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A J-Turn is a driving maneuver used to reverse a backwards-traveling vehicle so as to continue driving in the same direction, but with the vehicle pointed forward. The J-Turn is also called "moonshiner's turn", based on the elusive driving tactics used by bootleggers. A J-turn differs from a bootleg turn in that the vehicle starts out reversing.

J-turning is possible only in light vehicles (cars and light vans), which have their brakes biased to the front tires.

This maneuver is also known as a "Rockford", referring to the TV show "The Rockford Files" due to the prevalent use of the stunt in the show.

Technique

The maneuver is performed by quickly turning the wheel to one side and using the foot brake to lock the front wheels while turning. The vehicle is shifted into a forward gear as the nose comes about.

In front-wheel drive vehicles the clutch must be pressed when performing the maneuver.

World Record

The narrowest J-Turn was performed in a Renault Twingo, between barriers set 378 centimeters apart. The diagonal length of the car, 370 centimeters, meant stunt driver Terry Grant had only a gap of 4 centimeters on each side. This happened at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, UK, at the Pistonheads show 11-13 January.