diff --git a/data/stk_config.data b/data/stk_config.data
index f850ea535..b979bfff8 100644
--- a/data/stk_config.data
+++ b/data/stk_config.data
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  (max-history              10000)   ;; maximum number of history frames.
  (max-skidmarks              100)   ;; max. number of skidmarks per kart.
  (skid-fadeout-time           60)   ;; Time till skidm marks fade out
+ (slowdown-factor             10)   ;; Engine reduction depending on terrain, see
+                                    ;; kart for details.
  (delay-finish-time           10)   ;; delay till race results are displayed.
  (music-credit-time           10)   ;; time for which the music credits are displayed.
 
diff --git a/src/karts/kart.cpp b/src/karts/kart.cpp
index 6abc8a65d..ed2b2f9b7 100644
--- a/src/karts/kart.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/kart.cpp
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ void Kart::updatePhysics (float dt)
             engine_power *= 5.0f;
         // Engine slow down due to terrain (see m_power_reduction is set in
         // update() depending on terrain type.
-        engine_power *= m_power_reduction/50.0f;
+        engine_power *= m_power_reduction/stk_config->m_slowdown_factor;
         m_vehicle->applyEngineForce(engine_power, 2);
         m_vehicle->applyEngineForce(engine_power, 3);
         // Either all or no brake is set, so test only one to avoid
diff --git a/src/material.cpp b/src/material.cpp
index 50098c540..416c75d36 100644
--- a/src/material.cpp
+++ b/src/material.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "file_manager.hpp"
 #include "material.hpp"
 #include "string_utils.hpp"
+#include "stk_config.hpp"
 
 #define UCLAMP   1
 #define VCLAMP   2
@@ -111,8 +112,10 @@ Material::Material(const std::string& fname, char *description,
         m_max_speed_fraction = parseFloat(&description);
         m_slowdown           = parseFloat(&description);
         // Set the optional parameters.
-        if(m_max_speed_fraction <= 0.0f) m_max_speed_fraction = 1.0f;
-        if(m_slowdown           <= 0.0f) m_slowdown           = 50.0f;
+        if(m_max_speed_fraction <= 0.0f)
+            m_max_speed_fraction = 1.0f;
+        if(m_slowdown           <= 0.0f)
+            m_slowdown           = stk_config->m_slowdown_factor;
     }
     install(is_full_path);
 }   // Material
@@ -138,7 +141,7 @@ void Material::init(int index)
     m_resetter           = false ;
     m_collideable        = true  ;
     m_max_speed_fraction = 1.0f;
-    m_slowdown           = 50.0f;
+    m_slowdown           = stk_config->m_slowdown_factor;
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/stk_config.cpp b/src/stk_config.cpp
index 985e94665..ac25191a9 100644
--- a/src/stk_config.cpp
+++ b/src/stk_config.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ void STKConfig::load(const std::string &filename)
     CHECK_NEG(m_max_history,               "max-history"                );
     CHECK_NEG(m_max_skidmarks,             "max-skidmarks"              );
     CHECK_NEG(m_skid_fadeout_time,         "skid-fadeout-time"          );
+    CHECK_NEG(m_slowdown_factor,           "slowdown-factor"            );
     CHECK_NEG(m_delay_finish_time,         "delay-finish-time"          );
     CHECK_NEG(m_music_credit_time,         "music-credit-time"          );
     m_kart_properties.checkAllSet(filename);
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ void STKConfig::init_defaults()
         m_explosion_impulse    = m_explosion_impulse_objects = 
         m_shortcut_length      = m_music_credit_time         =
         m_delay_finish_time    = m_skid_fadeout_time         =
+        m_slowdown_factor      = 
         UNDEFINED;
     m_max_karts                = -100;
     m_grid_order               = -100;
@@ -171,6 +173,7 @@ void STKConfig::getAllData(const lisp::Lisp* lisp)
     lisp->get("max-history",                  m_max_history              );
     lisp->get("max-skidmarks",                m_max_skidmarks            );
     lisp->get("skid-fadeout-time",            m_skid_fadeout_time        );
+    lisp->get("slowdown-factor",              m_slowdown_factor          );
     lisp->get("delay-finish-time",            m_delay_finish_time        );
     lisp->get("music-credit-time",            m_music_credit_time        );
     lisp->get("menu-background",              m_menu_background          );
diff --git a/src/stk_config.hpp b/src/stk_config.hpp
index fcfce8efd..4de778981 100644
--- a/src/stk_config.hpp
+++ b/src/stk_config.hpp
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ public:
     int   m_max_history;             /**<Maximum number of frames to save in
                                          a history files.                    */
     int   m_max_skidmarks;           /**<Maximum number of skid marks/kart.  */
-    float m_skid_fadeout_time;       /**<Time till skidmarks fade away.      */    
+    float m_skid_fadeout_time;       /**<Time till skidmarks fade away.      */ 
+    float m_slowdown_factor;         /**<Used in terrain specific slowdown.  */
     bool  m_enable_networking;
     
     std::vector<float>