# Do you know why a 'Rockford turn' is called that? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2014, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686 "2014-10-18T07:18:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/21 "2014-10-18T23:06:57Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’ll just add that if you want to attempt to do this, take the following precautions: > > [ul] > [li]Find a large parking lot that is empty (no parking bumpers or speed bumps) and that has pavement in good condition;[/li][li]Have your suspension and tires checked to assure that they will not fail in mid-maneuver;[/li][li]Securely belt yourself into the seat and wear a helmet as the spin and interrupt can be quite jarring and can easily force your head into the B-pillar;[/li][li]Do this at less than 25 mph; any faster than that and you’ll risk rolling the car.[/li][/ul] > > It should go without saying that you don’t even want to attempt this maneuver in a truck, minivan, SUV, or one of those shitty, prone-to-flip-and-crush PT Cruisers. Use a vehicle with a low c.g. (sedan or lightweight wagon). > > Better yet, go to a professional tactical driving school and let an instructor teach you how to perform this maneuver properly using their well-maintained and appropriate vehicles. > > Stranger ::Looks at user name:: Is this really the guy to be giving _car_ driving advice??? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/22 "2014-10-18T23:59:45Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > ::Looks at user name:: > Is this really the guy to be giving _car_ driving advice??? 😉 You should see what the manœuvre looks like when done in a train! ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/23 "2014-10-19T00:29:02Z")
If that’s a J-turn, what do you call the similar maneuver without the skid and with a stop before turning? It’s more like a K-turn in that respect but with one less step. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/24 "2014-10-19T06:08:31Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > If that’s a J-turn, what do you call the similar maneuver without the skid and with a stop before turning? It’s more like a K-turn in that respect but with one less step. A [three point turn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point_turn). ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/25 "2014-10-19T15:16:36Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > You should see what the manœuvre looks like when done in a train! [Artist’s Rendition](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBauzzrohUo#t=134) ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/26 "2014-10-20T02:48:00Z")
I always heard it called a bootlegger’s turn, and I associate it with Smokey and The Bandit and childhood viewings of Dukes Of Hazzard. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/27 "2014-10-20T03:28:43Z")
The compilation video posted earlier showed Rockford doing a couple Bootlegger turns in reverse. Didn’t realize they could be done that way. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686/28 "2014-10-20T03:45:31Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > I’ve never heard of a Rockford turn but I was a big fan of the show so I knew immediately what it was. Same here. Just from the subject line I knew what it must be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-a-rockford-turn-is-called-that/701686.md?page=1)