Car racers at bar have a can-do attitude

Posted by Heather Trimm

Here's a car-racing derby that starts with drinking: At Capitol Hill's Pine Box bar, racers gather first to drink beers from cans, then craft the empty cans into tiny pinewood-box-style racing cars with tools supplied by the bar. Finally, the little cars race down a track built for them earlier this year by New Belgium Brewery. The next derby will be during Seattle Beer Week in May.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Before building your car, you've got to drink your beer-- as Tim Schondelmayer of Issaquah, Adam Palmer of Renton, and Mike Scasny of Sammamish, demonstrate before Beer Can Derby racing at The Pine Box bar in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Sunday Sept. 9, 2012.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

A racer puts wheels on a car for the Beer Can Derby at The Pine Box bar in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Sunday Sept. 9, 2012.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

John McAfee of Seattle weighs his car to get to the required five ounces for the Beer Can Derby at The Pine Box bar in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Sunday Sept. 9, 2012.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Dean Hudgins, co-owner of The Pine Box, lines up tiny pinewood-style cars made from beer cans for Beer Can Derby racing at The Pine Box bar in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Sunday Sept. 9, 2012.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

From left, Pine Box co-owner Ian Roberts, in a cub scout uniform, is the official referee while Tim Schondelmayer of Issaquah, Mike Scasny of Sammamish, Adam Palmer of Renton and Toby Volk of Seattle, watch Schondelmayer's car come in first in a heat of Beer Can Derby racing at The Pine Box bar in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Sunday Sept. 9, 2012.

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Car racers at bar have a can-do attitude