Soap box racers Shea Baker and.Caroline Hartwell finish a downhill race at Kakaako Waterfront Park. Photo by Craig Kojima, Star-Bulletin

Toes stretched to reach the pedal, he can barely peek over the steering wheel.

But that doesn't stop this little guy from taking the car - box car, that is - out for a drive.

"It's a thrill for kids," said Grahm's dad, Rich Robertson, a Hanahauoli School physical world lab teacher. "It's one step beyond Nintendo - and I guess one step beyond driving a radio-controlled car, because you are sitting in the car.

"And it's a lot of fun."

In a sea of unassembled car parts, power tools, slabs of wood and wooden lanterns, Robertson's wood shop has the sights and sounds of Santa's Workshop.

He teaches a handful of parents and students how to build their box cars from kits or from scratch.

Whether they're building a T-back hood or sanding down the rough spots, children are involved in all phases.

"They see how much time and effort actually goes into it," Robertson said. "They think you just say, 'We'll slap a few pieces of wood together and paint it,' but that's not the case. There is a lot of planning that goes into it."

A young man and his machine; Shea Barker poses like a champion. Photo by Craig Kojima, Star-Bulletin

"It's going to be a smiling face," Sarah said excitedly. "I first decided a dog, but thought that it would be too hard to put on the ears.

"A smiling face would be easier, with lights in front."

The car will be large enough so dad and mom can take it for a spin. In hindsight, Mike Hodges is happy they bought the car. He said the project is turning into a learning lesson for Sarah and her older sister, Emily.

"She'll have the benefit of seeing a project that she wanted and something she pushed for turn out to be something she really admires and will have for as long as she wants."

Sarah is also getting comfortable using tools.

"She uses power tools by herself," Hodges said, "She had supervision at first to keep things lined up and straight, but then she got very comfortable with the electric drill."

"I like her to be involved with things that are normally said to be for boys," said Monir Hodges, "because I think it is good for her to be exposed to balance."

In his green box car, 7-year-old Shea Baker knows how to negotiate the turns on the walkway at Kakaako Waterfront Park.

"We go and ride it down that big hill," he said. "It's better than riding a bike, because you don't have to pedal and use your energy."

Shea has Town and Country Surf, Hawaiian Island Creations and fishing stickers on his car.

"There are more in the car trunk," he said.

Robertson said box cars are a step up from a Radio Flyer wagons.

"When I was a kid, I used to drive a wagon down the hill and steer it from the inside," he said. "That was a lot of fun. And I know we used to make our own little carts from whatever we could."

Robertson started a box car club at the school. The club will participate in this weekend's race at Leeward Community College. A two-lane course, 300 yards long with extra-wide lanes, will be set up on the slightly sloping parking lot. The race is sponsored by American Box Car Racing International.

"Our goal is to teach kids how to drive, have fun and feel good about themselves," said Robert Cowlings, president of ABCRI. "When you're going eight or nine miles per hour in the (box) car, it's the same as going 40 mph in a car," said Cowlings. "And it gives them a sense of freedom."

Don Pierce, owner of Classic Car rentals, introduced box cars to the islands. He remembers the first box car he built.

"I built my first box car with an orange crate," he said. "I cut my mother's broomstick and clothesline."

He called it JD. Today, he has 17 customized cars lined up in his living room.

Place: Leeward Community College
Day: Saturdays, June 15 and 29, and July 13 and 27
Time: 9 a.m.
Age groups: 9 & under, 0 to 15, 16 & up
Donation: $15