mark Robinson worked in trade associations for some time[MR1] , including the Boat Owners Association. And much like his time at Boat/U.S., where he discovered a passion for boats, he can relate to the machinery world of MDNA members.  
 
“I actually started in (MDNA’s) marketing and membership department and worked my way up to leading the organization as executive director in 2001, and I have been here ever since.”
 
The role affords him the chance to connect with the membership — and learn about their business, machinery and interests outside of work.

“I have learned that there's a lot of gearheads — there’s a lot of guys that deal in machinery by day and are car guys by night.”

Mark himself is among this community. When he’s not on the job, he considers himself a “backyard mechanic” and enjoys the catharsis that comes from working on cars.
 
In his words, “I love everything about machinery. I have bought some (car-related) equipment from different members over the years and love to use it in my hobby.”
 
This camaraderie is exactly what makes the MDNA membership so special. 
 
“It starts as a business (deal) and they end up as very close friends,” he said. “There are members that have been friends from one coast to another for— in some cases — all of their adult lives. A lot of their businesses were started by previous generations and then the children come into the business. They create business partnerships and then become friends, and it grows from there.”  
 
MDNA means Community 
Whether they’re making a deal or sharing their mutual love of cars, MDNA members form a tight-knit community. Thanks to their common interests and close camaraderie, they share a close connection that transcends individual businesses and distance. It’s a connection that isn’t likely to change any time soon.
 
We recognize that across the MDNA, our members share many hobbies and interests. We want to tell your story, too!  If you have ideas for this blog, please drop a note to Mark Robinson, mark.robinson@mdna.org, or call 703.836.9300.