Downhill Power Wheels Barbie Jeep Racing (Photos)
If you have kids Power Wheels sells a Jeep just for them, and a Barbie version in pink. When the kids outgrow them, some crazy dads and uncles have begun racing them down whatever decent sized hill is nearby. Does anyone want to join the fun?
1. The Power Wheels Jammin' Jeep Wrangler
Before we get to some of the ridiculous downhill antics, let's look at the typical Power Wheels kids Jeep Wrangler. These are rated for a maximum of 130 lbs, and have a top speed of 5mph under 12v battery power. The hard plastic wheels have almost no traction, and the most rudimentary of steering linkages. Also, there are no brakes on the car if you're feeling very adventurous. When new, they retail for about $250 at all popular stores but used on Craigslist they often are given away for free once the batteries need replacing or the motors wear out.
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2. Hold my Beer
You have to imagine this event started when some Jeep fans were out on the trails Jeeping and camping, and someone brought their kid's worn out old Power Wheels. They probably took turns running it down the hill that first weekend until it was too broken to soldier on. A few weeks later, after careful Craigslist shopping, the group had another outing and brought a bunch of Power Wheels to continue the fun and a tradition was born!
This picture is from the RBD event in 2012 in Morris Mountain OHV and you can watch the highlights here.
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3. You Need that Helmet
You aren't moving all that fast in a downhill Power Wheels race, but that doesn't mean you can't get hurt; you are almost totally out of control. Remember these things have no brakes. As you can see in this shot, wheels fall off, and you sometimes land on your head. A full face motorcycle helmet is recommended, and heavy, long pants and a long sleeve jacket are a good idea. Wearing knee and elbow pads, however, just means you are a big wuss.
This shot comes from the 2014 event, and the video is here.
>>Join the conversation about Downhill Power Wheels Barbie Jeep Racing right here in the JK Forum!
4. It Doesn't Have to be a Jeep
Typically, when off road, a Jeep gives you an advantage, but for this sort of chaotic downhill events, anything will do. There are Corvettes, and Mustangs and plastic wheeled kid's quads. Pretty much anything without a motor, and with garbage toy plastic wheels is legal. And you want to be legal because these events typically have a few hundred dollar top prize!
You can read about the Arkansas event this picture came from on Mashable.
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5. It's a Growing Sport
In 2015, another big event featuring this crazy downhill toy racing started in Menton, Utah and in 2016 it was huge. The local paper, the Herald Journal, actually won a state newspaper award for their coverage of it. Check out all of the pictures and details on their site here with a nifty video.
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6. People Take it too Seriously
If you frequent the JK forum, then you know there was a friendly inter-forum Power Wheels race at last year's King of the Hammers event. People spent weeks building up their trick toy Jeeps for more control and better durability for the event. Who won? I'm not saying, but you can read the whole thread about the event here, or the details of the build here.
>>Join the conversation about Downhill Power Wheels Barbie Jeep Racing right here in the JK Forum!
7. Get Involved!
Does this look like fun to you? Well, don't just watch, get over to Craigslist and get shopping. Unfortunately, there is no national sanctioning body of Barbie Jeep racing, but if you start Googling and searching on Facebook you are bound to find an event near you. Can't find an event? Get three or four friends and a hill (and some safety gear) and have your own race. Just don't do it anywhere near traffic and make sure there is something soft (like an old mattress) to catch you at the bottom. We won't be held responsible for poor judgment, but drop us a line and we may join you.
>>Join the conversation about Downhill Power Wheels Barbie Jeep Racing right here in the JK Forum!
For help making your real Jeep better check out the how to sections of JK-Forums.com