The battery-powered plastic cars are rigged with car-audio gear capable of playing CDs at tremendous sound levels, sometimes exceeding 140 dB, the equivalent of a Rolls-Royce jet turbine heard at 25 yards. The event took place Nov. 12th as part of the United States Autosound Competition (USAC) Finals, held in Kansas City, Missouri.

In this new variation of car stereo "sound-off" events, in which car-audio enthusiasts outfit their full-sized vehicles with sophisticated stereo gear and vie for awards for the loudest in-car installation, maximum sound levels inside the car often reach or exceed 170 dB. (By comparison, a pneumatic chipper used for city sidewalk repairs typically generates noise levels of 100 dB.) As in the full-sized vehicle competition, the "Power Wheels" contest rules stipulate that all stereo gear must be mounted inside the tiny cars.

Named after the "Power Wheels" line manufactured by Fisher-Price for the children's market, the diminutive two-seater cars, and the events in which they compete, are called "Power Wheels SPL" (SPL is short for "Sound Pressure Level," measured in decibels or dB, at each event). Power Wheels cars first began showing up at car stereo competitions around the country and were formalized at the dB Drag Finals, held last month in Nashville, Tennessee.

At the Kansas City contest, Team 420, with a maximum sound level of 177.6 dB, won the Power Wheels Extreme class. With continuing MobileToys dot com sponsorship, Power Wheels SPL competitions are expected to take place during regional Spring Break events next year.

For more information, contact MobileToys dot com at 888-662-8697.

Link for more info: www.MobileToys.com