Stunt Driving Tips: Car Stunts: Driving Classic Reverse 180

The reverse 180 is THE classic car trick.

It is also one of the most fun slides to do. Stunt guys have always learned how to do this “stunt car” for the sole reason that it has and will probably always look and feel great. It’s a trick that’s been popular since the earliest car chases and has never lost its appeal.

My dad and I used to sit and watch the Rockford Archives on TV together. I loved watching it. James Gardner could not only eat a taco without spilling a drop (the only person I’ve ever seen do that, and on camera too!), but he was also an amazing driver and did some of his own stunts for the show. So for me, the reverse 180 will always be ‘The Rockford.’

This slide was also popular in the prohibition days when it was known as Moonshiners Turn. If the southern spirits ran into a police barricade, they would sometimes run this slide to make a quick escape.

This slide is also taught in anti-terrorism driving courses. It is used when you are facing an obstacle or something that requires you to stop quickly. The advantage of using this slip instead of a forward 180 to turn around is that you get the maximum braking to a stop (ie the shortest distance possible). All braking is done in a straight line. Also, while backing up, you don’t have bright lights in your eyes, which people putting up roadblocks like to blind you with, and of course you don’t need to waste time turning around.

With the Reverse 180, you’ll get a lot done in a very short amount of time, and the consequences of one wrong move are greater with this one than most others. Timing is everything. You have to steer in the right direction (or risk running off the road in reverse!), shift at the right time or possibly ruin a transmission, and get the front wheels pointing straight ahead. . outside the. Other than that, it’s a piece of cake.

When you’re first learning the 180 in reverse, you’ll want a BIG chunk of pavement so all you have to worry about is getting the car out of reverse before you start to slide. But still, practice doing everything correctly and in sequence. Even if the car doesn’t turn a full 180 degrees. As long as you turn the steering wheel the right amount at the right time and change gear at the right time, slippage will occur after a few tries.

On with the fun…

Mark Aisbett

“Turn good drivers into great ones”