And now for something most of you will (or should) never do in your own car, or on public roads! And this is a stunt move, not a drifting technique. And we don’t teach this typically in our drift courses. So with all that out of the way, here’s some more info on our most popular video!
The J-turn is a clever little driving maneuver in which you spin your car around backwards and continue on facing forward! The J-turn is also called the “moonshiner’s turn” or “Rockford turn” or “Reverse 180”.
The “moonshiner turn” name comes from how these were used as an evasive technique for bootleggers during Prohibition. This may be confusing because a ‘bootleggers’ turn is when you’re headed forward and you pull the ebrake to spin your car around in the other direction. While moonshiner’s turn is when the bootlegger (sorry) hits a roadblock and they can’t go forward. So they have to reverse out and quickly head in the other direction.
The name J-turn comes from The Rockford Files TV show where protagonist Jim Croce (J for Jim) needed all sorts ways every time he got pulled over for speeding or drank too much beer at one sitting! J is also convenient because the maneuver looks like a “J”. It also became known as the “Rockford Turn”. But more descriptively it can be called “The Reverse 180”. But that’s no fun! So let’s call it J-turn just because it’s easy.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Go in reverse about 20-25 mph. Ideally use your mirrors rather than turning your head 180 degrees. You’ll see why in a second.
- Clutch in. Gas off.
- Turn the wheel 180 degrees. Some would say 360 but if you’re going fast enough this is not necessary
- At about 90 degree straighten out the wheel and turn your head (if it was faced forward you just turn it 90 degrees) towards the ultimate direction you’re gonna be going. The front tires should slide to where you stick the 180 degree landing.
- As you’re sliding, drop it into first gear
- Just before you stick that landing rev the gas and pop the clutch.
It should look something like this:
This is just sharing some driving knowledge. Please act responsibly!
